Merenius simoni

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Merenius simoni
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Corinnidae
Genus: Merenius
Species:
M. simoni
Binomial name
Merenius simoni
Lessert, 1921

Merenius simoni is an African spider species in the family Corinnidae.[1] It is commonly known as Simon's ant-like sac spider.[2]

Etymology

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The species is named after Eugène Simon, the prominent French arachnologist.

Distribution

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Merenius simoni is distributed in Africa, occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and South Africa.[1] In South Africa, the species is known only from Limpopo Province, specifically from Lhuvhondo Nature Reserve.[2]

Habitat and ecology

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This species is a ground-dwelling spider that has mainly been collected by pitfall traps, litter sifting or by hand from the soil surface.[2] It has been sampled from the Savanna biomes at 1,341 m above sea level.[2]

Description

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Conservation

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Merenius simoni is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range in Africa. The species is protected in Lhuvhondo Nature Reserve. There are no known threats to the species.[2]

Taxonomy

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The species was originally described by René de Lessert in 1921 from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[2] It has not been revised but is known from both sexes and was well-illustrated by Lessert (1921).[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Merenius simoni Lessert, 1921". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Haddad, C.R.; Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2023). The Corinnidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 59. doi:10.5281/zenodo.8300753. Retrieved 22 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.