Xevioso orthomeles

Xevioso orthomeles is a species of spider in the family Phyxelididae. It occurs in southern Africa and is commonly known as the Kruger Park Xevioso hackled band spider.

Distribution

Xevioso orthomeles is a southern African endemic known from Zimbabwe, Eswatini, and South Africa. In South Africa, it occurs in three provinces, Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga, at altitudes ranging from 131 to 4,755 m above sea level.
South African locations include Bronkhorstspruit in Gauteng; Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve in Limpopo; and Barberton, Lochiel, Kruger National Park, and Lowveld National Botanical Garden in Mpumalanga.

Habitat and ecology

Xevioso orthomeles inhabits the Grassland and Savanna biomes. These ground retreat-web cryptic spiders live in dark places and make retreat-webs on the ground. The species occurs primarily in bushveld rather than forest.

Conservation

Xevioso orthomeles is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. There are no significant threats to the species. It is protected in Legalameetse Nature Reserve, Lowveld National Botanical Garden, and Kruger National Park.

Taxonomy

The species was described by Griswold in 1990 from Kruger National Park and is known from both sexes.