Mature male, approximately 50mm body length, and around 100mm in leg span diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Yellow and dark starburst pattern on carapace. Black round bulbs on tarsus of pedipalps. Stroke of shimmering yellowish setae on front of chelicera. Fovea slightly raised to a slight hump. Eyes grouped on top of carapace, centre anterior.
Abdomen: Abdomen dark and covered with yellow setae. Noticeable spinnerets.
Legs: Long legs with mating hooks on the tibia of the first leg pair. Legs dark with yellow hairs on femurs and prominent tarsal pads.
Around 5mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 8mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace cream coloured and plain save for cephalic region raised and with faint white setae. Chelicerae same colour as carapace. Pedipalps same colour as legs, plain. Faint striations from fovea.
Abdomen: Abdomen same colour as carapace, hairy, shield shaped with two shoulders anterior dorsal and 6 black dimples between shoulders down dorsal middle with faint markings posterior dorsal.
Legs: Legs cream coloured, slightly darker than body, faintly mottled with light spines, darker distally. 1, 4, 2, 3.
Male
Unknown.
Adult female Neoscona sp.
Adult female Neoscona sp.
ABOUT THE GENUS
These spiders are commonly found all over South Africa and are called the hairy field spider or barn spider. They come in a huge variety of colours, shapes, and patterns, even among the same species. They are medium-sized spiders, often confused with the Araneus genus (field spider) or the Paraneus genus (the spikey field spiders). They will hid in a retreat off to the side of their web and emerge once prey is caught in the strands. Some species have been observed consuming their webs in the morning only to reconstruct them come the evening.
Around 5mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 8mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace sandy brown with white clypeus. Dark chelicera. Sternum oval and greenish yellow. Pedipalps light and hairy.
Abdomen: Abdomen large oval and tapered, sandy brown. Dorsal with faint light line down centre, faint stripes on sides, and 4 small dark spots posterior with dark spinnerets. Ventral plain with tiny dark spot on epigyne.
Legs: Sandy brown legs with darkened tarsi.
Male
Unknown.
ABOUT THE GENUS
Spiders in this genus can grow to be comparatively large for a jumping spider, though still are small spiders as a whole. They are also one of the more commonly encountered genera of jumping spider in Orania thus far, with the most species variation in the area as well.
Like most jumping spider genera, the Heliophanus species consist of a dull-coloured female, often larger, and a more vividly coloured male, often smaller especially in the size of the abdomen.
Around 6mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 12mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace greyish light brown, lighter posterior with faint dark line in centre, thin black line on margins. Dark line from posterior lateral eyes to anterior, darkening at “face”. Anterior median eyes with red ring. Clypeus high and white. Chelicera dark with white stripes. Sternum oval and light grey. Pedipalps whitish, slightly darkened and swollen tarsi.
Abdomen: Abdomen small, tapered oval. Dorsal light brown with dark leaf-like pattern and light pattern within, centre from anterior to posterior, light stripes down either side. Ventral pale and mottled.
Legs: First leg pair noticeably longer, darker, and thicker, thin white hair ventral from femur to metatarsi, dark inner femora. Legs light brown, faintly mottled. 1, 3, 4, 2.
Adult male P. modicus
Adult male P. modicus
ABOUT THE GENUS
The spiders of this genus are one of the few jumping spiders that don’t show a stark difference between males and females, also known as sexual dimorphism. Another interesting feature of these spiders is the many fine setae on their first leg pair in both sexes. Not much is known about the South African species and the genus in Africa is poorly studied.
Around 5mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 7mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace oval, raised, orange, with dark cephalic region and fovea, dark border on margins. Sternum triangular, orangish with thin dark border and faint dark line centre. Chelicera dark reddish. Mouth parts dark reddish. Pedipalps yellow with dark bulbous tarsi.
Abdomen: Abdomen long and thin with slight groove near posterior. Dorsal hairy, dark with thick yellowish band down centre from shoulders Venter yellow, plain. Spinnerets dark, middle of ventral abdomen.
Legs: Yellow and banded at joints, tibia banded, covered in small fine spines which are more prominent on the tibia of first two leg pairs. 1, 2, 4, 3.
