Palpimanus capensis

Cape Palp-Footed Spider
Conservation status
Least Concern (SANBI Red List)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Palpimanidae
Genus:	Palpimanus
Species:	P. capensis
Binomial name
Palpimanus capensis Simon, 1893[1]

Palpimanus capensis is a species of spider in the family Palpimanidae.^[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Cape palp-footed spider.^[3]

Distribution

Palpimanus capensis is recorded from three provinces in South Africa: Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and Western Cape. Notable locations include Mountain Zebra National Park, Karoo National Park, and Table Mountain National Park.^[3]

Habitat and ecology

P. capensis is a free-living ground dweller sampled from the Fynbos, Forest, Grassland and Thicket biomes at altitudes ranging from 7 to 1513 m above sea level.^[3]

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms

Conservation

Palpimanus capensis is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide range. There are no significant threats to the species. It is protected in the Mountain Zebra National Park, Karoo National Park and Table Mountain National Park.^[3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Eugène Simon in 1893 from Port Elizabeth. It is known from both sexes.^[3]

References

1. Simon, E. (1893). "Études arachnologiques. 25e Mémoire. XL. Descriptions d'espèces et de genres nouveaux de l'ordre des Araneae". Annales de la Société Entomologique de France. 62: 312. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.51973.
2. "Palpimanus capensis Simon, 1893". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
3. Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). The Palpimanidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 12. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6813794. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.