Stasimopus caffrus

Stasimopus caffrus is a species of spider in the family Stasimopidae.^[2] It is endemic to South Africa.^[3] This is the type species of the genus Stasimopus.

Stasimopus caffrus
Conservation status
Invalid status (SANBI Red List)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Mygalomorphae
Family:	Stasimopidae
Genus:	Stasimopus
Species:	S. caffrus
Binomial name
Stasimopus caffrus (C. L. Koch, 1842)[1]

Distribution

Stasimopus caffrus is known only from the type locality stated as Cape of Good Hope in the Western Cape province of South Africa, at an altitude of 333 m above sea level.^[3]

Habitat and ecology

The species is a ground dweller that lives in silk-lined burrows in the Fynbos biome, closed with a thick trapdoor lid.^[3]

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms

Conservation

Stasimopus caffrus is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. The status of the species remains obscure. More sampling is needed to collect the male and to determine the species' present range. Threats to this species are unknown.^[3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by C. L. Koch in 1842 as Actinopus caffrus. It serves as the type species for the genus Stasimopus. The genus has not yet been revised.^[3]