Biology:Homostola abernethyi
| Abernethy's Wafer-Lid Trapdoor Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Bemmeridae |
| Genus: | Homostola |
| Species: | H. abernethyi
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| Binomial name | |
| Homostola abernethyi (Purcell, 1903)
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| Synonyms | |
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Homostola abernethyi is a species of spider in the family Bemmeridae. It is endemic to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.[1]
Distribution
Homostola abernethyi is known from two localities in the Eastern Cape: Kentani and Mkhambathi Nature Reserve.[2] The species occurs at elevations ranging from 1 to 424 meters above sea level.
Habitat
The species inhabits forest areas where it lives in leaf litter.[2] It has been recorded from the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, Savanna and Thicket biomes.
Description
Only females of Homostola abernethyi are known to science.[3] The carapace and legs are pale yellowish in color, with the thoracic portion and lateral borders showing a light brownish tinge. The ocular area is more than twice as wide as long. The labium bears 9 teeth arranged in 3 rows. The tarsi of legs I and II are scopulate to the base. The total length is 13.1 millimeters.[3]
Conservation
The species is listed as Data Deficient due to taxonomic uncertainty, as males remain unknown and the full species range is undetermined.[2] It is protected within Mkhambathi Nature Reserve.
References
- ↑ "Homostola abernethyi (Purcell, 1903)". World Spider Catalog. http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/species/8619. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Bemmeridae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. Irene. pp. 1-41. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7810486.
This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Purcell, W.F. (1903). "New South African spiders of the families Migidae, Ctenizidae, Barychelidae Dipluridae, and Lycosidae". Annals of the South African Museum 3: 69-142.
Wikidata ☰ Q3271037 entry
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