Araneus strupifer

Araneus strupifer is a species of spider in the family Araneidae.^[2] It is found from Senegal to South Africa.^[3]

Araneus Hairy Field Spider
Conservation status
Least Concern (SANBI Red List)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Araneidae
Genus:	Araneus
Species:	A. strupifer
Binomial name
Araneus strupifer (Simon, 1886)[1]

Distribution

Araneus strupifer is known from Botswana, Senegal, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa. In South Africa, the species occurs in three provinces at altitudes ranging from 44 to 1,341 m above sea level. The species is possibly under-collected and suspected to occur in African countries in between its known distribution.^[3]

Habitat and ecology

This orb-web spider constructs its web at night. The species is known from the Thicket, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, and Savanna biomes.^[3]

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms

The species is known only from female specimens.^[3]

Conservation

Araneus strupifer is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species is protected in Kruger National Park and Lhuvhondo Nature Reserve.^[3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described from Dakar, Senegal, as Epeira strupifera by Eugène Simon in 1886.^[1] The species has not been revised and identification of the male is still problematic.^[3]