Biology:Diores pauper
| Drakensberg Igloo spider | |
|---|---|
| |
| Male | |
| |
| Male | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Zodariidae |
| Genus: | Diores |
| Species: | D. pauper
|
| Binomial name | |
| Diores pauper Jocqué, 1990[1]
| |
Diores pauper is a species of spider in the family Zodariidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Drakensberg Igloo spider.[3]
Distribution
Diores pauper has been recorded from three provinces in South Africa: the Eastern Cape, Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal. The species was originally described from Cathedral Peak Forest Station in KwaZulu-Natal.[3]
Habitat
The species inhabits the Grassland, Fynbos, and Thicket biomes at altitudes ranging from 488 to 1646 metres above sea level.[3]
Description
-
male
Diores pauper is one of the smallest species in the genus Diores. Males have a total length of 2.32 mm, while females measure 2.72 mm. The carapace is orange with a dark spot in front of the fovea and five striae. The chelicerae and legs are yellowish-orange, and the sternum is yellow.[1]
Males have a sepia dorsum on the opisthosoma with a slightly darker scutum in the anterior half and three pale spots united in a line in front of the spinnerets. Females have similar coloration but the dorsum of the abdomen is uniform sepia with only one small pale patch in front of the spinnerets.[1]
Ecology
Diores pauper are free-living ground-dwellers that construct igloo-shaped retreats with small stones, characteristic behavior of the genus Diores.[3]
Conservation
The species is listed as Least Concern due to its wide geographic range. It is protected in Addo Elephant National Park.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jocqué, R. (1990). "A revision of the Afrotropical genus Diores (Araneae, Zodariidae)". Annales, Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Sciences zoologiques 260: 1-81.
- ↑ "Diores pauper Jocqué, 1990". World Spider Catalog. http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/species/43428. 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. 72. 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.
Wikidata ☰ Q2187787 entry
 |  |
