Anyphops basutus
Species of spider
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anyphops basutus is a species of spider in the family Selenopidae.[2] It occurs in southern Africa and is commonly known as the Lesotho Anyphops flat spider.[3]
| Lesotho Anyphops Flat Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Selenopidae |
| Genus: | Anyphops |
| Species: | A. basutus |
| Binomial name | |
| Anyphops basutus (Pocock, 1901)[1] | |
Distribution
Anyphops basutus is found in Lesotho and South Africa.[2] In South Africa, the species occurs in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, at altitudes ranging from 375 to 1690 m above sea level.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species inhabits Forest and Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biomes.[3] These are free-living cryptozoic nocturnal ground dwellers.[3]
Description
Conservation
Anyphops basutus is listed as Least Concern due to its wide geographical range.[3] There are no known threats to the species. It is protected in Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve. More sampling is needed to determine the range.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1901 as Selenops basutus from Lesotho.[1] It was transferred to the genus Anyphops by Benoit in 1968.[3]
