A5087299167- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
- Orthoptera Research and Taxonomy
- Plant and animal studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Coleoptera Taxonomy and Distribution
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Insect Pheromone Research and Control
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Coleoptera: Cerambycidae studies
- Mollusks and Parasites Studies
University of the Free State
2016-2025
Clinvet
2024
Advanced Neural Dynamics (United States)
2023
University of Cape Town
2020
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2020
Hôpital Saint Joseph
2017
Université de Montpellier
2001
The new dark sac spider genus Jocquestus gen. nov. (Araneae: Trachelidae) is proposed for two species of Afrotropical trachelid spiders, J. schenkeli (Lessert, 1923) comb. (type species) from D.R. Congo, South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, roeweri (Lawrence, 1938) both which are transferred Trachelas L. Koch, 1872. Both redescribed the male described first time. Five described: capensis sp. (♂ ♀), harrisi (♀) incurvus ♀) griswoldi (♂) obliquus Tanzania. Present data suggests that all...
The Gallieniellidae is a small family of ground-dwelling gnaphosoid spiders with Gondwanan distribution, currently including 10 genera and 55 species (World Spider Catalog 2017). composition the group remains unresolved, as different phylogenies have either supported (Platnick 2002; Haddad et al. 2009) or disputed (Ramírez 2014; Wheeler in press) its monophyly.
Only a single species of the trachelid spider genus Afroceto Lyle & Haddad, 2010 has been recorded from Namibia to date, A. arca 2010. Examination holotype Argistes africanus Simon, 1910 (Liocranidae), subadult female specimen, indicates that is misplaced and hereby transferred as africana (Simon, 1910) comb. nov. Comparison with material this latter junior synonym africana. New records South Africa are provided, together an updated distribution map.
The genus Drassodella Hewitt, 1916 is one of four Afrotropical genera Gallieniellidae, and presently represented by seven species, all endemic to South Africa. type material six the described species was studied they are redescribed from both sexes: D. melana Tucker, 1923, quinquelabecula salisburyi 1916, septemmaculata (Strand, 1909), tenebrosa Lawrence, 1938 vasivulva 1923. Of these, males melana, for first time. Recent field work yielded additional females purcelli 1923 vicinity locality,...
The genus Micaria Westring, 1851 (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) is a group of small (1.85–5 mm) ant-like spiders that can be distinguished from other gnaphosids by their piriform gland spigots are similar in size to the major ampullate spigots. According World Spider Catalog, there 105 species world, which only three known African part Afrotropical Region, namely M. chrysis (Simon, 1910), tersissima Simon, 1910 and beaufortia (Tucker, 1923). objectives this study were revise providing new updated...
A new genus of the spider family Trachelidae L. Koch, 1872 from Afrotropical Region is described. Capobula gen. nov. represented by five species, known South Africa and Lesotho only. Adults both sexes Orthobula infima Simon, 1896a, which widely distributed in Western Cape, Africa, are described for first time, this species transferred to as its type species. Four described: C. capensis spec. neethlingi (South Africa: Cape), montana (Lesotho Eastern Free State KwaZulu-Natal) ukhahlamba...
Three species of Synemosyna Hentz, 1846 were recorded during a survey in five Bolivian forest ecoregions: S. aurantiaca (Mello-Leitão, 1917), myrmeciaeformis (Taczanowski, 1871) and nicaraguaensis Cutler, 1993. are for Bolivia the first time previously unknown male is described illustrated. The habitus genitalia female illustrated time. occurs semi-deciduous forests south 18° S Yungas ecoregions Amazon biome north 16° possibly an Andean that enters into moist Isthmian Central America....
Abstract Pisauridae are a global and heterogeneous assemblage of spider genera with diverse morphologies lifestyles. So far, the monophyly inclusion fishing spiders ( Dolomedes ) in this family have not been thoroughly tested. Here, we amend systematics classification these lineages within UCE phylogenomic framework through detailed morphological reappraisal. For estimations their evolutionary age, perform compare outcomes from two divergence estimation approaches, an posteriori likelihood,...
Purcell (1908) and Simon (1910) described or reported 181 spiders from southern Africa based on the material collected by German zoologist anthropologist Leonhard Schultze in 1903‒1905. The expedition route passed through several countries/territories that have since changed their boundaries and/or names. two mentioned papers included 32 localities three modern countries, aside broader geographical regions (e.g. Hereroland) without specified localities. In this paper, we list all species...
