Ctenus spectabilis

Tropical Wolf Spider
Scientific classification Edit this 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

Ctenus spectabilis is a species of spider in the family Ctenidae. It occurs in eastern Africa and is commonly known as the tropical wolf spider.

Distribution

Ctenus spectabilis is found in Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Africa. In South Africa, the species is known only from the Northern Cape province at Benfontein Nature Reserve.

Habitat and ecology

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.

Description

Ctenus spectabilis is known from both sexes.

Conservation

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.

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Roger de Lessert in 1921 from Tanzania. It was revised by Pierre Benoit in 1979.

References

  1. ↑ Lessert, R. de (1921). "Araignées du Kilimandjaro et du Merou (suite). 4. Clubionidae". Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 28: 381–442.
  2. 1 2 "Ctenus spectabilis Lessert, 1921". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  3. 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.
  4. ↑ Benoit, P.L.G. (1979). "Etudes sur les Ctenidae africains (Araneae) VIII. Gen. Ctenus Walck.-groupe abditus". Revue Zoologique Africaine. 93 (2): 425–444.