Palpimanus potteri


Palpimanus potteri is a species of spider in the family Palpimanidae. It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as Potter's palp-footed spider.

Distribution

Palpimanus potteri is known from two provinces in South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo.

Habitat and ecology

The species is a free-living ground dweller, some specimens have been found in rocky areas. It has been sampled from the Savanna biome at altitudes ranging from 31 to 1119 m above sea level.

Description

The species is known only from the female. The carapace is red, abdomen orange-brown, legs II-IV yellow; leg I, sternum, and mouth-parts a little lighter red than carapace. The carapace is covered with fine granules, fairly thickly clothed, especially in the region of the eyes, with grey hairs ; sternum with evenly distributed coarse round granules much larger than those of the carapace. Total length is 7-8 mm.

Conservation

Palpimanus potteri is listed as Least Concern by the South [African National Biodiversity Institute]. Although only known from one sex, this species has a wide distribution. There are no significant threats to the species. It is protected in the Hluhluwe Nature Reserve, Mkuze Game, Ndumo Game Reserve and Tembe Elephant Park.

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Reginald Frederick Lawrence in 1937 from Hluhluwe.