Adult male E. lawrencei
ABOUT THE GENUS
This family of spiders are specialised spider hunters, and often overlooked and not well studied in South Africa. Pirate spiders are often mistaken for Theridiidae or orb-weavers due to similar appearances. Their legs are covered in spines (prominent and tough hairs) and the teeth on their chelicera are thorn-like, making them equipped to handle dangerous prey like their fellow spiders. Unlike their prey, pirate spiders don’t go for the killing bite or use their web to immobilise, instead biting a leg with a good dose of venom that will paralyse the spider, and retreat and wait before they come near again.
Around 5mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 20mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace roundish and tapers anterior with raised cephalic region, light brown with dark line along margin either side and darker border on cephalic region. Sternum roun and “bloated”, greenish light brown. Pedipalps light with long swollen tapered tarsi.
Abdomen: Abdomen thin and flat oval, tapered to prominent spinnerets. Dark dorsal and “hairy”. Ventral pale, darker spinnerets.
Legs: Legs light brown, long thin, plain. 1, 2, 4, 3.
Adult male C. contentum
ABOUT THE GENUS
These spiders, while looking like flat-bellied ground spiders, are unique to their own. They are commonly known as swift ground spiders, precisely due to their long legs making them fast runners, and are often found in dry and hot areas with plenty of stones under which they can spin their retreats. These spiders, like many ground spiders, are nocturnal. Only this species from this family has been recorded in South Africa.
Around 5mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 10mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace long and reddish brown, dark in ocular region with dark chelicera. Sternum shield shape and reddish. Pedipalps reddish brown.
Abdomen: Abdomen thin oval, tapered to spinnerets. Dorsal dark with 2 faint lighter lines anterior centre, posterior darker. Ventral pale, darker posterior with two faint darker lines centre.
Legs: First 2 leg pairs thicker and slightly darker, reddish brown with darker metatarsi and tarsi. 4, 1, 2, 3.
Male
Unknown.
Adult female Clubiona sp.
ABOUT THE GENUS
These spiders are known as leaf-curling sac spiders, due to their habit of curling leaves together with silk to make their sac retreats. Another common name for them is the grass sac spider. They are prolific and found in every province in South Africa, usually in houses or orchards. This genus is also difficult to identify to species due to many of them looking the same and having variations, leaving only the genitalia differing to identify with.
Abdomen: Abdomen oval with two shoulders dorsal middle and two smaller pairs of humps posterior. Dorsal whitish with dark spot anterior under the curve that rests on carapace. Ventral whitish with thick darker band down centre and a thick dark stripe either side. Spinerettes dark.
Legs: First leg pair significantly long, all legs whitish. 1, 4, 2, 3.
Male
Unknown.
Adult female Philoponella sp.
ABOUT THE GENUS
Philoponella spiders are a pantropical genus with few found in Africa and only 2 described species occurring in South Africa. Several species live semi-communally, a rare trait among spiders. Not much is known about the South African species and there may be several as yet unknown to science. This species, specifically is undescribed, but has been recorded in several areas.
Around 10mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 13mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace raised in cephalic region, reddish brown and darker along sides with white line on margins. White stripes across ocular region and clypeus. Chelicera reddish. Pedipalps brown with white bands, tarsi white. Sternum oval, light grey with dark spot in centre.
Abdomen: Abdomen large and tapered, dorsal dark with tear-drop shape marking of reddish white and black spots encompassing darker tear-shape inside and point ending in white spot near spinerettes. Ventral light, silverish with white border, epigyne with dark spot.
Legs: First leg pair thickest, dark reddish with faint white bands on joints. Other legs reddish. 4, 1, 3, 2.
Male
Unknown.
Adult female N. horizontalis
ABOUT THE GENUS
Natta spiders are ant-eaters by preference1, which is rare for jumping spiders and often only seen in ant-mimicking species. The males are more convincing as ant-mimics though the females also sport the bulkier forelegs and the antennae-like behaviour in moving them around. There are only two species in this genus, both of which are found in South Africa.
Around 6mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 18mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace light brown with dark stripe down centre and dark stripe either side in line with posterior lateral eyes, and faint small spots all over. Sternum round and pale. Pedipalps same as legs with darkened and swollen tarsi.
Abdomen: Abdomen tapered, brown, dorsal with dark heart mark bordered by light lines, spotted faintly. Ventral light and plain.
Legs: Thin long brown legs with small dark spots. 2, 1, 4, 3.
