Systenoplacis fagei
| Hluhluwe Systenoplacis zodariid spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Zodariidae |
| Genus: | Systenoplacis |
| Species: | S. fagei
|
| Binomial name | |
| Systenoplacis fagei (Lawrence, 1937)[1]
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Systenoplacis fagei is a species of spider in the family Zodariidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Hluhluwe Systenoplacis zodariid spider.[3]
Distribution
[edit]Systenoplacis fagei has a wide distribution across three provinces of South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and the Western Cape.[3]
Habitat
[edit]The species inhabits multiple biomes including Fynbos, Forest, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, and Savanna at altitudes ranging from 4 to 1,341 m above sea level.[3]
Description
[edit]Both sexes of Systenoplacis fagei are known. Females reach 8.56 mm in total length with a medium reddish brown carapace and reddish brown chelicerae. The abdomen is grey sparsely mottled with white, featuring four small oval spots in front of the spinnerets. Males are smaller at 7.08 mm total length with a uniform chestnut brown carapace and a distinctive white spot on the abdomen shaped like four coalescing chevrons.[4]
Ecology
[edit]Systenoplacis fagei are free-running ground spiders that inhabit diverse environments from coastal areas to inland savannas and forests.[3]
Conservation
[edit]The species is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. It is protected in seven protected areas including Hluhluwe Nature Reserve, Ndumo Game Reserve, Tembe Elephant Park, Kruger National Park, and others.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Lawrence, R.F. (1937). "A collection of Arachnida from Zululand". Annals of the Natal Museum. 8: 225.
- ^ "Systenoplacis fagei (Lawrence, 1937)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Jocqué, R.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2024). The Zodariidae of South Africa. Part 2 (H-T) version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 39. doi:10.5281/zenodo.14568995. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
- ^ Jocqué, R. (2009). "Some keep it short: on the radiation in the Afrotropical spider genera Capheris and Systenoplacis (Araneae, Zodariidae) without male pedipalp complexity increase". Journal of Afrotropical Zoology. 5: 87.
