Habrocestum africanum

Ndumo Habrocestum Jumping Spider
male
male
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Salticidae
Genus: Habrocestum
Species:
H. africanum
Binomial name
Habrocestum africanum
Wesołowska & Haddad, 2009[1]

Habrocestum africanum is a species of spider in the family Salticidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as Ndumo Habrocestum jumping spider.[3]

Distribution

Habrocestum africanum is found in South Africa,[2] where it has been recorded from KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape. Notable locations include iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Ndumo Game Reserve, Tembe Elephant Park, Ophathe Game Reserve, and De Hoop Nature Reserve.[3]

Habitat and ecology

Habrocestum africanum inhabits Savanna and Fynbos biomes at altitudes ranging from 30 to 405 m.[3]

Specimens were collected from the soil surface and leaf litter in thorny thickets. Occasionally collected from the foliage of low shrubs and bark of Vachellia xanthophloea.[3]

Description

Conservation

Habrocestum africanum is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. There are no known threats and it is protected in six reserves in South Africa.[3]

Taxonomy

Habrocestum africanum was described in 2009 from Ndumo Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Wesołowska, W.; Haddad, C.R. (2009). "Jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) of the Ndumo Game Reserve, Maputaland, South Africa". African Invertebrates. 50 (1): 13–103. Bibcode:2009AfrIn..50...13W. doi:10.5733/afin.050.0102.
  2. ^ a b "Habrocestum africanum Wesołowska & Haddad, 2009". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  3. ^ a b c d e Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Van der Walt, V.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2025). The Salticidae of South Africa. Part 2 (E-Ha). Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 48. doi:10.5281/zenodo.15266589. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.