Helafricanus demonstrativus
Helafricanus demonstrativus is a species of spider in the family Salticidae. It is endemic to Africa and is commonly known as the spotted Helafricanus sunny jumping spider.
Distribution
Helafricanus demonstrativus is found in Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
In South Africa, it is known from six provinces. Notable locations include Addo Elephant National Park, East London, Grahamstown, Jeffrey's Bay, Mkhambathi Nature Reserve, Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, Lephalale, Polokwane Nature Reserve, and Ophathe Game Reserve.
Helafricanus demonstrativus is a free-living plant-dwelling spider found on vegetation and in litter in the Grassland, Savanna, and Thicket biomes at altitudes ranging from 1 to 1,744 m. The species has been occasionally sampled from rocks.
Description
The males exhibit an abdominal pattern similar to females.
Conservation
Helafricanus demonstrativus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. It is found in more than eight protected areas.
Taxonomy
Helafricanus demonstrativus was originally described as a member of genus Heliophanus by Wesołowska in 1986 from East London in the Eastern Cape. Additional data was added by Wesołowska in 2003, and the species was transferred to Helafricanus by Wesołowska in 2024.