Selenops brachycephalus

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Zimbabwe Selenops Flat Spider
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Selenopidae
Genus: Selenops
Species:
S. brachycephalus
Binomial name
Selenops brachycephalus

Selenops brachycephalus is a species of spider in the family Selenopidae.[2] It is found in Zimbabwe and South Africa and is commonly known as the Zimbabwe Selenops Flat Spider.[3]

Distribution

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Selenops brachycephalus is found in Zimbabwe and South Africa. In South Africa, it occurs in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces at altitudes ranging from 211 to 1,372 m above sea level.[3]

Habitat and ecology

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The species inhabits the Savanna biome and is a free-living cryptozoic nocturnal ground living spider.[3]

Description

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See also: Glossary of spider terms

Known only from the female. Carapace brown with some darker markings radiating forwards and sideways from thoracic stria, those in cephalic portion more strongly defined. Abdomen above dark mottled brown, a few white speckles among the predominating brown ones. Legs brown with some vague bands. Total length 10-12 mm.[3]

Conservation

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Selenops brachycephalus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species is protected in Blouberg Nature Reserve, Lhuvhondo Nature Reserve and Kruger National Park.[3]

Taxonomy

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The species was originally described by Lawrence in 1940 from Zimbabwe. It was revised by Corronca in 2002. Additional sampling is needed to collect males and to determine the species' complete range.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Lawrence, R.F. (1940). "The genus Selenops (Araneae) in South Africa". Annals of the South African Museum. 32: 555–608.
  2. ^ "Selenops brachycephalus Lawrence, 1940". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). The Selenopidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 68. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7162139. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.