Meta meruensis

Meta meruensis is a species of spider in the family Tetragnathidae. It is commonly known as the meruensis orb-web spider.

Distribution

Meta meruensis is found in Tanzania and South Africa. In South Africa, the species is recorded from three provinces: KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga.

Habitat and ecology

The species has been collected from low vegetation near water in Forest and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 687 to 2,785 m.

Conservation

Meta meruensis is listed as Least Concern by the South [African National Biodiversity Institute] due to its wide geographical range. The species is protected in Blouberg Nature Reserve, Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve, and Lhuvhondo Nature Reserve.

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Albert Tullgren in 1910 from Tanzania. According to Marusik and Larsen in 2018, the species is misplaced in Meta and based on the shape of the epigyne, it may belong to Leucauge. However, it differs from Leucauge in several aspects, including the absence of the double fringe of trichobothria on leg IV.
It is known only from females.