Anyphops lycosiformis

Anyphops lycosiformis is a species of spider in the family Selenopidae. It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Nkandla Anyphops flat spider.

Distribution

Anyphops lycosiformis occurs in two South African provinces: KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. It has been recorded from Ngome State Forest and Nkandla Forest in KwaZulu-Natal, and Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve in Limpopo at altitudes ranging from 687 to 1,129 m above sea level.

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits the Forest and Savanna biomes and is a free-living cryptozoic nocturnal ground-dwelling spider.

Description

Only the female is known. The carapace is orange-brown with a light middle central area. The chelicerae are orange-brown with dark marking in the distal portion. The legs are pale orange-yellow with markings consisting of three incomplete rings on the femora and two on the tibiae, while the metatarsi and tarsi are pale yellowish.
The dorsum of the abdomen is pale brown with a light yellowish central area, and the venter is light yellow. The anterior tibiae have 4 pairs of inferior spines. Total length is 7.70 mm.

Conservation

Anyphops lycosiformis is listed as Least Concern. Although only known from one sex, the species has a wide distribution and occurs in protected areas where it is not threatened.

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Lawrence as Selenops lycosiformis from Nkandla Forest in KwaZulu-Natal. It was revised by Corronca.