Heliocapensis termitophagus
| Termite-feeding Heliocapensis Sunny Jumping Spider | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Salticidae |
| Genus: | Heliocapensis |
| Species: | H. termitophagus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Heliocapensis termitophagus | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Heliocapensis termitophagus is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the termite-feeding Heliocapensis sunny jumping spider.[3]
Distribution
Heliocapensis termitophagus has been sampled from two provinces of South Africa, the Northern Cape and Free State.[3] Locations include Benfontein Nature Reserve, Bloemfontein, Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve, and Tussen-die-Riviere Nature Reserve.[3]
Habitat and ecology
Heliocapensis termitophagus has been sampled from the Grassland Biome at altitudes ranging from 1235 to 1399 m.[3]
Description
Conservation
Heliocapensis termitophagus is listed as Least Concern due to the wide geographical range of the species.[3] The species has a wide geographical range and is protected in Benfontein Nature Reserve, Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve, and Tussen-die-Riviere Nature Reserve.[3]
Taxonomy
The species is known from both sexes and has a junior synonym Heliocapensis thaleri.[3] The species was transferred to Heliocapensis by Wesołowska in 2024.[4]
References
- ^ Wesołowska, W.; Haddad, C. R. (2002). "A new Termitivorous Jumping Spider from South Africa (Araneae Salticidae)". Tropical Zoology. 15 (2): 197–207. Bibcode:2002TrZoo..15..197W. doi:10.1080/03946975.2002.10531174. S2CID 84083212.
- ^ a b "Heliocapensis termitophagus (Wesołowska & Haddad, 2002)". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Walt, V. van der; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2025). The Salticidae of South Africa. Part 3 (He-Iran). Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 33. doi:10.5281/zenodo.17103454. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
- ^ Wesołowska, W. (2024). "Taxonomic notes on the genus Heliophanus C.L. Koch, 1833, with description of three additional genera (Araneae: Salticidae: Chrysillini)". Zootaxa. 5405 (1): 80–92. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5405.1.3. PMID 38480396.