Scytodes flagellata
Species of spider
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Scytodes flagellata is a species of spider in the family Scytodidae.[2] It is commonly known as the long palp spitting spider and is endemic to South Africa.[3]
| Long Palp Spitting Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Scytodidae |
| Genus: | Scytodes |
| Species: | S. flagellata |
| Binomial name | |
| Scytodes flagellata | |
Distribution
Scytodes flagellata is recorded from four provinces in South Africa, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and the Western Cape. Notable locations include Pretoria National Botanical Garden, Bontebok National Park, and Kogelberg. The species is found at elevations ranging from 63 to 1,698 m above sea level.[3]
Habitat and ecology
Description
The carapace has a mesial yellow stripe that is dilated, with outer black stripes that are very broad with jagged outer and concave inner margins containing several small yellow dots. Laterally there is black reticulation, and the sternum has spots. The abdomen has transverse black bands and is speckled all over. Legs are spotted and femora are furnished with a distal band, with the patella dark.[3]
Conservation
Scytodes flagellata is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. There are no significant threats to the species.[3]
Taxonomy
The species has not been revised and is known from both sexes, which have been illustrated.[3]
