Xerophaeus exiguus

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Laingsburg Mouse Ground Spider
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Gnaphosidae
Genus: Xerophaeus
Species:
X. exiguus
Binomial name
Xerophaeus exiguus

Xerophaeus exiguus is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Laingsburg mouse ground spider.[3]

Distribution

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Xerophaeus exiguus is recorded from two South African provinces: the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.[3]

Habitat and ecology

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The species inhabits the Thicket and Fynbos biomes at altitudes ranging from 237 to 648 m above sea level. Xerophaeus exiguus are free-living ground dwellers.[3]

Description

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See also: Glossary of spider terms

Conservation

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Xerophaeus exiguus is listed as Data Deficient. The three known records of this species were all sampled prior to 1907. Too little is known about the location, range and current status of this taxon for an assessment to be made. More sampling is needed to determine the species' range. Threats are unknown.[3]

Taxonomy

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The species was originally described by W. F. Purcell in 1907 from Laingsburg. The species has not been revised but is known from both sexes.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Purcell, W.F. (1907). "New South African spiders of the family Drassidae in the collection of the South African Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 20 (118): 297–336. doi:10.1080/00222930709487339.
  2. ^ "Xerophaeus exiguus Purcell, 1907". World Spider Catalog.
  3. ^ a b c d e Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Gnaphosidae of South Africa. Part 3 (T-X). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 44. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.