Araneus varus


Araneus varus is a species of spider in the family Araneidae. It is endemic to South Africa.

Distribution

Araneus varus is known only from Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, at an altitude of 857 m above sea level.

Habitat and ecology

This orb-web spider constructs an orb-web in low vegetation and grasses in the Savanna biome.

Description

Due to sexual dimorphism, it is difficult to recognize the two sexes as belonging to the same species.

Conservation

Araneus varus is listed as Data Deficient for Taxonomic reasons.

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Hans Kauri in 1950 as Larinia vara from Pietermaritzburg. The species was redescribed by Yuri Marusik in 2017, who transferred it to Araneus. The species is known only from the male and identification of the female is still problematic.