Procydrela procursor
| Sedgefield Procydrela zodariid spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Zodariidae |
| Genus: | Procydrela |
| Species: | P. procursor |
| Binomial name | |
| Procydrela procursor | |
Procydrela procursor is a species of spider in the family Zodariidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Sedgefield Procydrela zodariid spider.[3]
Distribution
[edit]Procydrela procursor is found in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces. Known localities include Sedgefield, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Brenton-on-Sea in the Western Cape, and Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve in the Eastern Cape.[3]
Habitat
[edit]The species are ground-dwelling spiders inhabiting the Fynbos biome at altitudes ranging from 15 to 62 m above sea level.[3]
Description
[edit]Both males and females of Procydrela procursor are known. Males have a total length of 5.54 mm with brownish orange carapace and chelicerae, slightly paler in the cephalic area. The opisthosoma displays a complex dark pattern of spots and chevrons on a pale background. Females reach 6.35 mm in total length and have similar coloration to males but lack the pale orange scutum present in males.[1]
Conservation
[edit]The species is listed as Endangered by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. It is protected in De Hoop Nature Reserve and Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve.[3]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Jocqué, R. (1999). "The new genera Procydrela and Rotundrela, sister taxa for Storenomorphinae and Cydrelinae (Araneae: Zodariidae)". Entomologica Scandinavica. 30 (2): 228. doi:10.1163/187631200X00264.
- ↑ "Procydrela procursor Jocqué, 1999". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Jocqué, R.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2024). The Zodariidae of South Africa. Part 2 (H-T) version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 25. doi:10.5281/zenodo.14568995. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
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