Idiops hirsutus

Idiops hirsutus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Idiopidae
Genus: Idiops
Species:
I. hirsutus
Binomial name
Idiops hirsutus
(Hewitt, 1919)[1]
Synonyms
  • Acanthodon hirsutus Hewitt, 1919

Idiops hirsutus is a species of spider in the family Idiopidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa.[3]

Distribution

Idiops hirsutus is an Eastern Cape endemic known only from the type locality East London at an altitude of 56 m above sea level.[3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits the Thicket biome. It lives in silk-lined burrows closed with a trapdoor.[3]

Description

Idiops hirsutus is known from both sexes. The carapace and legs are pale yellowish brown, while the abdomen is somewhat infuscated superiorly. Total length is 9.8 mm.[3]

Conservation

Idiops hirsutus is listed as Data Deficient due to insufficient knowledge about its habitat, distribution and threats. The species is under-collected and more sampling is needed.[3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by John Hewitt in 1919 as Acanthodon hirsutus from East London. The species has not been revised.[3]

References

  1. ^ Hewitt, J. (1919). "Descriptions of new South African Araneae and Solifugae". Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 6: 63–111.
  2. ^ "Idiops hirsutus (Hewitt, 1919)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Idiopidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 43. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6324502. Retrieved 23 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.