Cangoderces lewisi
Species of spider
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cangoderces lewisi is a species of spider in the family Telemidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Cango cave spider.[3]
| Cango Cave Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Telemidae |
| Genus: | Cangoderces |
| Species: | C. lewisi |
| Binomial name | |
| Cangoderces lewisi Harington, 1951[1] | |
Distribution
Cangoderces lewisi is known only from the Western Cape, at Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species inhabits caves at an altitude of 357 m above sea level. Cangoderces lewisi was collected from the Cango Caves about 700 m from the entrance, where individuals were found in space webs spun in small crevices in the rock wall about 30-40 cm above the footpath in the total dark zone of the cave.[3]
Description
Conservation
Cangoderces lewisi is listed as critically rare due to having a small restricted distribution range and being recorded from only one locality. The status of the species remains obscure and more sampling is needed to determine the species range. The species is endangered because of commercial activities in the cave.[3]
