Xerophaeus hottentottus

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Kalahari 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. hottentottus
Binomial name
Xerophaeus hottentottus
Synonyms
  • Xerophaeus gordonicus Hewitt, 1915

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

Distribution

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Xerophaeus hottentottus is recorded from three South African provinces, the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and North West.[3]

Habitat and ecology

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The species inhabits multiple biomes including Succulent Karoo, Nama Karoo, and Grassland biomes at altitudes ranging from 63 to 1378 m above sea level. Xerophaeus hottentottus are free-living ground dwellers.[3]

Description

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See also: Glossary of spider terms

Conservation

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Xerophaeus hottentottus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide range. The species is protected in Fort Fordyce Forest Reserve and Augrabies National Park. There are no significant threats.[3]

Taxonomy

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The species was originally described by W. F. Purcell in 1908 from Steinkopf in the Northern Cape. Tucker (1923) synonymized Xerophaeus gordonicus Hewitt, 1915 with this species. The species has not been revised and is known only from the female.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Purcell, W.F. (1908). "Araneae (I). In: Schultze, L. (ed.): Zoologische und anthropologische Ergebnisse einer Forschungsreise im westlichen und zentralen Südafrika. Erster Band: Systematik und Tiergeographie. Zweite Lieferung". Denkschriften der Medizinisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft zu Jena. 13: 203–246.
  2. ^ "Xerophaeus hottentottus Purcell, 1908". 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. 47. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.