Meta meruensis
Species of spider
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Meta meruensis is a species of spider in the family Tetragnathidae.[2] It is commonly known as the meruensis orb-web spider.[3]
| Meruensis Orb-Web Spider | |
|---|---|
| |
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Tetragnathidae |
| Genus: | Meta |
| Species: | M. meruensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Meta meruensis | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Distribution
Meta meruensis is found in Tanzania and South Africa.[2] In South Africa, the species is recorded from three provinces: KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga.[3]
Habitat and ecology
Description
Conservation
Meta meruensis is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range.[3] The species is protected in Blouberg Nature Reserve, Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve, and Lhuvhondo Nature Reserve.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by Albert Tullgren in 1910 from Tanzania.[1] According to Marusik and Larsen in 2018, the species is misplaced in Meta and based on the shape of the epigyne, it may belong to Leucauge.[4] However, it differs from Leucauge in several aspects, including the absence of the double fringe of trichobothria on leg IV.[4]
It is known only from females.[3]
