Proevippa bruneipes

Proevippa bruneipes is a southern African species of spider in the family Lycosidae.^[2]

Proevippa bruneipes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Lycosidae
Genus:	Proevippa
Species:	P. bruneipes
Binomial name
Proevippa bruneipes (Purcell, 1903)[1]
Synonyms
Lycosa bruneipes Purcell, 1903 Lycosa cretata Purcell, 1903 Geolycosa cretata Roewer, 1955 Trochosa bruneipes Roewer, 1955

Distribution

Proevippa bruneipes is found in Lesotho and South Africa.^[2] In South Africa, it is recorded from the provinces Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, and Western Cape. The species occurs at altitudes ranging from 18 to 1,685 m. Localities include Hanover, Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve, Lowveld National Botanical Gardens, and Cederberg Wilderness Area.^[3]

Habitat and ecology

Proevippa bruneipes is a free-running ground dwelling spider sampled from Fynbos, Grassland, Nama Karoo, and Savanna biomes.^[3]

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms

Conservation

Proevippa bruneipes is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species is threatened by farming activities in the Montagu area but is presently protected in Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve, Lowveld National Botanical Gardens, Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve, and Cederberg Wilderness Area.^[3]

Etymology

The specific name is Latin for "brown foot".

Taxonomy

Proevippa bruneipes was originally described by Purcell in 1903 as Lycosa bruneipes from Hanover. Purcell also described Lycosa cretata in the same publication, which was later synonymized with P. bruneipes by Russell-Smith in 1981. The species is known from both sexes.^[3]