Oxyopes bothai
| Botha's Lynx Spider | |
|---|---|
| female | |
| female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Oxyopidae |
| Genus: | Oxyopes |
| Species: | O. bothai
|
| Binomial name | |
| Oxyopes bothai | |
Oxyopes bothai is a species of spider in the family Oxyopidae.[2] It is commonly known as Botha's lynx spider.[3]
Distribution
Oxyopes bothai occurs in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and South Africa.[2] In South Africa, the species is widely distributed across all provinces at altitudes ranging from 16 to 1,698 m above sea level.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species is commonly found on grasses across multiple biomes including Fynbos, Forest, Grassland, Savanna, Nama Karoo, and Thicket biomes.[3] It has also been sampled from pistachio orchards, demonstrating its adaptability to agricultural environments.
Description
-
female
-
female
-
female
Oxyopes bothai is known only from females.[3] The species displays the typical lynx spider morphology with long, slender legs bearing prominent spines and a characteristic tapering opisthosoma.[3]
Conservation
Oxyopes bothai is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range across multiple provinces.[3] The species is protected in more than ten protected areas and faces no significant threats.
References
- ^ Lessert, R. de (1915). "Araignées du Kilimandjaro et du Merou. 1. Oxyopidae et Agelenidae". Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 23: 474.
- ^ a b "Oxyopes bothai Lessert, 1915". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
- ^ 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.