Biology:Spiroctenus armatus
| Port Alfred Spiroctenus Trapdoor Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Bemmeridae |
| Genus: | Spiroctenus |
| Species: | S. armatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Spiroctenus armatus Hewitt, 1913[1]
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Spiroctenus armatus is a species of spider in the family Bemmeridae. It is endemic to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.[2]
Distribution
Spiroctenus armatus is known only from the type locality on the west bank of the Kowie River, 4.5 kilometers from Port Alfred.[3]
Habitat
The species inhabits the Thicket Biome and was originally collected from a trapdoor burrow.[3]
Description
Only males of Spiroctenus armatus are known to science.[1] The carapace is dark reddish brown, becoming almost black in front and on the chelicerae. The pedipalps and legs are reddish brown with darker basal joints, especially the trochanters.
The opisthosoma is pale yellowish above with an irregular black pattern, while the lower surfaces are paler than the upper. The metatarsus I is curved near the base with a distinctly concave underside. The inner surface bears two large curved spines, the outer surface has two straight spines inferiorly, and the apex has a pair of spines inferiorly.[1]
Conservation
The species is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons, as females remain unknown and the full species range requires further study.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Hewitt, J. (1913). "Descriptions of new species of Arachnida from Cape Colony". Records of the Albany Museum Grahamstown 2: 462-481.
- ↑ "Spiroctenus armatus Hewitt, 1913". World Spider Catalog. http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/species/22340. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 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.
Wikidata ☰ Q2695595 entry
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