Loxosceles makapanensis

Loxosceles makapanensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Sicariidae
Genus: Loxosceles
Species:
L. makapanensis
Binomial name
Loxosceles makapanensis
Lotz, 2017[1]

Loxosceles makapanensis is a species of spider in the family Sicariidae.[2] It is endemic to Limpopo province of South Africa.[3]

Distribution

Loxosceles makapanensis is known only from two localities in Makapan Valley, Limpopo province, at altitudes ranging from 1404 to 1911 m above sea level.[3]

Habitat and ecology

The species is a ground dweller collected from caves in the Savanna biome.[3]

Description

Conservation

Loxosceles makapanensis is listed as Data Deficient due to taxonomic reasons. The species is known only from two localities in Makapan Valley and its status remains obscure. More sampling is needed to collect males and determine the species' range.[3]

Etymology

The specific name makapanensis refers to the Makapan Valley where the species was discovered.

Taxonomy

The species was described by Leon N. Lotz in 2017 from the Ficus Cave in Makapan Valley. It is known only from females, with males remaining to be discovered.[3]

References

  1. ^ Lotz, L.N. (2017). "An update on the spider genus Loxosceles (Araneae: Sicariidae) in the Afrotropical region, with description of seven new species". Zootaxa. 4341 (4): 475–494. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4341.4.2. PMID 29245673.
  2. ^ "Loxosceles makapanensis Lotz, 2017". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  3. ^ a b c d e Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Sicariidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 15. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7162164. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.