Latrodectus umbukwane
 Adult female, showing dorsal markings
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Theridiidae
Genus: Latrodectus
Species:
L. umbukwane
Binomial name
Latrodectus umbukwane
B.M.O.G. Wright, C.D. Wright, Lyle & Engelbrecht, 2019[1]

Latrodectus umbukwane, commonly known as the Phinda button spider, is a species of the spider in the genus Latrodectus described in 2019, named after the Phinda Private Game Reserve where research specimens were collected.[2] As of 2019, it is known only from critically endangered sand forest environments in northern Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.[3] It is believed to be the largest member of its genus.

Discovery

A single female was first found in 2014 in the Tembe Elephant Park. It was observed until its natural death two years later, when it was collected and sent to a laboratory. In 2017 a professional entomologist joined the study and a number of live specimens were collected from the Phinda reserve.[4] They and their offspring were studied until 2019 when it was confirmed to be a new species.[2] The first addition in 28 years to the 31 previously known button, or widow spiders in the genus Latrodectus, of which eight are found in Africa.[5]

Description

Females have red markings on both the ventral and dorsal surfaces of the abdomen, unlike any other African Latrodectus species. They have parallel spermathecae and the copulatory ducts have three loops.[3] The embolus of males has four loops and there are white markings on the ventral surface of the abdomen that darken with age.[3] The large smooth egg sacs are bright purple when freshly laid, fading to shiny grey as they dry.[2]

External anatomy
Female, showing dorsal markings
Adult female, ventral markings
Adult male (not to scale)

Habitat

The species is only known to occur in the critically endangered lowland sand forest biome of northern KwaZulu-Natal. These forests are threatened by illegal clearing for farming as well as wood collection. The females build nests in trees and stumps more than 50 centimetres above ground, which is higher than most other members of the genus.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Taxon details Latrodectus umbukwane B. M. O. G. Wright, C. D. Wright, Lyle & Engelbrecht, 2019". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  2. 1 2 3 "A new species of button spider found in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa". WTF Entomology. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Wright, B.M.O.G.; Wright, C.D.; Sole, C.L.; Lyle, R.; Tippett, R.; Sholto-Douglas, C.; Verburgt, L.; Engelbrecht, I. (26 November 2019). "A new forest dwelling button spider from South Africa (Araneae, Theridiidae, Latrodectus)". Zootaxa. 4700 (4): 584–600. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4700.4.12. PMID 32229963.
  4. 1 2 Lockwood, Georgina (11 December 2018). "Phinda button spider discovered in sand forests of KwaZulu-Natal". Safari News. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  5. ↑ Lindeque, Brent (9 April 2019). "Web of intrigue as new button spider species discovered in SA". Good Things Guy. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
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