Biology:Diores jonesi
| Jones' Igloo spider | |
|---|---|
LC (SANBI)
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Zodariidae |
| Genus: | Diores |
| Species: | D. jonesi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Diores jonesi Tucker, 1920[1]
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Diores jonesi is a species of spider in the family Zodariidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as Jones' Igloo spider.[3]
Distribution
Diores jonesi has been recorded from KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo provinces in South Africa. The species was originally described from Mfongosi in KwaZulu-Natal and has also been found in Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve in Limpopo.[3]
Habitat
The species inhabits the Savanna biome at altitudes ranging from 82 to 762 metres above sea level.[3]
Description
Males of Diores jonesi have a total length of 3.69 mm. The type specimens appear bleached, but based on Tucker's original description, the male carapace is dark brown and strongly infuscated. The opisthosoma is purple-black with a black dorsal scutum extending over two-thirds of its length, while the ventral surface is light purple with a pale brown epigastric scutum. Females are similar to males, with a dark purple-black dorsum lacking light spots posteriorly and a pale ventral surface.[4]
Ecology
Diores jonesi are free-living ground-dwellers that construct the characteristic igloo-shaped retreats typical of the genus Diores.[3]
Conservation
The species is listed as Least Concern. Although known from widely disjunct collection localities, extensive areas of natural habitat remain intact within its range. It is protected in Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve.[3]
References
- ↑ Tucker, R.W.E. (1920). "Contributions to the South African Arachnid Fauna. II. On some new South African spiders of the families Barychelidae, Dipluridae, Eresidae, Zodariidae, Heracliidae, Urocteidae, Clubionidae". Annals of the South African Museum 17: 439-488.
- ↑ "Diores jonesi Tucker, 1920". World Spider Catalog. http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/species/43413. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Jocqué, R.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2024). The Zodariidae of South Africa. Part 1 (A-D) version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. pp. 68. doi:10.5281/zenodo.14404920. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14404920. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
- ↑ Jocqué, R. (1990). "A revision of the Afrotropical genus Diores (Araneae, Zodariidae)". Annales, Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Sciences zoologiques 260: 1-81.
Wikidata ☰ Q1966545 entry
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