Oxyopes bonneti

Bonnet's Lynx Spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Oxyopidae
Genus: Oxyopes
Species:
O. bonneti
Binomial name
Oxyopes bonneti
Lessert, 1933[1]

Oxyopes bonneti is a species of spider in the family Oxyopidae.[2] It is commonly known as Bonnet's lynx spider.[3]

Distribution

Oxyopes bonneti occurs in Angola and South Africa.[2] In South Africa, the species has been recorded from Limpopo Province at altitudes ranging from 859 to 1,168 m above sea level.[3]

Habitat and ecology

The species is commonly found on grasses and has also been collected using pitfall traps in the Savanna biome.[3] It appears to be well-adapted to the savanna environment of the northern regions.

Description

Oxyopes bonneti is known only from males.[3] The species exhibits typical lynx spider characteristics including long, slender legs with prominent spines and the characteristic tapering opisthosoma found in the genus Oxyopes.[3]

Conservation

Oxyopes bonneti is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute.[3] Despite being known from only one locality in Angola, the large distance between collection areas suggests the species may be under-collected. It is protected in Blouberg Nature Reserve, Ben Lavin Nature Reserve, and Kruger National Park.

References

  1. ^ Lessert, R. de (1933). "Araignées d'Angola". Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 40: 143.
  2. ^ a b "Oxyopes bonneti Lessert, 1933". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). The Oxyopidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 17. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6450695. Retrieved 21 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.