Moggridgea quercina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cape Town Moggridgea Trapdoor Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Migidae |
| Genus: | Moggridgea |
| Species: | M. quercina |
| Binomial name | |
| Moggridgea quercina | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Moggridgea quercina is a species of spider in the family Migidae.[2] It is endemic to the Western Cape province of South Africa and is commonly known as the Cape Town Moggridgea trapdoor spider.[3]
The specific name derives from Latin quercus "oak", due to the species' association with oak trees.
Distribution
Moggridgea quercina occurs in seven historic locations between the Cape Peninsula and Franschhoek, including Cape Town, Muizenberg, Simonstown, Table Mountain National Park, and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.[3]
Habitat
Description
Moggridgea quercina is known from both sexes.[3]
Ecology
Moggridgea quercina constructs both arboreal and rupicolous nests. The species is commonly found on the bark of oak trees (Quercus pedunculata), where the nests have a thin but rigid lid. Other specimens were found in oval nests beneath stones with a thin lid, camouflaged with grains of earth and sand. Females were collected in March and June.[3]
