Xerophaeus patricki

Mozambique Mouse Ground Spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Gnaphosidae
Genus:	Xerophaeus
Species:	X. patricki
Binomial name
	Xerophaeus patricki; Purcell, 1907

Xerophaeus patricki is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae. It occurs in southern Africa and is commonly known as the Mozambique mouse ground spider.

Distribution

Xerophaeus patricki is recorded from Mozambique and South Africa. In South Africa, it is known from Gauteng and Limpopo.

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits the Grassland and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 840 to 1457 m above sea level. Xerophaeus patricki are free-living ground dwellers.

Description

Conservation

Xerophaeus patricki is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide range in southern Africa. There are no significant threats to the species.

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by W. F. Purcell in 1907 from Mozambique. The species has not been revised and is known only from the male.

References

↑ Purcell, W.F. (1907). "New South African spiders of the family Drassidae in the collection of the South African Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 20 (118): 297–336. doi:10.1080/00222930709487339.
↑ "Xerophaeus patricki Purcell, 1907". World Spider Catalog.
1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Gnaphosidae of South Africa. Part 3 (T-X). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 54. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

External links

Citizen science observations for Xerophaeus patricki at iNaturalist

[purcell1907-1] Purcell, W.F. (1907). "New South African spiders of the family Drassidae in the collection of the South African Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 20 (118): 297–336. doi:10.1080/00222930709487339.

[wsc-2] "Xerophaeus patricki Purcell, 1907". World Spider Catalog.

[dippenaar2021-3] 1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Gnaphosidae of South Africa. Part 3 (T-X). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 54. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.