Adult male P. brachycephalus
ABOUT THE GENUS
Philodromus, which is the type genus for the family Philodromidae, is a large and wide-spread genus, having over 250 described species within it. These spiders have flattened bodies and are generally medium sized at an average of 7mm in body length. They are ambush predators that lay in wait of prey by flattening their limbs, and can be found on various substrates, from the ground up into trees.
About 8mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 20mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace red-brown with faint white starburst pattern. Sternum reddish shield shape. Chelicera red with black ends. Peidpalps reddish.
Abdomen: Abdomen oval with taper, dark with two broad lighter bands across, first anterior and second posterior. Anterior band with slightly brighter borders. Ventral greyish with two dark lines posterior and dark epigyne.
Legs: Legs reddish brown and thin and long. 4, 1, 2, 3.
Male
Unknown.
Adult female Casteianeira sp.
Adult female Casteianeira sp.
ABOUT THE GENUS
The ant-mimic spiders of the genus Castianeira are near perfect mimics of the ant species Anoplolepis custodiens, known commonly as the crazy or pugnacious ant, what South Africans often refer to as malmiere. These spiders are often found around Micaria sp. spiders as well. Castianeira sp. is difficult to find due to this, along with their movement being very ant-like and their tendency to bob their abdomen up and down like the ant they’re mimicking does. Like other sac spiders, these will only make a sac web to retreat in due=ring the day, though this species can be found resting in abandoned tunnels or grooves under rocks and debris.
Around 9mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 18mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace raised in centre, yellowish with two dark bands down centre. Sternum brown, shield shape, wider anteriorly, thin dark margins.
Abdomen: Abdomen oval with sharp taper, dark with faint yellowish setae dorsally and very faint chevron-like markings posterior near spinnerets. Ventral light, faintly mottled.
Legs: Same colour as carapace, tibia darker. 1st metatarsi shorter than tarsi. 4, 1, 2, 3.
Male
Unknown.
Adult female S. lineatipes
Adult female S. lineatipes
ABOUT THE GENUS
These ground spiders are a small genus, consisting of only two known species of which both are South African. They are poorly studied and not much is known about them. Like most ground spiders, they are nocturnal and hide under rocks during the day. There hasn’t been a retreat web observed with this species, but they may still make one either for molting or egg laying.
Around 5mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 9mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace white with a slightly darker cephalic region that is slightly raised, and dark lines along the anterior margins. Sternum yellowish white with dark border and faint dark patch in center, shield shaped. Chelicera yellowish fading to dark ends. Pedipalps pale and hairy.
Abdomen: Rounded triangular shape, whitish in colour. Dark wavy V marking on dorsum from apex down to posterior with thin darker lines inside and faint yellowish wave lines from the edges of the marking to the sides of the abdomen, white wing-like pattern anterior. Venter yellowish with dark Y shape marking centre that leads to dark spinnerets. Epigyne dark.
Legs: Legs yellowish white with thin bands around joints. 1, 4, 2, 3.
Male
Unknown.
Adult female N. subfusca
Adult female N. subfusca
ABOUT THE GENUS
These small to medium-sized spiders are among the most frequently encountered orb-weavers in South Africa, making large webs around human habitats as well as in gardens. They are near-cosmopolitan is range and are commonly known as the hairy field spider. These spiders will construct their web in the evenings and devour them in the mornings where they will retreat to a nearby hide. They come in various colours and patterns, but are still often difficult to identify to species level without a microscope. This species, in particular, has many variations and is recorded as being found in every province.
Around 5mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 8mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace yellowish with darkened fovea and dark ocular region. Pedipalps same colour as carapace, gradually darker toward tibia onward.
Abdomen: Long, thin, flattened. Dorsal is dark brown and tapers posteriorly. Spinnerets prominent, same colour as carapace with dark ends.
Legs: Same colour as carapace. First leg pair gradually darkens at patella onward. 4, 1, 2, 3.
Male
As in female but with thinner abdomen and swollen tarsi on pedipalps that taper sharply.
Adult male T. hanoveria
Adult male T. hanoveria
ABOUT THE GENUS
These are South African ground spiders, with only one species being from Namibia. They are medium-sized spider that average at 5mm in body length and are free-dwelling spiders who are active at night, and seem to prefer the dry regions.
Around 5mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 8mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Reddish brown, carapace slightly raised anterior with light brown down centre. Sternum dark brown. Jaws dark brown.
