Zelotes namaquus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bitterfontein Dark Ground Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Gnaphosidae |
| Genus: | Zelotes |
| Species: | Z. namaquus |
| Binomial name | |
| Zelotes namaquus FitzPatrick, 2007[1] | |
Zelotes namaquus is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the bitterfontein dark ground spider.[3]
Zelotes namaquus is known from two South African provinces: Limpopo and Northern Cape. The species occurs at altitudes ranging from 574 to 1,202 m above sea level.[3]
Collection localities include Koedoesvlei in the Western Soutpansberg, Goro Game Ranch near Vivo, Vyeboom Village, Ndengeza Village, Voortrekkerspos, and Bitterfontein.[3]
Description
Habitat and ecology
Flat-bellied ground spiders are nocturnal hunters that make silk sacs under stones and surface debris where they live during the day, while moulting and during prolonged periods of inactivity. The species has been sampled from the Savanna and Succulent Karoo biomes.[3]
