Biology:Afrarchaea bergae
| Sabie Assassin Spider | |
|---|---|
LC (SANBI)
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Archaeidae |
| Genus: | Afrarchaea |
| Species: | A. bergae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Afrarchaea bergae Lotz, 1996[1]
| |
Afrarchaea bergae is a species of spider of the genus Afrarchaea. It is endemic to South Africa.[2]
Distribution
Afrarchaea bergae has been recorded from Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces in South Africa. The species is found ranging from 583 to 1,303 metres above sea level.[3]
Known localities include Limpopo (Entabeni Forest Reserve) and Mpumalanga (Bergvliet Forest Station near Sabie, Crocodile River Bridge near Nelspruit, Kruger National Park, Mariepskop, Nelspruit, and Ohrigstad).[3]
Habitat
The species inhabits drier to riverine forests found in the Lowveld of eastern Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, within both Forest and Savanna biomes. Afrarchaea bergae has been sampled from humus and leaf litter, and notably has also been recorded from pine plantations, demonstrating some adaptability to modified habitats.[3]
Description
Afrarchaea bergae exhibits the characteristic features of the genus, including a greatly elevated cephalic region and elongated chelicerae. Both males and females are known for this species.[1]
Conservation status
Afrarchaea bergae is classified as Least Concern despite being known from fewer than 10 locations and having a relatively small distribution range. This classification is justified because the species can survive in pine plantations, which represent the main land use within its range, indicating some ecological flexibility.[3]
The species is protected within several conservation areas including Entabeni State Forest, Kruger National Park, and Bergvliet State Forest Station. No specific conservation actions are recommended due to its stable status.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lotz, L.N. (1996). "Afrotropical Archaeidae (Araneae): 1. New species of Afrarchaea with notes on Afrarchaea godfreyi (Hewitt, 1919)". Navorsinge van die Nasionale Museum Bloemfontein 12: 141–160.
- ↑ "Afrarchaea bergae Lotz, 1996". World Spider Catalog. https://wsc.nmbe.ch/species/5413. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). "South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide: The Archaeidae of South Africa". Version 1: 1–20. doi:10.5281/zenodo.5982745.
This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Wikidata ☰ Q963051 entry
 |  |
