Zelotes pulchripes

Zelotes pulchripes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Gnaphosidae
Genus:	Zelotes
Species:	Z. pulchripes
Binomial name
	Zelotes pulchripes; (Purcell, 1908)
Synonyms
	Melanophora pulchripes Purcell, 1908 ;

Zelotes pulchripes is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae. It is endemic to South Africa.

Distribution

Zelotes pulchripes is known only from the type locality Steinkopf in the Northern Cape.

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits the Succulent Karoo biome at an altitude of 870 m above sea level. They are free-running ground spiders found under stones during the day.

Description

Conservation

Zelotes pulchripes is listed as Data Deficient because it is known only from the type locality. More sampling is needed to determine the species' range. There are no significant threats to the species.

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Purcell in 1908 as Melanophora pulchripes. According to Moira FitzPatrick (2007), the species is misplaced in the genus Zelotes based on the absence of preening comb on leg IV.

References

↑ Purcell, W.F. (1908). "Araneae (I). In: Schultze, L. (ed.): Zoologische und anthropologische Ergebnisse einer Forschungsreise im westlichen und zentralen Südafrika". Denkschriften der Medizinisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft zu Jena. 13: 203–246.
↑ "Zelotes pulchripes (Purcell, 1908)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
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 4 (Z). Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 40. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7197783. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

[purcell1908-1] Purcell, W.F. (1908). "Araneae (I). In: Schultze, L. (ed.): Zoologische und anthropologische Ergebnisse einer Forschungsreise im westlichen und zentralen Südafrika". Denkschriften der Medizinisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft zu Jena. 13: 203–246.

[wsc-2] "Zelotes pulchripes (Purcell, 1908)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-25.

[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 4 (Z). Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 40. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7197783. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.