Abdomen: Dark grey oval abdomen, no markings dorsal or ventral. Spinnerets long and thick, same colour as carapace.
Legs: Legs and palps reddish brown, first leg pair fading darker from tibia down. Leg pairs subequal, third slightly shorter. Coxa ventrally lighter brown.
Male
As in female, but with darkened swollen tarsi on pedipalps.
Adult female C. biplagia
Adult male C. biplagia
ABOUT THE GENUS
These spiders are closely related to the dark ground spider, Zelotes, but can be distinguished by their reddish brown colouration. They belong to the subfamily of flat-bellied ground spiders that possess a preening comb on the metatarsus of their 3rd and 4th legs, called Zelotinae. Camilliina spiders are common in South Africa, occurring in every province. They are medium-sized spider with an average of 6mm in body length and are commonly known as pearly-eyed ground spiders due to their posterior median eyes being reflective.
Around 8mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 15mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace light brownish, chelicera reddish, sternum round and pale. Pedipalps same colour as carapace with swollen sharply tapering tarsi.
Abdomen: Thin and flattened, ending in taper with long spinnerets same colour as legs with dark tips, darker than carapace dorsally, light ventrally with slight reddish hue.
Legs: Legs slightly darker than carapace, dorsal femora darker. 1, 4, 2, 3.
Adult male X. appendiculatus
Adult male X. appendiculatus
ABOUT THE GENUS
This genus of flat-bellied ground spiders are mostly found in South Africa, seeming to prefer the dry regions. They are commonly known as mouse spiders due to their soft brown colours. These spiders are nocturnal hunters and can be found under rocks during the day. They are medium-sized with an average of 7mm in body length. Xerophaeus spiders can be found in every province in South Africa, and many of them in the Northern Cape.
Around 5mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 10mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace light greyish cream with two dark lines down centre from posterior median eyes, cephalic region raised. Sternum shield shape, black. Pedipalps same colour as carapace, mottled, with dark swollen tarsi that taper sharply. Anterior row of eyes straight, posterior medians close together.
Abdomen: Thin oval that sharply tapers, same colour as carapace with two dark lines running down dorsal, faint chevron-like markings posterior centre. Ventral pale with tapering dark line in centre.
Legs: Same colour as carapace, mottled, long. Tarsi darker.
Adult male P. lativittata
Adult male P. lativittata
ABOUT THE GENUS
These spiders are free-roaming hunters and are nocturnal. They are medium-sized spiders, averaging at around 6-7mm, with females generally being larger. The genus is native to South Africa, with at least 2 species occurring in the Northern Cape, and there are only 10 described species. Their legs are often long and thin with some strong spines, though not as much as in Pardosa wolf spiders.
Around 5mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 12mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace brown with raised ridge down centre and dark markings on either side of ridge. Almost black sternum. Palps like legs.
Abdomen: Abdomen dark grey-brown with two rows of black and white spots running down dorsal and faded light brown triangular marking dorsal anterior. Ventral abdomen plain and light grey-brown. Spinnerets light.
Legs: Thin light brown legs, with dark bands. Coxae light and plain. 4, 1, 3, 2.
Male
Unknown.
Adult female P. clavipalps
Adult female P. clavipalps
ABOUT THE GENUS
Pardosa are medium-sized wolf spiders and are among the few recorded species to have carried prey around, and will drop it or their egg sac when feeling threatened, though they attempt to return to their dropped package in a short while. They are important in keeping populations of certain mites in check around strawberry farms in South Africa. Some species are even able to control their nutrient intake through their diet, a unique trait among spiders.
Around 5mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 7mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace yellow with two thick dark bands running down from eyes to posterior, thin dark stripe in centre by fovea. Greenish yellow shield shaped sternum.
Abdomen: Abdomen longer than wide, tapered to sharp point. Dorsal brown with light band down centre, reddish patches, and littered with symmetrical black and white spots. Ventral plain and pale.
Legs: Light brown, long and thin, and mottled, with prominent setae. Coxae white. 4, 1, 2, 3.
Male
Unknown.
