Austrachelas pondoensis


Austrachelas pondoensis is a species of spider in the family Gallieniellidae. It is endemic to South Africa.

Distribution

Austrachelas pondoensis is endemic to the Eastern Cape province and is known only from Mzimhlava River Mouth in the Lusikisiki district at an elevation of 10 m above sea level.

Habitat

The species was sampled in coastal evergreen forest in the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt Biome.

Description

Both sexes are known. The opisthosoma displays mottled pale grey chevron markings.

Conservation

Austrachelas pondoensis is listed as Data Deficient. The species was locally abundant at the time of collection in 1980 and is likely under-collected. It may occur in other forest patches along the Wild Coast, and additional sampling is needed to determine its range.