Afrilobus capensis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cape Six-Eyed Ground Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Orsolobidae |
| Genus: | Afrilobus |
| Species: | A. capensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Afrilobus capensis | |
Afrilobus capensis is a species of spider in the family Orsolobidae. It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Cape Six-Eyed Ground Spider.[1][2]
Afrilobus capensis was first described in 1987 by Charles E. Griswold and Norman I. Platnick from specimens collected in the Cederberg Mountains of the Western Cape.[3] It serves as the type species for the genus Afrilobus.
Etymology
The specific name capensis refers to the Cape Province, the type locality where the species was first discovered.
Distribution and habitat
Afrilobus capensis is known from two provinces in South Africa: the Western Cape and Northern Cape. The species has been recorded from the Cederberg Wilderness Area in the Western Cape and Namaqua National Park in the Northern Cape.[2]
The spider inhabits elevations ranging from 176 to 1,557 meters above sea level. It is found in both Fynbos and Succulent Karoo biomes. The species is a free-running soil dweller that lives primarily in humus under bushes or large stones.[2]
