Heriaeus transvaalicus

Transvaal Hairy Crab Spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Thomisidae
Genus: Heriaeus
Species:
H. transvaalicus
Binomial name
Heriaeus transvaalicus
Simon, 1895[1]

Heriaeus transvaalicus is a species of spider in the family Thomisidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Transvaal hairy crab spider.[3]

Distribution

Heriaeus transvaalicus is found only in South Africa,[2] where it is known from Limpopo and North West.[3]

Habitat and ecology

All specimens were collected by sweeping grassland, false grassland, woodland and open savanna at altitudes ranging from 894 to 1556 m.[3] Females were collected from January to May and adult males in March.[3]

Description

Conservation

Heriaeus transvaalicus is protected in three reserves including Polokwane Nature Reserve, Blouberg Nature Reserve, and Rustenburg Nature Reserve. Due to its large range, the species is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute.[3]

Taxonomy

Heriaeus transvaalicus was described by Simon in 1895 from Makapan in Limpopo.[1] It was revised in 2013.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Simon, E. (1895). "Descriptions d'arachnides nouveaux de la famille des Thomisidae". Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique. 39: 432–443.
  2. ^ a b "Heriaeus transvaalicus Simon, 1895". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  3. ^ 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. 42. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7513274. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
  4. ^ van Niekerk, P.; Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S. (2013). "A revision of the crab spider genus Heriaeus Simon, 1875 (Araneae: Thomisidae) in the Afrotropical region". African Invertebrates. 54 (2): 447–476. Bibcode:2013AfrIn..54..447N. doi:10.5733/afin.054.0213.