Biology:Spiroctenus inermis
| Clanwilliam 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. inermis
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| Binomial name | |
| Spiroctenus inermis (Purcell, 1902)
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| Synonyms | |
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Spiroctenus inermis is a species of spider in the family Bemmeridae. It occurs in the Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa.[1]
Distribution
Spiroctenus inermis has been recorded from Clanwilliam Pakhuisberg in the Western Cape, and Nieuwoudtville and Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve in the Northern Cape.[2]
Habitat
The species inhabits the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo biomes as a ground-dwelling burrow constructor.[2]
Description
Only males of Spiroctenus inermis are known to science.[3] The carapace is pale ochraceous with the cephalic region darkened with a brownish tinge and a longitudinal ochraceous stripe extending from each side of the ocular area. The chelicerae are pale ochraceous with infuscate lines. The legs are pale ochraceous with femora weakly darkened with brownish lines above. The sternum and underside of coxae are pale yellowish. The opisthosoma is pale yellowish with the upper surface and usually the posterior part of the sides strongly blackened, showing numerous pale yellowish dots and spots but lacking well-defined obliquely transverse dark stripes. The total length is 12-14 millimeters.[3]
Conservation
The species is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons, as females remain unknown and the full species range requires further study.[2]
References
- ↑ "Spiroctenus inermis (Purcell, 1902)". World Spider Catalog. http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/species/22351. 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. (1902). "New South African trap-door spiders of the family Ctenizidae in the collection of the South African Museum". Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society 11: 348-382.
Wikidata ☰ Q5510052 entry
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