Cydrela friedlanderae


Cydrela friedlanderae is a species of spider in the family Zodariidae. It is endemic to the Northern Cape province of South Africa.

Distribution

Cydrela friedlanderae is known from two localities in the Northern Cape, De Aar and Benfontein [Nature Reserve].

Habitat

The species occurs at altitudes ranging from 1172 to 1242 m above sea level in the Savanna and Nama Karoo biomes. The original specimen from De Aar was collected from a burrow in the ground that was closed with a thick circular trapdoor.

Description

The species is only known from the female.
Female Cydrela friedlanderae have a total length of 13 mm. The carapace, pedipalps, and proximal portions of the legs are black, while the tarsi and metatarsi are rufescent. The sternum is reddish-brown. The opisthosoma is black above and below with distinctive bright yellow markings: a large yellow median spot posteriorly, a fairly large yellow spot laterally at about the middle of the abdomen's length, and a narrow transverse yellow stripe anteriorly.

Ecology

Cydrela friedlanderae is a burrowing species that constructs underground burrows sealed with circular trapdoors, demonstrating specialized fossorial behavior.

Conservation

The species is listed as Data Deficient because the male remains unknown and the species is undersampled. It is protected in Benfontein Nature Reserve, but more sampling is needed to collect males and determine the species' true range.