| 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 | |
Ariadna similis is a species of spider in the family Segestriidae. It is endemic to the North West province of South Africa and is commonly known as the Mafikeng tube-web spider.
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.
The species inhabits the Savanna biome and constructs tube signal-webs made in crevices of walls, rocks, fallen tree trunks, or bark of trees.
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.
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.
Ariadna similis is listed as data deficient for taxonomic reasons. More sampling is needed to collect males and determine the species' range.
The species was originally described by W. F. Purcell in 1908 from Mafikeng. Only females are known.
This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.