Tyrotama abyssus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Swartberg Two-tailed Ground Spider | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Male | |
 | |
| Male | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Hersiliidae |
| Genus: | Tyrotama |
| Species: | T. abyssus |
| Binomial name | |
| Tyrotama abyssus Foord & Dippenaar-Schoeman, 2005[1] | |
Tyrotama abyssus is a species of spider in the family Hersiliidae.[2] It is a southern African endemic and is commonly known as the Swartberg Two-tailed Ground Spider.[3]
Tyrotama abyssus occurs in Lesotho and South Africa.[2] In South Africa, the species is presently known from two provinces at altitudes ranging from 172 to 1,706 m above sea level.[3]
Habitat
The species is found in Nama Karoo and Succulent Karoo biomes. It constructs circular webs under stones, with the web attached to the underside of the stone and hanging like a veil. The web structure is distinctive, appearing veil-like as it hangs from the stone's underside, with access provided through a northern-facing entrance.[3]
