Penestomus kruger


Penestomus kruger is a species of spider in the family Penestomidae. It is endemic to the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Distribution

Penestomus kruger is known only from the Karoo National Park in the Western Cape.

Habitat

The species inhabits the Nama Karoo biome, where it constructs retreat-webs underneath rocks.

Description

Only females of Penestomus kruger are known to science. The carapace is red-brown, lighter posteriorly with a smooth texture, covered by fine black setae with broad white setae mostly posterior to the fovea. The sternum is pale yellow.
The chelicerae are red-brown with six promarginal teeth and two retromarginal teeth, bearing fine black setae only. The legs are dusky orange basally, with anterior legs red-orange distally and posterior legs orange distally. The opisthosoma is dark gray dorsally with light dorsolateral patches and smaller light patches anteriorly and above the spinnerets.

Conservation

The species is listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN due to taxonomic reasons, as males remain unknown and the full species range requires further study.

Taxonomy

The type locality was originally incorrectly listed as Kruger National Park instead of Karoo National Park.