Cyrioctea lotzi

Cyrioctea lotzi is a species of spider in the family Zodariidae. It is endemic to South Africa.

Etymology

The species in named after South African arachnologist Leon N. Lotz.

Distribution

Cyrioctea lotzi is known from two localities: Deelfontein in the Free State and Benfontein [Nature Reserve] in the Northern Cape.

Habitat

The species occurs at altitudes ranging from 1172 to 1298 m above sea level in the Grassland biome.

Description

Male Cyrioctea lotzi have a brownish-yellow carapace with a black fovea and dark margin. The palp, chelicerae, mouthparts, sternum, and legs are yellow, with the femora suffused with dark grey. The opisthosoma is pale grey with a faint darker dorsal median stripe, while the venter and spinnerets are pale.

Conservation

The species is listed as Data Deficient because the female is unknown and it appears to be rare with very limited sampling. It is protected in Benfontein Nature Reserve, but more sampling is needed to collect females and determine the species' true range.