Xerophaeus spoliator

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Hanover 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. spoliator
Binomial name
Xerophaeus spoliator

Xerophaeus spoliator is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae.[2] It occurs in southern Africa and is commonly known as the Hanover mouse ground spider.[3]

Distribution

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Xerophaeus spoliator is recorded from Namibia and South Africa. In South Africa, it is known from five provinces: the Free State, Limpopo, Northern Cape, North West, and Western Cape.[3]

Habitat and ecology

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The species inhabits multiple biomes including Grassland, Nama Karoo, and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 635 to 1358 m above sea level. Xerophaeus spoliator are free-living ground dwellers.[3]

Description

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See also: Glossary of spider terms

Conservation

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Xerophaeus spoliator is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographic range. The species is protected in Augrabies National Park and there are no significant threats.[3]

Taxonomy

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The species was originally described by W. F. Purcell in 1907 from Hanover in the Northern Cape. 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 spoliator 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. 60. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.