Helafricanus pauper
| Pauper Helafricanus Sunny Jumping Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Salticidae |
| Genus: | Helafricanus |
| Species: | H. pauper
|
| Binomial name | |
| Helafricanus pauper (Wesołowska, 1986)[1]
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Helafricanus pauper is a species of spider in the family Salticidae.[2] It is endemic to Africa and is commonly known as the pauper Helafricanus sunny jumping spider.[3]
Distribution
Helafricanus pauper is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.[2]
In South Africa, it is known from four provinces. Notable locations include Grahamstown, Dlinza Forest near Eshowe, Howick, Ithala Game Reserve, Ndumo Game Reserve, Lydenburg, and Kgaswane Mountain Reserve.[3]
Habitat and ecology
Helafricanus pauper is a free-living plant-dwelling spider sampled from the Savanna and Thicket biomes at altitudes ranging from 47 to 1,556 m.[3]
Description
Conservation
Helafricanus pauper is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide range in the eastern half of South Africa, although sporadic. In South Africa, it is protected in two reserves, Ndumo Game Reserve and Kgaswane Mountain Reserve.[3]
Taxonomy
Helafricanus pauper was originally described in genus Heliophanus by Wesołowska in 1986 from Kenya. Additional data on the male was added by Wesołowska in 1999 and 2003. The species was transferred to Helafricanus by Wesołowska in 2024.[2][3]
References
- ^ Wesołowska, W. (1986). "A Revision of the Genus Heliophanus C. L. Koch, 1833 (Aranei: Salticidae)". Annales Zoologici, Warszawa. 40: 1–254.
- ^ a b c d "Helafricanus pauper (Wesołowska, 1986)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
- ^ a b c d e Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Walt, V. van der; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2025). The Salticidae of South Africa. Part 3 (He-Iran). Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 16. doi:10.5281/zenodo.17103454.
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