Perenethis simoni

Perenethis simoni is a spider species in the family Pisauridae. The species is commonly known as Simon's Perenethis nursery-web spider.

Distribution

Perenethis simoni is widely distributed throughout Africa, including Tanzania, Mozambique, the Comoros, and South Africa. In South Africa, the species has been sampled from four provinces: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga.

Habitat and ecology

The species constructs sheet-webs in vegetation.
It has been sampled from the Savanna biome at altitudes ranging from 47 to 1252 m. The species has also been recorded from citrus orchards.

Conservation

Perenethis simoni is listed as Least Concern due to its wide geographical range. The species is protected in Ndumo Game Reserve, Tembe Elephant Park, uMkhuze Game Reserve, Makelali Game Reserve, and Kruger National Park. There are no significant threats to the species.

Etymology

This species honors eminent French arachnologist Eugène Simon.

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Lessert in 1916 as Tetragonophthalma simoni from Tanzania. It was revised by Sierwald in 1997 and is known from both sexes.