Caponia natalensis
| Natal Orange Lungless Spider | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Caponiidae |
| Genus: | Caponia |
| Species: | C. natalensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Caponia natalensis (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1874)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Caponia natalensis is a species of spider of the genus Caponia and the type species of the genus. It is found in Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, and South Africa.[1]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described as Colophon natalensis by Octavius Pickard-Cambridge in 1874, with the type locality given only as Natal. It was later transferred to the genus Caponia by Eugène Simon in 1887.[1]
Distribution
Caponia natalensis has been recorded from three provinces in South Africa: the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo.[2] The species is abundant in Kruger National Park and has also been recorded from Ndumo Game Reserve and iSimangaliso Wetland Park.[2]
Habitat
The species is a free-living ground dweller frequently sampled in pitfall traps from the Savanna Biome.[2]
Conservation
Caponia natalensis is listed as Least Concern. The species is known from both sexes and sampled from four African countries. In South Africa it is known from three provinces at elevations ranging from 83 to 389 metres above sea level. It is abundant in Kruger National Park with more than 20 records reported. There are no recorded threats to the species, and considering its broad geographical range in Africa it is listed as Least Concern.[2]
The species is protected in Kruger National Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, and Ndumo Game Reserve.[2]
Description
Both males and females are known for this species.[2]
References
- ^ a b "Caponia natalensis (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1874)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). "The Caponiidae of South Africa". South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. 1: 1–24. doi:10.5281/zenodo.5913570. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.