Neoscona angulatula
| Neoscona Orb-Web Spider | |
|---|---|
| |
| Female | |
| |
| Female | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Araneidae |
| Genus: | Neoscona |
| Species: | N. angulatula
|
| Binomial name | |
| Neoscona angulatula (Schenkel, 1937)[1]
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Neoscona angulatula is a species of spider in the family Araneidae.[2] It is an endemic species to Africa.[3]
Distribution
[edit]Neoscona angulatula occurs in five African countries: Kenya, South Africa, Madagascar, and the Seychelles (Aldabra and Assumption Island).[3]
In South Africa, the species has been recorded only from KwaZulu-Natal within two protected areas: uMkhuze Game Reserve and Ophathe Game Reserve.[3]
Habitat and ecology
[edit]Neoscona angulatula is an orb-web species which builds orb-webs at night in vegetation. The species is known from the Savanna biome.[3]
Description
[edit]Neoscona angulatula is known from both sexes. As an orb-weaver, it constructs circular webs to capture prey.[3]
Conservation
[edit]Neoscona angulatula is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide global geographical range. In South Africa, the species is protected in two reserves: uMkhuze Game Reserve and Ophathe Game Reserve. There are no known threats to the species.[3]
Taxonomy
[edit]The species was originally described by Schenkel in 1937 from Madagascar as Araneus angulatulus. It was revised by Grasshoff in 1986, who synonymized Neoscona dripaca with this species.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Schenkel, E. (1937). "Beschreibungen einiger afrikanischer Spinnen und Fundortsangaben". Festschrift Embrik Strand. 3: 373–398.
- ^ "Neoscona angulatula (Schenkel, 1937)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N.; Webb, P. (2022). The Araneidae of South Africa. Version 2: part 2 (E-Ne). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 60. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6619195. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
- ^ Grasshoff, M. (1986). "Die Radnetzspinnen-Gattung Neoscona in Afrika (Arachnida: Araneae)". Annalen Zoologische Wetenschappen. 250: 1–123.
