Stasimopus maraisi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Marais's Cork-Lid Trapdoor Spider | |
|---|---|
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| Female | |
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| Female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Stasimopidae |
| Genus: | Stasimopus |
| Species: | S. maraisi |
| Binomial name | |
| Stasimopus maraisi Hewitt, 1914[1] | |
Stasimopus maraisi is a species of spider in the family Stasimopidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as Marais's cork-lid trapdoor spider.[3]
Stasimopus maraisi is found in the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces of South Africa. It occurs at Farm Driefontein near Victoria West in the Northern Cape, and at Beaufort West, Swartberg Nature Reserve, Karoo National Park, and Aardvark Nature Reserve in the Western Cape. The species is found at altitudes ranging from 588 to 1270 m above sea level.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species inhabits the Fynbos and Nama Karoo biomes.[3]
Description
female
Stasimopus maraisi is distinguished by the small size of the posterior lateral eyes, which is perhaps the most striking feature of the species in both sexes. Females have a carapace and appendages that are pale brown above, with the chelicerae rather more deeply coloured. The abdomen is pale above with some dark blotches which in the posterior half are symmetrically arranged, forming a kind of tree pattern. Total length is 32.5 mm. Males have a carapace with a tuft of hairs over the ocular area and the usual three keels present, with the median one carrying hairs and extending to the fovea.[3]