Adult female P. crassipalpis with egg sac
Adult female P. crassipalpis with egg sac
ABOUT THE GENUS
These spiders are commonly known as thin-legged wolf spiders, due to their long and thin legs often covered in strong spines. They are able to wade over still water thanks to those spines. Pardosa is a large genus with over 500 described species, and they occur on every continent excepting Antarctica. Their egg sacs also tend to be greenish white in colour, different from the white to greyish white of most other wolf spiders. P. crassipalpis has variation on colouration and intensity of the colours on both the carapace and abdomen.
Around 10mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 20mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace and sternum black, cephalic region slightly raised.
Abdomen: Bulbous egg-shaped abdomen. Black with white band across dorsal anterior and whit spots down centre. Ventral plain black.
Legs: Fore legs longer than rest. Dull red on hind tibia of legs. 1, 4, 2, 3.
Male
As in female, but thinner abdomen, smaller, longer legs that tend to be brown and banded around joints. Slightly enlarged tarsi on pedipalps, reddish to black.
Adult male S. capensis
Adult female S. capensis (left) wrapping an adult female E. molesta (right)
ABOUT THE GENUS
Often confused for black button spiders, this species is known as the false button spider and is not medically significant though their bite is painful and the venom can cause a feeling of being unwell. It is native to South Africa. Like their brown button cousins, S. capensis is fond of making their homes near humans, usually in infrequently used areas. The genus is cosmopolitan, with several species occurring in South Africa. They come in a variety of colours and markings, and are distinguishable from button spiders by their slightly flattened abdomen.
Around 10mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 23mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Dark brown carapace with four light dots posterior centre, anterior and clypeus light brownish yellow with light brown chelicera. Greyish round sternum with dark spot in centre. Dark brown coxae. Pedipalps reddish brown.
Abdomen: Abdomen round and light brown, mottled, and faint dark bands across posterior. Ventral abdomen pale yellowish and mottled.
Legs: Legs brown with pairs 1 and 2 dark brown to tibia, metatarsus and tarsus reddish brown and ventrally light brown and spotted. Legs 3 and 4 light femora and dark patella and tibia, light metatarsi and tarsi. 1, 2, 4, 3.
Male
Around 5mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 10mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Dark brown carapace with four light dots posterior centre, anterior and clypeus light brownish yellow with light brown chelicera, thin white line on margins. Greyish round sternum with dark spot in centre and faint dark lines above either side. Dark brown coxae. Pedipalps light brown, swollen tarsi with taper.
Abdomen: Abdomen round and light brown, mottled, with 2 light spots dorsal anterior and two faint dark bands across posterior. Ventral abdomen pale yellowish and mottled.
Legs: Legs brown with pairs 1 and 2 dark brown to tibia, metatarsus and tarsus reddish brown. Legs 3 and 4 light brown with dark bands around patella. 1, 2, 4, 3.
Adult female Xysticus sp.
Adult male Xysticus sp.
ABOUT THE GENUS
These spiders are commonly known as ground crab spiders, preferring to live and hunt on the ground rather than in flowers and plants. Their brown, reddish, and black colours lend them the ability to hide in their surroundings. Like all crab spiders, they are ambush predators and not very fast or agile. The name Xysticus comes from the Greek word xyst, meaning “scraper”. These spiders are difficult to identify and require a look at under the microscope to determine species.
Around 4mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 7mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace dark brown and glossy, plain. Sternum shield shaped and black.
Abdomen: Abdomen long and thin. Dorsal iridescent dark brown with two whitish bands across the anterior from side to side. Ventral dark brown and glossy.
Legs: Dark brown, thin and long. 4th pair longest, other three pairs subequal in length.
Male
As in female, 3mm body length, but with prominent pedipalps and enlarged tapered tarsi, thinner abdomen cinched in middle and no bands, ventral abdomen iridescent greenish, and legs orangish with light dorsal trochanters.
Adult male M. beaufortia
ABOUT THE GENUS
Micaria are a genus of small ant-mimicking ground spiders, averaging at around 4mm in body length. They are nocturnal free-roaming spiders, but will construct a sac-like web for a retreat under rocks and debris during the day. There are 14 described species in South Africa, and seem to be a spider that prefers the dry regions, likely along with the ants they mimic. Not only are Micaria spiders’ spinnerets much shorter than other members of the ground spider family, their abdomens are also shiny with scales that cause an iridescent colour under light.
Around 2mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 5mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace dark brown with darker margin and radiating lines, cephalic region darker and raised starkly with a groove behind ocular region. Sternum shield-shaped and black. Chelicera and pedipalps black.
