Theuma elucubata
| Gauteng Theuma Long Spinnered Ground Spider | |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Male | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Prodidomidae |
| Genus: | Theuma |
| Species: | T. elucubrata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Theuma elucubrata | |
Theuma elucubrata is a species of spider in the family Prodidomidae.[2] It is a South African endemic commonly known as the Gauteng Theuma long spinnered ground spider.[3]
Distribution
Theuma elucubrata is known only from South Africa, where it is recorded from Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and North West.[3]
Notable locations include Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, Luvhondo Nature Reserve, and Pilanesberg Nature Reserve.[3]
Habitat and ecology
Theuma elucubrata is a free-running ground dweller found in Grassland and Savanna biomes.[3] The species inhabits altitudes ranging from 1,171 to 1,758 m above sea level.[3]
Description
Conservation
Theuma elucubrata is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute.[3] Although the species is presently known only from one sex, it has a wide geographical range and there are no significant threats. It is protected in Ruimsig Butterfly Reserve, Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Luvhondo Nature Reserve, and Pilanesberg Nature Reserve.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by Tucker in 1923 from Florida in Gauteng.[1] It has not been revised and is known only from the female sex, though the male was collected but remains undescribed.[3]
References
- ^ a b Tucker, R.W.E. (1923). "The Drassidae of South Africa". Annals of the South African Museum. 19 (2): 421.
- ^ "Theuma elucubata Tucker, 1923". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2023). The Prodidomidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 29. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7515818. Retrieved 24 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.