Biology:Spiroctenus minor
| Alicedale Spiroctenus Trapdoor Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Bemmeridae |
| Genus: | Spiroctenus |
| Species: | S. minor
|
| Binomial name | |
| Spiroctenus minor (Hewitt, 1913)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Spiroctenus minor is a species of spider in the family Bemmeridae. It is endemic to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.[1]
Distribution
Spiroctenus minor is known only from the type locality at Alicedale.[2]
Habitat
The species inhabits the Thicket Biome and constructs burrows sloping downwards for 18-20 centimeters with the lower portion free of silk.[2]
Description
Both sexes of Spiroctenus minor are known to science.[3] Females have a pale chestnut olive carapace and appendages above, with the patellae of the first two pairs of legs being paler and showing a reddish brown tinge. The opisthosoma is pale dorsally with an extensive but indefinite variegated blackish pattern. The lower surfaces are pale brown, with the chelicerae, coxae of pedipalps, and labium showing a reddish tinge. The total length of females is 22.5 millimeters and males 15.2 millimeters.[3]
Conservation
The species is listed as Data Deficient, as more sampling is needed to determine the species range.[2]
References
- ↑ "Spiroctenus minor (Hewitt, 1913)". World Spider Catalog. http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/species/22358. 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 Hewitt, J. (1913). "Descriptions of new species of Arachnida from Cape Colony". Records of the Albany Museum Grahamstown 2: 462-481.
Wikidata ☰ Q2670661 entry
 |  |
