Araneus varus
Species of spider
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Araneus varus is a species of spider in the family Araneidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa.[3]
| Araneus varus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Araneidae |
| Genus: | Araneus |
| Species: | A. varus |
| Binomial name | |
| Araneus varus (Kauri, 1950)[1] | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Distribution
Araneus varus is known only from Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, at an altitude of 857 m above sea level.[3]
Habitat and ecology
Description
Due to sexual dimorphism, it is difficult to recognize the two sexes as belonging to the same species.[3]
Conservation
Araneus varus is listed as Data Deficient for Taxonomic reasons.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by Hans Kauri in 1950 as Larinia vara from Pietermaritzburg.[1] The species was redescribed by Yuri Marusik in 2017, who transferred it to Araneus.[4] The species is known only from the male and identification of the female is still problematic.[3]