Abdomen: Abdomen long and glossy dark greyish brown with a sheen, tapered to prominent spinnerets, protruding epigyne also black.
Legs: Legs thin and brown with black bands around femoral, patella, and tibial joints. 1st dorsal femora darker.
Male
Unknown.
Adult female Microlinyphia sp.
ABOUT THE GENUS
Commonly known as platform spiders, Microlinyphia are tiny and average at around 4mm in body length. These spiders are easy to identify as Microlinyphia by their rectangular-shaped abdomen in profile and the raised cephalic region. This spider, unlike O. melanopygius, is native to South Africa, and is likely undescribed.
Around 3mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 5mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace and sternum black. Cephalic region raised dramatically, but gradually. Pedipalps same as legs.
Abdomen: Abdomen pointy round and red, with black on and around spinnerets.
Legs: Legs long and thin, reddish orange with dark patella. 1, 2, 4, 3.
Male
As female with thinner abdomen and slighly modified tarsi on pedipalps.
Adult male O. melanopygius
Adult female O. melanopygius
ABOUT THE GENUS
These tiny spiders are an introduced species, not native to South Africa, and may be invasive. They are often found under debris and rocks where they make their sheetwebs, often seen with several small white balls of their egg sacs. This genus only contains two species, of which O. melanopygius is wide-spread while the other, O. muticus, is only in China. They are commonly known as the black-tailed dwarf spider and due to their small size at an average of 2mm in body length, these spiders regularly use the ballooning technique to reach new areas.
Around 1mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 15mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace yellowish with darkened fovea. Ocular region raised, 2 eye groupings of 3 eyes each anterior centre with large space between. Dark patch on clypeus under each eye group. Sternum shield shape, plain, yellowish. Mouth region black. Chelicera black. Pedipalps small, yellowish.
Abdomen: Abdomen round, greyish brown, with yellowish orange spots, ventral plain. Spinnerets taper to point far beneath, middle of profile, pointing straight down.
Legs: Yellow, plain, thin and long. 1, 4, 2, 3.
Male
Unknown.
Adult female Q. lotzi
ABOUT THE GENUS
These tiny spiders are commonly known as spotted cellar / daddy-long-legs spiders and they are indigenous to Africa with 26 described species, most from South Africa. They average 1mm in body length with variations on abdominal markings and shape. Some species have eight eyes while others have six. Q. lotzi is one of those with only six eyes in two groupings. They live in or around shrubs and bushes and sometimes in leaf litter and under rocks as often seen in the semi-desert environment of Orania.
Around 8mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 10mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace dark brown, almost black, cephalic region raised slightly. Sternum reddish dark brown and plain. Pedipalps like legs and unmodified.
Abdomen: Abdomen slightly flattened, long oval, and blackish grey with two dimples half-way dorsally. Ventral abdomen yellowish grey and plain. Spinnerets brown and long.
Legs: Legs black and glossy up to tibia. Metatarsus and tarsus dark brown.
Male
As in female, but tarsi of pedipalps enlarged and trochanter brown.
Adult female Zelotes. sp.
Adlut male Zelotes sp.
ABOUT THE GENUS
These ground spiders are among the most difficult to identify to species level without looking at the genitalia. Almost all species are entirely black and physically near-identical. Their size ranges from small to medium, roughly 5-10mm in body length, and they usually have a pale spot on the inner femora of the first legs. Zelotes ground spiders are abundant, occurring all over South Africa and are commonly known as the dark ground spider, precisely for their dark colouration.
Like all ground spiders, they are free-roaming and active hunters, often found under rocks and debris when they’re inactive during the day. This spider may be Zelotes fuligineus, according to surveys, but without observing under a microscope, there is no definitive identification. There are several species that have been recorded in the areas around Orania.
Around 20mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 30mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Yellowish carapace with two dark lines down in line with posterior eyes, eyes ringed in black. Chelicera light, fading to black near fangs. Sternum light with blackish line down centre.
Abdomen: Oval abdomen, dorsal greyish brown with dark heart line surrounded by yellowish V marking anterior centre followed by faint chevron markings down to light brown spinnerets. Ventral grey with black lance marking in centre with a thinner black line on either side.
Legs: Light brown yellowish and mottled, fading to dark brown on metatarsus down. 4th leg pair longest, other pairs are subequal.
