// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Oxyopes affinis say? "You're caught in my web of affection.
| Tanzania Lynx Spider | |
|---|---|
 | |
| female | |
 | |
| female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Oxyopidae |
| Genus: | Oxyopes |
| Species: | O. affinis |
| Binomial name | |
| Oxyopes affinis | |
Oxyopes affinis is a species of spider in the family Oxyopidae.[2] It is commonly known as the Tanzania lynx spider.[3]
Distribution
[edit]Oxyopes affinis occurs in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique, and South Africa.[2] In South Africa, the species has been recorded from seven provinces at altitudes ranging from 29 to 1,601 m above sea level.[3]
Habitat and ecology
[edit]The species is commonly found on grasses and has been recorded from multiple biomes including Fynbos, Grassland, Savanna, Nama Karoo, and Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biomes.[3] It is considered a common species that has been sampled from grass in various habitats.
Description
[edit]
female
female
female
Oxyopes affinis is known from both sexes. Like other members of the genus Oxyopes, it is a lynx spider characterized by long, slender legs with prominent spines and an opisthosoma that tapers to a point posteriorly.[3]
Conservation
[edit]Oxyopes affinis is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range.[3] The species is protected in more than ten protected areas and faces no significant threats.
References
[edit]- ↑ Lessert, R. de (1915). "Araignées du Kilimandjaro et du Merou. 1. Oxyopidae et Agelenidae". Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 23: 445.
- 1 2 "Oxyopes affinis Lessert, 1915". 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. (2020). The Oxyopidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 14. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6450695. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
