Araneus varus

Araneus varus is a species of spider in the family Araneidae.^[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the grass orb-web spider.^[3]

Grass Orb-Web Spider
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Araneidae
Genus:	Araneus
Species:	A. varus
Binomial name
Araneus varus (Kauri, 1950)[1]
Synonyms
Larinia vara Kauri, 1950

Distribution

Araneus varus is known only from Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, at an altitude of 857 m above sea level.^[3]

Habitat and ecology

This orb-web spider constructs an orb-web in low vegetation and grasses in the Savanna biome.^[3]

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms

Due to sexual dimorphism, it is difficult to recognize the two sexes as belonging to the same species.^[3]

Conservation

Araneus varus is listed as Data Deficient for Taxonomic reasons.^[3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Hans Kauri in 1950 as Larinia vara from Pietermaritzburg.^[1] The species was redescribed by Yuri Marusik in 2017, who transferred it to Araneus.^[4] The species is known only from the male and identification of the female is still problematic.^[3]