Zelotes albanicus

Zelotes albanicus is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae.^[2] It is commonly known as the Grahamstown dark ground spider.^[3]

Grahamstown Dark Ground Spider
Conservation status
Least Concern (SANBI Red List)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Gnaphosidae
Genus:	Zelotes
Species:	Z. albanicus
Binomial name
Zelotes albanicus (Hewitt, 1915)[1]
Synonyms
Melanophora albanicus Hewitt, 1915

Distribution

Zelotes albanicus is endemic to South Africa.^[2] It has been recorded from four provinces: Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape, and Western Cape, at altitudes ranging from 6 to 2,020 m above sea level.^[3]

Notable locations include Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape (the type locality), Addo Elephant National Park, Augrabies National Park, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Table Mountain National Park, and Cederberg Wilderness Area.^[3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits Savanna, Grassland, and Fynbos biomes. These are free-running ground spiders that are typically collected using pitfall traps.^[3]

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms

Conservation

Zelotes albanicus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographic range. There are no significant threats to the species. It is protected in multiple reserves including Addo Elephant National Park, Augrabies National Park, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Table Mountain National Park, and Cederberg Wilderness Area.^[3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Hewitt in 1915 from Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape as Melanophora albanicus. It was revised by FitzPatrick in 2007. The species is known only from the female.^[3]