Spiroctenus lignicola

Spiroctenus lignicola is a species of spider in the family Bemmeridae. It is endemic to KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
The specific name lignicola is Latin for "wood-dweller".

Distribution

Spiroctenus lignicola is known only from the type locality at Hluhluwe Nature Reserve.

Habitat

The species inhabits the Savanna Biome as a ground-dwelling burrow constructor.

Description

Only females of Spiroctenus lignicola are known to science. The spider is light reddish-brown in color with a yellow opisthosoma bearing a brown tree-like pattern marking. The cheliceral furrow has 12 promarginal teeth and 7-8 denticles. The labium bears 16 cuspules and the maxillae have about 50 cuspules. The paired tarsal claws IV have 4-5 teeth on the inner margin and 0-1 teeth on the outer margin. The total length is 19.2 millimeters including chelicerae.

Conservation

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