Asemesthes subnubilus

Asemesthes subnubilus is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae. It is endemic to southern Africa and is commonly known as the Kalahari Asemesthes ground spider. This species is the type species of the genus Asemesthes.

Distribution

Asemesthes subnubilus occurs in Namibia and South Africa. In South Africa, it is recorded from two provinces: Northern Cape and Western Cape, at altitudes ranging from 231 to 870 m above sea level.

Habitat and ecology

The species is a free-living ground dweller sampled from the Succulent Karoo biome.

Description

Asemesthes subnubilus is known from both sexes. The cephalothorax is smooth and dusky brown, with the ocular region being black. The opisthosoma is oval and dark ashy in colour above, with the under surface paler to dull testaceous. The sternum, chelicerae, and legs are dark brown, while the metatarsi and tarsi are lighter and yellowish red. The total length is 7 mm.

Conservation

Asemesthes subnubilus is listed as Least Concern by the South [African National Biodiversity Institute] due to its wide distribution range. There are no significant threats to the species.

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Eugène Simon in 1887 from the Kalahari. It has not been revised since its original description. The species Asemesthes aureus, described by W. F. Purcell in 1908, is considered a junior synonym of A. subnubilus.