Leucauge thomeensis
Species of spider
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Leucauge thomeensis is a species of spider in the family Tetragnathidae.[2] a group commonly known as long-jawed orb-weavers due to their elongated chelicerae and web-building behavior. It is an African species native to southern Africa.[3] It is commonly known as the thomeensis silver vlei spider.[4]
| Thomeensis Silver Vlei Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Tetragnathidae |
| Genus: | Leucauge |
| Species: | L. thomeensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Leucauge thomeensis Kraus, 1960[1] | |
Distribution
Leucauge thomeensis is found in São Tomé and Príncipe, Botswana, and South Africa.[2]
In South Africa, the species is recorded only from the Eastern Cape, specifically from Jeffrey's Bay, Thyspunt, Storms River, and Addo Elephant National Park.[4]
Habitat and ecology
Description
Known only from males.[4]
Conservation
Leucauge thomeensis is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute.[4] The species is protected in Addo Elephant National Park.[4]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by Otto Kraus in 1960 from São Tomé.[1] The presence of the species in southern Africa still needs to be confirmed.[4]
