Theridion durbanicum

Theridion durbanicum is a species of spider in the family Theridiidae. It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Durban Theridion comb-feet spider.

Distribution

Theridion durbanicum is found only in South Africa. It is known from KwaZulu-Natal at Durban Stamford Hill and Wakefield Farm.

Habitat and ecology

This species builds a conical retreat of twigs and leaves in its three-dimensional web. It has been recorded from the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome at 17 m altitude.

Description

The general background is cream. The cephalic portion of the carapace is bordered by a distinct yellow-brown margin and some similarly coloured stripes radiating from the region of the thoracic striae. Legs are yellow-brown with pale femora in their basal third or half, tarsi and metatarsi a little darker than the prevailing colour. The sternum and coxae are pale, mouthparts yellow-brown. The abdomen is cream with four narrow well-defined stripes at the sides a little darker than the rest.

Conservation

Theridion durbanicum is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. The species is known from only two localities with a very small range. The status of the species remains obscure. More sampling is needed to collect the male and to determine the species range.

Taxonomy

Theridion durbanicum was described by Reginald Frederick Lawrence in 1947 from Stamford Hill, Durban. The species has not been revised and is known only from the female.