Stasimopus filmeri

Horned Cork-Lid Trapdoor Spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Stasimopidae
Genus: Stasimopus
Species:
S. filmeri
Binomial name
Stasimopus filmeri
Engelbrecht & Prendini, 2012[1]

Stasimopus filmeri is a species of spider in the family Stasimopidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the horned cork-lid trapdoor spider.[3]

Distribution

Stasimopus filmeri is found in the Gauteng and North West provinces of South Africa. It occurs at Mohalesgate, Broederstroom, and the Hartebeesfontein Conservancy, at altitudes ranging from 1,245 to 1,398 m above sea level.[3]

Habitat and ecology

The species is a ground dweller that lives in silk-lined burrows closed with a cork-lid trapdoor. It has been sampled from the Grassland biome.[3]

Description

Stasimopus filmeri is known from both sexes.[3]

Conservation

Stasimopus filmeri is listed as Endangered by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. It is recorded from fewer than five locations and experiences ongoing loss of habitat within its range due to urban development and crop cultivation. The species is threatened by habitat loss to urban development and crop farming around Hartebeespoort. More sampling is needed to determine the full range.[3]

Taxonomy

The species was described by Engelbrecht & Prendini in 2012 from the Krugersdorp district.[3]

References

  1. ^ Engelbrecht, I.; Prendini, L. (2012). "Cryptic diversity of South African trapdoor spiders: three new species of Stasimopus Simon, 1892 (Mygalomorphae, Ctenizidae), and redescription of Stasimopus robertsi Hewitt, 1910". American Museum Novitates. 3732: 1–42. doi:10.1206/3732.2.
  2. ^ "World Spider Catalog". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Stasimopidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 15. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7162178. Retrieved 24 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.