Diores radulifer
| Steinkopf Igloo spider | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Zodariidae |
| Genus: | Diores |
| Species: | D. radulifer
|
| Binomial name | |
| Diores radulifer | |
Diores radulifer is a species of spider in the family Zodariidae.[2] It occurs in southern Africa and is commonly known as the Steinkopf Igloo spider.[3]
Distribution
Diores radulifer is found in South Africa and Namibia.[2] In South Africa, it is known from the Northern Cape province, including Steinkopf where it was originally described.[3]
Habitat
The species inhabits the Desert and Succulent Karoo biomes at altitudes ranging from 250 to 1169 metres above sea level.[3]
Description
Males of Diores radulifer have a total length of 4.08 mm, while females range from 4 to 7 mm. The carapace, chelicerae, and legs are brownish-yellow, with the sternum being pale yellow.[4]
Males have a pale dorsal scutum flanked by narrow dark lateral stripes, with the remainder of the opisthosoma being yellow. Females have a yellowish-orange carapace and chelicerae, yellow legs and sternum, and the abdomen dorsally shows two large black longitudinal bands with sinuous margins.[4]
Ecology
Diores radulifer are free-living ground-dwellers that construct igloo-shaped retreats with small stones, characteristic behavior of the genus Diores.[3]
Conservation
The species is listed as Least Concern. Despite having a restricted distribution in South Africa, extensive areas of natural habitat remain within its range and it faces no threats. It is protected in Richtersveld National Park and Namaqua National Park.[3]
References
- ^ Simon, E. (1910). "Arachnoidea: Araneae (II.)". Denkschriften der Medizinisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft zu Jena. 16: 175–218.
- ^ a b "Diores radulifer Simon, 1910". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Jocqué, R.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2024). The Zodariidae of South Africa. Part 1 (A-D) version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 74. doi:10.5281/zenodo.14404920. Retrieved 20 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
- ^ a b Jocqué, R. (1990). "A revision of the Afrotropical genus Diores (Araneae, Zodariidae)". Annales, Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Sciences zoologiques. 260: 1–81.