Achaearanea globispira

Sanddrift Bauble Comb-Foot Spider
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Theridiidae
Genus: Achaearanea
Species:
A. globispira
Binomial name
Achaearanea globispira
Henschel & Jocqué, 1994[1]

Achaearanea globispira is a species of spider in the family Theridiidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the sanddrift bauble comb-foot spider.[3]

Distribution

Achaearanea globispira is endemic to South Africa.[2] where it is known from the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces. Notable locations include Goegap Nature Reserve, Clanwilliam, and the Cederberg Wilderness Area at Dwarsrivier, Sanddrift.[3]

Habitat and ecology

See also: Glossary of spider terms

This spider lives in a spherical retreat made of silk and sand pebbles. The structure dangles from a single thread and has a small opening at the bottom leading into a spirally-coiled tunnel. Males and females build spirals in opposite directions, allowing the male to construct his retreat against the female's to form a brood chamber.[1]

Retreats are located in cool places under low overhanging rocks or branches. The narrow, suspended retreat configuration may reduce vulnerability to predators while foraging for ants. Bauble spiders feed primarily on ants.[1]

The species has been sampled at altitudes ranging from 78 to 1458 m.[3]

Conservation

Achaearanea globispira is listed as Data Deficient by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. Additional sampling is needed to determine the full range of this species. It is protected in Goegap Nature Reserve.[3]

Taxonomy

Achaearanea globispira was described by Joh R. Henschel and Rudy Jocqué in 1994 from Dwarsrivier, Sanddrift in the Western Cape.[1] The species is known from both sexes.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Henschel, J.R.; Jocqué, R. (1994). "Bauble spiders: a new species of Achaearanea (Araneae: Theridiidae) with ingenious spiral retreats". Journal of Natural History. 28 (6): 1287–1295. Bibcode:1994JNatH..28.1287H. doi:10.1080/00222939400770651.
  2. ^ a b c "Achaearanea globispira Henschel & Jocqué, 1994". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  3. ^ a b c d e Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Theridiidae of South Africa. Part 1 A-P. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 6. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7515890. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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