Paroecobius nicolaii

Paroecobius nicolaii is a species of spider in the family Oecobiidae. It is commonly known as Nicolai's large-eyed ant eater and is endemic to South Africa.

Distribution

Paroecobius nicolaii is a South African endemic known from three provinces: Free State, Limpopo, and North West.

Habitat and ecology

The species lives inside shallow crevices of rocks and bark of Marula and Paperbark trees, covered with a silk hammock, which is usually open at two ends. The species has been sampled from the Savanna biome at altitudes ranging from 1,155 to 1,556 m above sea level. At Wyndford Guest Farm, specimens run very fast from one web to another when disturbed.

Conservation

Paroecobius nicolaii is listed as Data Deficient by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. The species is under-collected and more sampling is needed to determine its range. There are no known threats to the species.

Taxonomy

The species was described by Wunderlich in 1995, based on material collected from tree bark at Nylstroom, South Africa.