Zelotes pulchripes

Zelotes pulchripes is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae.^[2] It is commonly known as Steinkopf's dark ground spider and is endemic to South Africa.^[3]

Steinkopf's Dark Ground Spider
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Gnaphosidae
Genus:	Zelotes
Species:	Z. pulchripes
Binomial name
Zelotes pulchripes (Purcell, 1908)[1]
Synonyms
Melanophora pulchripes Purcell, 1908

Distribution

Zelotes pulchripes is known only from the type locality Steinkopf in the Northern Cape.^[3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits the Succulent Karoo biome at an altitude of 870 m above sea level. They are free-running ground spiders found under stones during the day.^[3]

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms

Conservation

Zelotes pulchripes is listed as Data Deficient because it is known only from the type locality. More sampling is needed to determine the species' range. There are no significant threats to the species.^[3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Purcell in 1908 as Melanophora pulchripes. According to Fitzpatrick (2007), the species is misplaced in the genus Zelotes based on the absence of preening comb on leg IV.^[3]