Palpimanus transvaalicus

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Transvaal Palp-Footed Spider
Female
Juvenile
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Palpimanidae
Genus: Palpimanus
Species:
P. transvaalicus
Binomial name
Palpimanus transvaalicus
Simon, 1893[1]

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

Distribution

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Palpimanus transvaalicus is widespread and known from seven provinces in South Africa: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West.[3]

Habitat and ecology

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The species is a free running ground dweller, active at night. During the day it is frequently found in small irregular saclike retreats made under stones. This species has been recorded from the Grassland, Savanna and Thicket biomes as well as crops such as citrus and cotton at altitudes ranging from 83 to 1951 m above sea level.[3]

Description

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See also: Glossary of spider terms
  • female juvenile
    female juvenile
  • female juvenile
    female juvenile

Conservation

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Palpimanus transvaalicus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. Although the species is presently known only from one sex it has a wide geographical range. There are no significant threats to the species. It is protected in more than ten protected areas.[3]

Taxonomy

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The species was originally described by Eugène Simon in 1893 with type locality only given as Transvaal. It is known only from the male, though females have been collected but need to be described.[3]

References

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  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 transvaalicus Simon, 1893". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  3. ^ a b c d e 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. 22. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6813794. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.