Stasimopus steynsburgensis

Stasimopus steynsburgensis is a species in the family Stasimopidae.^[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Steynburg cork-lid trapdoor spider.^[3]

Steynburg Cork-Lid Trapdoor Spider
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. steynsburgensis
Binomial name
Stasimopus steynsburgensis Hewitt, 1915[1]

Distribution

Stasimopus steynsburgensis is found in South Africa. The species is known only from the Eastern Cape province, specifically from Steynsburg.^[3]

Habitat and ecology

The species is a ground dweller that lives in silk-lined burrows closed with a cork-lid trapdoor. The species has been sampled from the Thicket biome at an altitude of 1462 m above sea level.^[3]

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms

Conservation

Stasimopus steynsburgensis is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. The species is an Eastern Cape endemic known only from the type locality at 1462 m above sea level. Threats to this species are unknown.^[3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by John Hewitt in 1915 from Steynsburg. The species has not been revised and is known only from the male. The status remains obscure and additional sampling is needed to collect the female and determine the species' range.^[3]