Biology:Spiroctenus collinus
| Table Mountain 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. collinus
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| Binomial name | |
| Spiroctenus collinus (Pocock, 1900)
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| Synonyms | |
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Spiroctenus collinus is a species of spider in the family Bemmeridae. It is endemic to the Western Cape province of South Africa.[1]
Distribution
Spiroctenus collinus is known only from the Cape Peninsula, with records from Camps Bay, Kalk Bay, Table Mountain National Park including Signal Hill and Silvermine Nature Reserve, and Tulbagh.[2]
Habitat
The species inhabits the Fynbos Biome and constructs simple burrows with a turret around the entrance.[2]
Description
Both sexes of Spiroctenus collinus are known to science.[3] The carapace is ochraceous with deep olive infuscations in the cephalic region and posterior carapace, and to a lesser extent in lateral radiations from the fovea. The legs are pale ochraceous below, darkened with a brownish tinge above on the femora, and browner from the patellae onwards. The pedipalps are lighter and tinged olivaceous. The opisthosoma is darkened with a brownish tinge above, with testaceous markings posteriorly that bring out central and oblique dark lines. The sides and underside are pale testaceous with a distinct green tinge. The total length is 18 millimeters for females and 12 millimeters for males.[4]
Conservation
The species is listed as Data Deficient, as more sampling is needed to determine its current range.[2] Historic collections from lowland sites may have been lost to urban development, but the species is protected in Table Mountain National Park.
References
- ↑ "Spiroctenus collinus (Pocock, 1900)". World Spider Catalog. http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/species/22344. 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.
- ↑ Tucker, R.W.E. (1917). "On some South African Aviculariidae (Arachnida). Families Migidae, Ctenizidae, Diplotheleae and Dipluridae". Annals of the South African Museum 17: 79-138.
- ↑ Pocock, R.I. (1900). "Some new Arachnida from Cape Colony". Annals and Magazine of Natural History 6 (33): 316-333.
Wikidata ☰ Q2723908 entry
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