| Mafikeng Tube-Web Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Segestriidae |
| Genus: | Ariadna |
| Species: | A. similis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ariadna similis Purcell, 1908[1]
| |
Ariadna similis is a species of spider in the family Segestriidae.[2] It is endemic to the North West province of South Africa and is commonly known as the Mafikeng tube-web spider.[3]
Distribution
Ariadna similis is known only from the type locality Mafikeng in the North West province, at an altitude of 1,289 m above sea level.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species inhabits the Savanna biome and constructs tube signal-webs made in crevices of walls, rocks, fallen tree trunks, or bark of trees.[3]
Description
The species resembles A. bilineata but is larger and darker in colour. Females have a reddish-yellow to dark reddish-brown carapace, darker anteriorly, with a hairy surface usually finely veined with black. Chelicerae are yellowish-red to black.[3]
The abdomen has a fine, pale line running from end to end down the middle. Legs are faintly or strongly infuscated, with the anterior pairs darker than the posterior ones. Total length is 11.5 mm.[3]
Conservation
Ariadna similis is listed as data deficient for taxonomic reasons. More sampling is needed to collect males and determine the species' range.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by W. F. Purcell in 1908 from Mafikeng. Only females are known.[3]
References
- ^ Purcell, W.F. (1908). "Araneae". Denkschriften der Medizinisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft zu Jena. 13: 203–246.
- ^ "Ariadna similis Purcell, 1908". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Segestriidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. pp. 1–22. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7162194. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
