Scotophaeus purcelli

Purcell Golden Ground Spider
female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Gnaphosidae
Genus: Scotophaeus
Species:
S. purcelli
Binomial name
Scotophaeus purcelli
Tucker, 1923[1]

Scotophaeus purcelli is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as Purcell golden ground spider.[3]

Distribution

Scotophaeus purcelli is found in two South African provinces: Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Notable locations include Modderfontein, Rietondale Research Station in Pretoria, Empangeni, Ndumo Game Reserve, Pongola Farm Vergeval, and Pinetown.[3]

Habitat and ecology

The species is a free-living ground dweller found at altitudes ranging from 47 to 1,628 m above sea level. It has been sampled from Grassland and Savanna biomes.[3]

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms

Conservation

Scotophaeus purcelli is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range despite being known only from one sex.[3] The species is protected in the Ndumo Game Reserve.

Etymology

The species is named after William Frederick Purcell, a prominent South African arachnologist who made significant contributions to the study of southern African spiders.

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Tucker in 1923 from Modderfontein in Gauteng. It is currently known only from female specimens.[3]

References

  1. ^ Tucker, R.W.E. (1923). "The Drassidae of South Africa". Annals of the South African Museum. 19 (2): 387.
  2. ^ "Scotophaeus purcelli Tucker, 1923". World Spider Catalog. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  3. ^ a b c d e Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Gnaphosidae of South Africa. Part 2 (E-S). Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 58. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7197672. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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