// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Ctenus spectabilis say? "I'm a spectacular spider.
| Tropical Wolf Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Ctenidae |
| Genus: | Ctenus |
| Species: | C. spectabilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Ctenus spectabilis Lessert, 1921[1] | |
Ctenus spectabilis is a species of spider in the family Ctenidae.[2] It occurs in eastern Africa and is commonly known as the tropical wolf spider.[3]
Distribution
[edit]Ctenus spectabilis is found in Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Africa.[2] In South Africa, the species is known only from the Northern Cape province at Benfontein Nature Reserve.[3]
Habitat and ecology
[edit]The species is a free-living ground dweller that was sampled with pitfall traps from the Grassland biome, at an altitude of 1,172 m above sea level.[3]
Description
[edit]Ctenus spectabilis is known from both sexes.[3]
![[icon]](/pun/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding missing information. (September 2025) |
Conservation
[edit]Ctenus spectabilis is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species is protected in Benfontein Nature Reserve.[3]
Taxonomy
[edit]The species was originally described by Roger de Lessert in 1921 from Tanzania. It was revised by Pierre Benoit in 1979.[4]
References
[edit]- ↑ Lessert, R. de (1921). "Araignées du Kilimandjaro et du Merou (suite). 4. Clubionidae". Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 28: 381–442.
- 1 2 "Ctenus spectabilis Lessert, 1921". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2022). The Ctenidae of South Africa. Version 2. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 14. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6090166. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. - ↑ Benoit, P.L.G. (1979). "Etudes sur les Ctenidae africains (Araneae) VIII. Gen. Ctenus Walck.-groupe abditus". Revue Zoologique Africaine. 93 (2): 425–444.