Hexophthalma hahni

Hexophthalma hahni is a species of spider in the family Sicariidae.^[2] It is endemic to deserts and other sandy places in southern Africa and is commonly known as Hahn's six-eyed sand spider.^[3]

Hahn's Six-eyed Sand Spider
Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Sicariidae
Genus:	Hexophthalma
Species:	H. hahni
Binomial name
Hexophthalma hahni (Karsch, 1878)[1]
Synonyms[2]
Hexomma hahnii Karsch, 1878 Sicarius hahni (Karsch, 1878) Sicarius testaceus Purcell, 1908 Hexophthalma testacea (Purcell, 1908)

Due to their flattened stance and laterigrade legs, they are also sometimes known as six-eyed crab spiders.

Distribution

Hexophthalma hahni occurs in Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. In South Africa, it is recorded from five provinces occurring in more than 10 protected areas at altitudes ranging from 14 to 1466 m above sea level.^[3]

Habitat and ecology

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The species inhabits multiple biomes including Desert biome, Grassland, Fynbos, Nama Karoo, Savanna and Succulent Karoo biomes. Specimens are found beneath stones in sandy areas, buried in sand at the entrances of animal burrows and at the base of rock overhangs or cliff faces.^[3]

Venom

All species of Hexophthalma produce venom that can have dermonecrotic effects, capable of causing serious or even life-threatening wounds, particularly if the wound becomes infected or the venom spreads in the body. The necrotic effects are caused by a family of proteins related to sphingomyelinase D, present in the venom of all sicariid spiders. Most Hexophthalma species, though, including H. hahnii, have only been studied in vitro, and the detailed effects of their venom in humans and other vertebrates are unknown.^[4] No records of bites in southern Africa have been proven.^[5]

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms

Conservation

Hexophthalma hahni is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species is protected in several protected areas including Karoo National Park, Blouberg Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, Tswalu Game Reserve, Namaqua National Park, Swartberg Nature Reserve, Cederberg Wilderness Area and Kalahari Gemsbok National Park.^[3]

Etymology

The species is named after Carl Wilhelm Hahn, a German arachnologist who made significant contributions to spider taxonomy.

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Ferdinand Karsch in 1878 as Hexomma hahnii from Namibia. It was later moved to Hexophthalma by Karsch in 1879 as a generic replacement name. The species has been revised by Lotz (2012, 2018) and synonymized with Hexophthalma testacea. It is known from both sexes and serves as the type species for the genus Hexophthalma.^[3]