Scytodes trifoliata
| Port Shepstone Spitting Spider | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Scytodidae |
| Genus: | Scytodes |
| Species: | S. trifoliata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Scytodes trifoliata | |
Scytodes trifoliata is a species of spider in the family Scytodidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Port Shepstone spitting spider.[3]
Distribution
Scytodes trifoliata is found in three South African provinces, KwaZulu-Natal (Port Shepstone), Eastern Cape, and Mpumalanga.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species inhabits the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, Savanna and Thicket biomes at altitudes ranging from 52 to 197 m above sea level. It is a wandering spider commonly collected from under stones and dark places on the soil surface.[3]
Description
Conservation
Scytodes trifoliata is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. Although the species is known only from females, it has a wide geographical range. The species is protected in two protected areas Cwebe Nature Reserve and Kruger National Park.[3]
Etymology
Taxonomy
The species has not been revised and is known only from females.[3]
References
- ^ Lawrence, R.F. (1938). "A collection of spiders from Natal and Zululand". Annals of the Natal Museum. 8: 471. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.8135 (inactive 3 October 2025).
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of October 2025 (link) - ^ "Scytodes trifoliata Lawrence, 1938". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ^ a b c d e Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Booysen, R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Scytodidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 37. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7157802. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.