Thanatus africanus
| African Ground Running Spider | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Philodromidae |
| Genus: | Thanatus |
| Species: | T. africanus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Thanatus africanus Karsch, 1878[1]
| |
Thanatus africanus is a species of spider in the family Philodromidae.[2] It is commonly known as the African ground running spider.[3]
Etymology
Distribution
Thanatus africanus is known from Tanzania (Zanzibar) and South Africa.[2] In South Africa, it was sampled from Limpopo Province at altitudes of 182-1431 m above sea level.[3]
Habitat and ecology
These are spiders sampled from grass in the Savanna biome.[3]
Description
Conservation
Thanatus africanus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species is protected in the Nylsvley Nature Reserve.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by Karsch (1878) from Tanzania (Zanzibar). The African species have not been revised and the species is known from both sexes.[3]
References
- ^ Karsch, F. (1878). "Über einige von Herrn JM Hildebrandt im Zanzibargebiete erbeutete Arachniden". Zeitschrift für die Gesammten Naturwissenschaften. 51: 311–322.
- ^ a b "Thanatus africanus Karsch, 1878". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2022). The Philodromidae of South Africa. Version 2. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 26. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6634009. Retrieved 21 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.