Dresserus laticeps

Northern Cape Ground Velvet Spider
Female
Female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Eresidae
Genus: Dresserus
Species:
D. laticeps
Binomial name
Dresserus laticeps
Purcell, 1904[1]

Dresserus laticeps is a species of spider in the family Eresidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Northern Cape ground velvet spider.[3]

Distribution

Dresserus laticeps is endemic to the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The species has been recorded from Tsabis, Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, and Tankwa-Karoo National Park.[3]

Habitat and ecology

The species is rare and found in retreat webs made under rocks. It inhabits areas at altitudes ranging from 251 to 1,156 m above sea level.[3]

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms
  • female
    female

Dresserus laticeps is known only from females. The opisthosoma is pale yellowish and covered with olive-brown setae.[3]

Conservation

Dresserus laticeps is listed as Data Deficient due to taxonomic reasons. The species has a very restricted range. The status remains obscure as males have not been collected, and more sampling is needed to determine the species' range. The species is protected in Tswalu Kalahari Reserve and Tankwa-Karoo National Park.[3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by William Frederick Purcell in 1904 from Tsabis. It has not been revised since its original description and remains known only from the female sex.[3]

References

  1. ^ Purcell, W.F. (1904). "Descriptions of new genera and species of South African spiders". Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society. 15: 115–173.
  2. ^ "Dresserus laticeps Purcell, 1904". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2022). The Eresidae of South Africa. Version 2. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 11. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6331366. Retrieved 21 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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