Spiroctenus minor


Spiroctenus minor is a species of spider in the family Bemmeridae. It is endemic to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.

Distribution

Spiroctenus minor is known only from the type locality at Alicedale.

Habitat

The species inhabits the Thicket Biome and constructs burrows sloping downwards for 18-20 centimeters with the lower portion free of silk.

Description

Both sexes of Spiroctenus minor are known to science. Females have a pale chestnut olive carapace and appendages above, with the patellae of the first two pairs of legs being paler and showing a reddish brown tinge. The opisthosoma is pale dorsally with an extensive but indefinite variegated blackish pattern. The lower surfaces are pale brown, with the chelicerae, coxae of pedipalps, and labium showing a reddish tinge. The total length of females is 22.5 millimeters and males 15.2 millimeters.

Conservation

The species is listed as Data Deficient, as more sampling is needed to determine the species range.