Stasimopus oculatus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Common Cork-Lid Trapdoor Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Stasimopidae |
| Genus: | Stasimopus |
| Species: | S. oculatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Stasimopus oculatus | |
Stasimopus oculatus is a species of spider in the family Stasimopidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as common cork-lid trapdoor spider.[3]
Stasimopus oculatus has a wide distribution across five South African provinces: Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, and North West. Notable locations include multiple sites around Bloemfontein, various nature reserves, and areas near Pretoria. The species occurs at altitudes ranging from 397 to 1628 m above sea level.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species inhabits the Grassland and Savanna biomes. Stasimopus oculatus is a ground dweller that constructs silk-lined burrows closed with a cork-lid trapdoor. The lid is thick and D-shaped with a bevelled edge. The burrow width ranges from 30–60 mm at the entrance and 23–50 mm lower down, and is thickly lined with silk. The upper surface of the lid is coated with mud.
Neethling & Haddad (2019) sampled 48 specimens over 10 months from the Free State National Botanical Garden. Average minimum daily temperature had a significant effect on the activity pattern of the species, with activity occurring from mid-November to the end of March. The species has been found associated with termites (Trinervitermis trinervoides) in the Free State.[3]
Description
Stasimopus oculatus is known only from females. The carapace is yellowish brown, with legs and chelicerae slightly darker. The chelicerae have copper-red setae near the extremity. The dorsal surface of the abdomen is pale with a dark mesial purplish blotch. Total length of females is 30 mm. Males have been collected but not yet described.[3]
