Vidole helicigyna

Pietermaritzburg Vidole Hackled Band Spider
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Phyxelididae
Genus: Vidole
Species:
V. helicigyna
Binomial name
Vidole helicigyna

Vidole helicigyna is a species of spider in the family Phyxelididae.[2] It is endemic to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and is commonly known as the Pietermaritzburg Vidole hackled band spider.[3]

Distribution

Vidole helicigyna is known from several localities in KwaZulu-Natal, including the protected Kamberg Nature Reserve.[3] The species occurs at altitudes ranging from 522 to 1,998 m above sea level.

Habitat and ecology

This species inhabits the Grassland and Savanna biomes.[3] Vidole helicigyna is a ground retreat-web cryptic spider that lives in dark places.[3]

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms

Conservation

Vidole helicigyna is listed as Vulnerable under criterion B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii) by the South African National Biodiversity Institute.[3] The area occupied by this species is experiencing ongoing loss of habitat due to urban development, crop cultivation and afforestation. There has been extensive transformation of habitat within the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, with habitat loss due to agroforestry plantations, crop cultivation and urban development.[3]

Taxonomy

The species was described by Griswold in 1990 from Pietermaritzburg.[1] Vidole helicigyna is known from both sexes.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Griswold, C.E. (1990). "A revision and phylogenetic analysis of the spider subfamily Phyxelidinae (Araneae, Amaurobiidae)". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 196: 1–206.
  2. ^ "Vidole helicigyna Griswold, 1990". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Phyxelididae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 32. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6813843. Retrieved 24 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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