Theuma pusilla

Kamaggas Theuma Long Spinneret Ground Spider
Invalid status (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Prodidomidae
Genus: Theuma
Species:
T. pusilla
Binomial name
Theuma pusilla

Theuma pusilla is a species of spider in the family Prodidomidae.[2] It is a southern African endemic commonly known as the Kamaggas Theuma long spinneret ground spider.[3]

Distribution

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Theuma pusilla occurs in Namibia and South Africa.[3] In South Africa, it is known only from the type locality Kamaggas in the Northern Cape.[3]

Habitat and ecology

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Theuma pusilla is a free-running ground dweller found in the Succulent Karoo biome at an altitude of 231 m above sea level.[3]

Description

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Conservation

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Theuma pusilla is listed as Data Deficient for Taxonomic reasons.[3] The status of the species remains obscure, and although it is also known from Namibia, more sampling is needed to collect the male and determine the species range.[3]

Taxonomy

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The species was originally described by William Frederick Purcell in 1908 from Kamaggas in the Northern Cape.[1] It has not been revised and is known only from the female sex.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b Purcell, W.F. (1908). "Araneae (I). In: Schultze, L. (ed.): Zoologische und anthropologische Ergebnisse einer Forschungsreise im westlichen und zentralen Südafrika". Denkschriften der Medizinisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft zu Jena. 13: 232.
  2. ^ "Theuma pusilla Purcell, 1908". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2023). The Prodidomidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 36. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7515818. Retrieved 24 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.