Asemesthes albovittatus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Wolf-Like Flatbellied Ground Spider | |
|---|---|
 | |
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| male | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Gnaphosidae |
| Genus: | Asemesthes |
| Species: | A. albovittatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Asemesthes albovittatus Purcell, 1908[1] | |
Asemesthes albovittatus is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae.[2] It is endemic to southern Africa and is commonly known as the wolf-like flatbellied ground spider.[3]
Asemesthes albovittatus occurs in Namibia and South Africa.[2] In South Africa, the species is recorded from four provinces, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and Western Cape. Notable locations include Mountain Zebra National Park and Anysberg Nature Reserve.[3]
Habitat and ecology
Description
male
male
Asemesthes albovittatus is known from both sexes and belongs to a genus that resembles wolf spiders in appearance. Females have a yellowish brown carapace and legs, with a testaceous opisthosoma that is darkened laterally and mid-dorsally, leaving a characteristic U-shaped band of white hair on the dorsal surface. The carapace bears lateral bands of white hairs. The total length ranges from 3 to 4 mm.[3]
Conservation
Asemesthes albovittatus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide distribution range. The species is protected in Anysberg Nature Reserve and Mountain Zebra National Park. There are no significant threats to the species and no conservation actions are recommended.[3]
