Theuma purcelli

Purcell's Theuma Long Spinneret Ground Spider
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Prodidomidae
Genus: Theuma
Species:
T. purcelli
Binomial name
Theuma purcelli
Tucker, 1923[1]

Theuma purcelli is a species of spider in the family Prodidomidae.[2] It is a South African endemic commonly known as Purcell's Theuma long spinneret ground spider.[3]

Etymology

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

Distribution

Theuma purcelli is known only from South Africa, where it is recorded from five provinces, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, and Western Cape.[3]

Notable locations include Luvhondo Nature Reserve, Komatipoort, and Karoo National Park.[3]

Habitat and ecology

Theuma purcelli is a free-living ground dweller found in Nama Karoo, Savanna, and Succulent Karoo biomes.[3] The species inhabits altitudes ranging from 163 to 1,341 m above sea level.[3]

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms

Conservation

Theuma purcelli is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute.[3] Although the species is presently known only from one sex, it has a wide geographical range and there are no significant threats. It is protected in Luvhondo Nature Reserve and Karoo National Park.[3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Tucker in 1923 from Beaufort West in the Western Cape.[1] It has not been revised and is known only from the female sex.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Tucker, R.W.E. (1923). "The Drassidae of South Africa". Annals of the South African Museum. 19 (2): 426.
  2. ^ "Theuma purcelli Tucker, 1923". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2023). The Prodidomidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 35. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7515818. Retrieved 24 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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