Pongolania chrysionaria
| Johannesburg Pongolania Hackled Band Spider | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Phyxelididae |
| Genus: | Pongolania |
| Species: | P. chrysionaria
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pongolania chrysionaria | |
Pongolania chrysionaria is a species of spider in the family Phyxelididae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Johannesburg Pongolania hackled band spider.[3]
Distribution
Pongolania chrysionaria is distributed across the two South African provinces of Gauteng and Mpumalanga.[3] The species occurs at altitudes ranging from 219 to 1,871 m above sea level.
Habitat and ecology
This species inhabits the Grassland biome.[3] Pongolania chrysionaria is a ground retreat-web cryptic spider that lives in dark places. The species has been recorded from citrus orchards and maize fields, demonstrating its ability to survive in agroecosystems.[3]
Description
Conservation
Pongolania chrysionaria is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute.[3] Despite having a restricted range, the species is able to survive in agroecosystems and is protected in the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve and Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve. There are no significant threats to the species.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by Griswold in 1990 from specimens collected in Johannesburg.[1] Pongolania chrysionaria is known from only the female.[3]
References
- ^ a b Griswold, C.E. (1990). "A revision and phylogenetic analysis of the spider subfamily Phyxelidinae (Araneae, Amaurobiidae)". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 196: 1–206.
- ^ "Pongolania chrysionaria Griswold, 1990". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Phyxelididae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 21. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6813843. Retrieved 24 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.