Male
As in female with leaner abdomen, and modified and swollen tarsi ending in sharp taper on pedipalps.
Adult female H. zuluana
Adult female H. zuluana
ABOUT THE GENUS
The genus Hogna is among the most commonly encountered of the wolf spiders. They are a cosmopolitan spider, occurring on all continents save Antarctica, and one of the largest genera with over 200 described species. Hogna wolf spiders have been given a bad reputation with false or confused necrotic wounds being ascribed to them, though studies have shown them to not be medically significant to humans, and definitely not having cytotoxic venom. These spiders tend to prefer the wide open areas and are often found to inhabit dry regions.
Around 20mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 30mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace raised in middle, dark brown with thick yellowish line down centre from clypeus to posterior, and thick whitish lines on edges of carapace. Thin black line across clypeus. Chelicera yellow anterior and dark posterior. Sternum shield shaped and glossy black. Pedipalps greyish brown and mottled with dark swollen tarsi that taper sharply. Anterior row of eyes strongly procurved.
Abdomen: Abdomen thin oval with sharp taper, greyish with dark heart marking dorsal anterior centre of which is surrounded by thick yellowish lines that fade mid-way down into a faint chevron-like pattern posteriorly. Ventral black and spinnerets dark.
Legs: Greyish and mottled, long and robust with ventral tarsi dark. 4th leg pair longest. Ventral coxae black.
Adult male H. spenceri
Adult male H. spenceri
ABOUT THE GENUS
Hogna spiders are burrowers, creating silk-lined holes in the substrate without a door. These spiders are large, some often rivalling those of the Lycosa genus in size. They are nocturnal predators who actively wander in search of prey. Hogna has been recorded in every province in South Africa and are encountered frequently. They can often be found under rocks, sometimes without a burrow, during the day.
Around 6mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 10mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace slightly longer than wide, yellowish with two dark bands, centre raised.
Abdomen: Tear-drop shaped, yellowish brown. Dorsal with two prominent white spots on either side of heart marking, brown rock-textured markings, yellowish circle either side of posterior chevron-like pattern, and faint white spots down centre. Venter yellowish.
Legs: Yellowish and mottled and banded.
Male
As in female, abdomen smaller, tarsi slightly darker and swollen on pedipalps, legs thinner and longer.
Adult male C. kimbuis
Adult female C. kimbuis
ABOUT THE GENUS
These spiders are commonly known as small funnel-web nursery spiders, and there are only 3 described species in South Africa. They are medium-sized spiders, averaging at 7mm in body length that construct sheet-like webs with a thin tunnel in which they can retreat to. Cispius spiders are often found under bushed and debris on the ground, though rarely do they nest in holes higher in altitude. These spiders are also nocturnal.
Around 5mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 7mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace dark with light cephalic region, posterior edge, and lateral margins. Sternum shield-shape, greenish yellow with faintly lighter borders. Chelicera reddish brown, long. Pedipalps sandy and tarsi slightly tear-drop shaped.
Abdomen: Abdomen sandy brown with lighter margins and light patch anterior dorsal centre followed by darker paired patches down centre to darker spinnerets. Venter yellow and plain, epigyne with small dark spot in centre.
Legs: Sandy brown and faintly banded with slightly darker tarsi. 4, 1, 2, 3.
Male
Around 3mm in body length. Leg span of approximately 5mm diagonally.
Cephalothorax: Carapace dark with thick cream line down centre extending from anterior median eyes and tapering, thin white line either side of carapace border. Cephalic region raised. Clypeus, chelicera, and eye region dark. Pedipalps dark with slightly swollen tarsi. Sternum oval and dark, mouthparts dark.
Abdomen: Abdomen small and sharply tapering, dark with thick white dorsal median line and thin white line on either side. Ventral dirty whitish with dark epigastric furrow and spinnerets.
Legs: Creamish colour, short, black tarsi. 1st leg pair longer and slightly more robust.
Adult female H. hastatus
Adult male H. hastatus
ABOUT THE GENUS
Sun jumping spiders, the genus Heliophanus, are among the most commonly encountered of the jumping spiders and more well known. This genus is also one of the largest and most diverse in species of the Saliticids, and the largest in South Africa with 44 of the 170 described species. Hastsus in Latin means “to haste”, likely due to this species being incredibly fast and skittish and difficult to photograph.
Spiders in & around Orania 