Firmicus bipunctatus


Firmicus bipunctatus is a species of spider in the family Thomisidae. It is found in several African countries and is commonly known as Ethiopian green Firmicus crab spider.

Distribution

Firmicus bipunctatus is found in Ethiopia, Angola, Cameroon, Congo Republic, Mozambique, Sudan, and South Africa.
In South Africa, it is known from provinces Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal. It is protected in Cwebe Nature Reserve, Kloofendal Nature Reserve, Ndumo Nature Reserve, and Kosi Bay Nature Reserve.

Habitat and ecology

Firmicus bipunctatus inhabits the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, Thicket and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 10 to 1780 m above sea level.
These free-living plant dwellers are more commonly found on trees.

Conservation

Firmicus bipunctatus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. It is protected in five protected areas.

Etymology

The species epithet bipunctatus means "two-spotted" in Latin.

Taxonomy

Firmicus bipunctatus was described by Caporiacco in 1941 from Ethiopia.