Penestomus zulu

Penestomus zulu is a species of spider in the family Penestomidae. It is endemic to KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.

Distribution

Penestomus zulu is known only from Mfongosi in KwaZulu-Natal.

The species inhabits the Savanna biome, where it constructs retreat-webs that are usually made underneath rocks.

Only females of Penestomus zulu are known to science. The carapace is orange, lighter posteriorly with a smooth texture, covered by fine black setae and broad white setae. The sternum is pale. The chelicerae are red-brown with five promarginal teeth and two retromarginal teeth. The legs are dusky yellow with anterior legs orange distally. The opisthosoma is dark gray dorsally with indistinct light dorsolateral patches.

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.