Tibellus kibonotensis

Tanzania Grass Running Spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Philodromidae
Genus: Tibellus
Species:
T. kibonotensis
Binomial name
Tibellus kibonotensis
Lessert, 1919[1]

Tibellus kibonotensis is a species of spider in the family Philodromidae.[2] It is found in Africa and is commonly known as the Tanzania grass running spider.[3]

Distribution

Tibellus kibonotensis is an African endemic known from nine countries: Burkina Faso, East Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.[3] In South Africa, the species has been sampled from four provinces and is protected in the Ezemvelo Nature Reserve.[3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits Grassland, Savanna and Thicket biomes, occurring at altitudes ranging from 18 to 1,722 m above sea level.[3] Tibellus kibonotensis are free-living plant dwellers commonly found on bushes and tall grass.[3]

Description

Tibellus kibonotensis is known from both sexes.[3]

Conservation

Tibellus kibonotensis is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range.[3] There are no obvious threats to the species and no conservation actions are recommended.[3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Roger de Lessert in 1919 from Tanzania.[1] It was revised by Van den Berg and Dippenaar-Schoeman in 1994.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Lessert, R. de (1919). "Araignées du Kilimandjaro et du Mérou (suite). 3. Thomisidae". Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 27 (5): 99–234. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.36325.
  2. ^ "Tibellus kibonotensis Lessert, 1919". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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. 44. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6634009. Retrieved 23 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.