Idiops parvus

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Holfontein Idiops Trapdoor Spider
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Idiopidae
Genus: Idiops
Species:
I. parvus
Binomial name
Idiops parvus
Hewitt, 1915[1]

Idiops parvus is a species of spider in the family Idiopidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Holfontein Idiops trapdoor spider.[3]

Distribution

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Idiops parvus is a Free State endemic known only from the type locality Zonderhout at Holfontein at an altitude of 1,300 m above sea level.[3]

Habitat and ecology

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The species inhabits the Grassland biome. It lives in silk-lined burrows closed with a trapdoor.[3]

Description

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See also: Glossary of spider terms

Idiops parvus is known only from females. The common tubercle carrying the frontal eyes is so low and the median groove so deep that those eyes are practically situated on two separate tubercles. The species is pale brown almost throughout, with the chelicerae reddish and the abdomen only slightly infuscated anteriorly above. Total length is 29 mm.[3]

Conservation

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Idiops parvus is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons. The species is under-collected and more sampling is needed to collect males and determine the species' range.[3]

Taxonomy

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The species was described by John Hewitt in 1915 from Holfontein. The species has not been revised.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Hewitt, J. (1915). "Descriptions of new South African Arachnida". Records of the Albany Museum Grahamstown. 3: 70–106.
  2. ^ "Idiops parvus Hewitt, 1915". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Idiopidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 50. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6324502. Retrieved 23 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.