Hortipes merwei
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Van der Merwe's basket-legged spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Corinnidae |
| Genus: | Hortipes |
| Species: | H. merwei |
| Binomial name | |
| Hortipes merwei | |
Hortipes merwei is a species of spider in the family Corinnidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as Van der Merwe's basket-legged spider.[3]
Hortipes merwei is endemic to KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa.[3] It has been recorded from several localities including iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Ngome State Forest, Ophathe Game Reserve, and Dukuduku Forest Station.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species inhabits Forest, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 4 to 1,061 m above sea level.[3] It is strongly associated with leaf litter in woodland and forest habitats, particularly Southern Mistbelt Forest.[3] The species has also been found in commercial pine plantations.[3]
