Thanatus atlanticus

Ground Running Spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Philodromidae
Genus: Thanatus
Species:
T. atlanticus
Binomial name
Thanatus atlanticus
Berland, 1936[1]

Thanatus atlanticus is a species of spider in the family Philodromidae.[2] It is commonly known as the ground running spider.[3]

Etymology

Distribution

Thanatus atlanticus is known from Cape Verde Islands and South Africa.[2] In South Africa, it was sampled from four provinces including three protected areas, at altitudes of 182-1431 m above sea level.[3]

Habitat and ecology

Thanasus atlanticus was sampled from grass in the Savanna biome.[3]

Description

Conservation

Thanatus atlanticus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species is protected in three protected areas: Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park and Namaqua National Park.[3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Lucien Berland (1936) from the Cape Verde Islands. The African species have not been revised and the species is known from both sexes.[3]

References

  1. ^ Berland, L. (1936). "Mission de M. A. Chevalier aux iles du Cap Vert (1934). 1. Araignées". Revue Française d'Entomologie. 3: 67–88.
  2. ^ a b "Thanatus atlanticus Berland, 1936". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  3. ^ 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. 27. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6634009. Retrieved 21 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.