Scytodes fusca

Scytodes fusca
	Female
	Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Scytodidae
Genus:	Scytodes
Species:	S. fusca
Binomial name
	Scytodes fusca; Walckenaer, 1837
Synonyms
	Scytodes domestica Doleschall, 1859 ; Scytodes guianensis Taczanowski, 1872 ; Scytodes vittata Keyserling, 1877 ; Dictis fumida Thorell, 1891 ; Scytodes hebraica Simon, 1892 ; Scytodes bajula Simon, 1892 ; Scytodes campinensis Mello-Leitão, 1918 ; Scytodes discolor Mello-Leitão, 1918 ; Scytodes iguassuensis Mello-Leitão, 1918 ; Scytodes nannipes Chamberlin & Ivie, 1936 ; Scytodes torquatus Kraus, 1955 ;

Species of spider

Scytodes fusca is a species of spider in the family Scytodidae.^[2] It is commonly known as the dark common spitting spider and is a cosmopolitan species that has been introduced to numerous regions worldwide.^[3]

Distribution

Scytodes fusca is a cosmopolitan species described by Walckenaer in 1837. Originally from Central and southern America, it has been introduced St. Helena, Europe, Africa, Seychelles, India, Myanmar, Indonesia, China, Japan, and Hawaii.^[2]

In South Africa, it is recorded from six provinces and is found at elevations ranging from 16 to 1,618 m above sea level.^[3]

Habitat and ecology

This is a species frequently found in houses. They are nocturnal cursorial spiders and have a specialized way of catching prey. In South Africa, the species has been sampled from the Fynbos, Grassland, Nama Karoo, Savanna, and Thicket biomes.^[3]

Description

missing legs
female with egg sac

Conservation

Scytodes fusca is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide range. There are no significant threats to the species. It is protected in Karoo National Park and Kruger National Park.^[3]

Taxonomy

This is an introduced cosmopolitan species known from both sexes, which have been illustrated.^[3]

References

^ Walckenaer, C.A. (1837). Histoire naturelle des insectes. Aptères. Tome premier. Paris: Roret. p. 272.
^ a b "Scytodes fusca Walckenaer, 1837". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
^ a b c d e Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Booysen, R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Scytodidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 16. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7157802. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

[walckenaer1837-1] Walckenaer, C.A. (1837). Histoire naturelle des insectes. Aptères. Tome premier. Paris: Roret. p. 272.

[wsc-2] "Scytodes fusca Walckenaer, 1837". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-27.

[dippenaar2021-3] Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Booysen, R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Scytodidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 16. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7157802. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.