Diaea viridipes
| Six-spotted Diaea crab spider | |
|---|---|
| female | |
| female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Thomisidae |
| Genus: | Diaea |
| Species: | D. viridipes
|
| Binomial name | |
| Diaea viridipes Strand, 1909[1]
| |
Diaea viridipes is a species of spider in the family Thomisidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as six-spotted Diaea crab spider.[3]
Distribution
Diaea viridipes is found only in South Africa,[2] where it is known from the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces. It is protected in Table Mountain National Park.[3]
Habitat and ecology
Diaea viridipes inhabits the Fynbos Biome at altitudes ranging from 7 to 1059 m above sea level.[3]
These free-living plant dwellers are found on trees, shrubs and grasses.[3]
Description
Conservation
Diaea viridipes is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. This species is taxonomically problematic as it has not been revised and there are no illustrations available. It is protected in Table Mountain National Park.[3]
Etymology
The species epithet viridipes is derived from Latin viridis (green) and pes (foot).
Taxonomy
Diaea viridipes was described by Strand in 1909 from Retreat flats near Cape Town. The species is known only from the female and no illustrations are available.[2]
References
- ^ Strand, E. (1909). Spinnentiere von Südafrika und einigen Inseln gesammelt bei der deutschen Südpolar-Expedition. Vol. 10. Deutsche Südpolar-Expedition 1901-1905. pp. 541–596.
- ^ a b c "Diaea viridipes Strand, 1909". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
- ^ a b c d e Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). The Thomisidae of South Africa. Part 1 A-Mo. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 25. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7513274. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.