Anyphops narcissi

Anyphops narcissi is a species of spider in the family Selenopidae. It occurs in southern Africa and is commonly known as the Swaziland Anyphops flat spider.

Distribution

Anyphops narcissi occurs in South Africa and Eswatini. In South Africa it has been recorded from Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, including Mariepskop, Drakensberg Mountains, Sabie Bergvliet State Forest, Sappi Greystone Plantation near Barberton, and University of Zululand at Empangeni, at altitudes ranging from 78 to 1,382 m above sea level.

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt and Grassland biomes and is a free-living cryptozoic nocturnal ground-dwelling spider. It has been sampled from pitfall traps in indigenous forest in state forests and plantations.

Description

Only the female is known. The whole body and legs are pale yellow except for the eyes which appear as dark circles. The abdomen is yellow with a vague darker pattern on the distal half. Metatarsi I and II have three pairs of lower spines arranged in a front row of five and a posterior row of six spines. Total length is 6.3 mm.

Conservation

Anyphops narcissi is listed as Least Concern. Although only known from one sex, the species is widespread across South Africa and Eswatini. It is protected in Sabie Bergvliet State Forest.