Diores triarmatus
| Congo Igloo spider | |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Zodariidae |
| Genus: | Diores |
| Species: | D. triarmatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Diores triarmatus Lessert, 1929[1]
| |
Diores triarmatus is a species of spider in the family Zodariidae.[2] It occurs in Africa and is commonly known as the Congo Igloo spider.[3]
Distribution
Diores triarmatus is found in Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, and Zambia.[2] In South Africa, it has been recorded from three provinces: Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga.[3]
Habitat
The species inhabits the Savanna biome at altitudes ranging from 275 to 1124 m above sea level.[3]
Description
-
female
Males of Diores triarmatus have a total length of 4.87 mm, while females are larger at 5.62 mm. The carapace, chelicerae, and legs are yellowish-orange, with the sternum being yellow. Males have a dark sepia scutum on the opisthosoma. Females have similar carapace coloration but lack the scutum, instead having a pale dorsal pattern on a dark background. The sides are sepia with an oblique pale patch, and the venter is pale.[4]
Ecology
Diores triarmatus 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 due to its wide range across Africa. It is protected in Tswaing Nature Reserve, Ben Lavin Nature Reserve, and Kruger National Park.[3]
References
- ^ Lessert, R. de (1929). "Araignées du Congo recueillies au cours de l'expédition organisée par l'American Museum (1909-1915). Troisième partie". Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 36 (1): 103–159.
- ^ a b "Diores triarmatus Lessert, 1929". 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. 86. doi:10.5281/zenodo.14404920. Retrieved 20 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
- ^ Jocqué, R. (1990). "A revision of the Afrotropical genus Diores (Araneae, Zodariidae)". Annales, Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Sciences zoologiques. 260: 1–81.