As part of a revision the Afrotropical species Trachelas L. Koch, 1872 (Araneae: Trachelidae), we distinguished three new genera primarily arboreal spiders from southern Africa that are described here: Coronarachne gen. nov., represented by four known both sexes, C. denticulata sp. nov. (type species), penicillus setosa and unigena neethlingi only male; Falcaranea F. amatola gladius species) maputensis nov.; Trachecymbius five species, T. bosselaersi (♀), felis (♂♀), peterwebbi (♂), tyume...
As part of ongoing revisions the Afrotropical Trachelidae, four new genera are described from southern Africa: Foordana gen. nov. , with F. distincta sp. South Africa (Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape) as type species, flavipoda kasouga Eastern Cape KwaZulu-Natal, a fourth undescribed species Zimbabwe; monotypic Mushimane M. tswibilinki species; Namaquella N. arida Northern samanthae Cape; Rukuluk Africa, R. gramineus second known only juveniles.
Spider diversity is partitioned into three primary clades, namely Mesothelae, Mygalomorphae, and Araneomorphae. Mygalomorph cytogenetics largely unknown. Our study revealed a remarkable karyotype of mygalomorphs. Unlike araneomorphs, they show no general trend towards decrease 2n, as the chromosome number was reduced in some lineages increased others. A biarmed symplesiomorphy mygalomorphs araneomorphs. Male meiosis achiasmatic, or includes diffuse stage. The sex system X1X20, which...
True predators are characterised by capturing a number of prey items during their lifetime and being generalists. Some true facultative specialists, but very few species stenophagous specialists that catch only closely related types. A monophagous predator would exploit single has not been discovered yet. Representatives the spider family Ammoxenidae have reported to evolved termites. Here we tested hypothesis Ammoxenus amphalodes is termite-eater Hodotermes mossambicus. We studied trophic...
Biodiversity is one of the most important concepts in contemporary biology, with a broad range applications. In November 1995, South Africa ratified Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Signatories are obligated to develop strategic plan for conservation and sustainable use biodiversity. To meet requirements CBD, African National Survey Arachnida (SANSA) was initiated 1997. This national project has several aims: document describe arachnid fauna Africa; consolidate all available data...
A checklist of 2265 spider species and subspecies, 495 genera 71 families is provided. Data were extracted from the South African National Survey Arachnida database over 200 taxonomic revisions, ending December 2022. Global distributions, endemicity conservation assessment using IUCN Criteria are provided for each species. total 1325 spp. endemic to Africa (58.5%), 126 (5.6%) special concern 693 (30.6%) Deficient (DD), while 15 described without exact locality data. Most (1444 spp., 63.8%)...
Abstract Spiders are an ancient and extremely diverse animal order. They show a considerable diversity of genome sizes, karyotypes sex chromosomes, which makes them promising models to analyse the evolution these traits. Our study is focused on chromosomes in haplogyne spiders with holokinetic chromosomes. Although were discovered long time ago, information their distribution arthropods very limited. Here we that autapomorphy superfamily Dysderoidea. According our hypothesis, karyotype...
Specialized predators possess a variety of adaptations. In venomous predators, this may include the size venom gland and composition. It is expected that due to different foraging strategies, with wide trophic niche (generalists) should larger glands contain more diversified components than narrow (specialists). We focused on spiders, as most group in which strategies have evolved. conducted comparative analysis using 40 spider species, we measured their complexity proteome profiling...
Abstract Pisauridae Simon, 1890 or “nursery web spiders” are a global and heterogenous assemblage of spider genera with diverse lifestyles, containing builders webless species, as well terrestrial semi-aquatic notably “fishing spiders”, genus Dolomedes Latreille, 1804. Incomplete, unresolved, conflicting phylogenies have so far hampered testing for pisaurid monophyly evolution. Here, we broadly address these questions within phylogenomic comparative framework. Our goals i) reconstruction...
Analysis of ecological data the arboricolous nephilid spider Clitaetra irenae Kuntner 2006, endemic to Maputaland forests, South Africa, indicates species' dependence on this highly threatened habitat. We tested C. habitat via GIS analysis by plotting known distribution against southern African ecoregions. In part its range, inhabits almost exclusively one ecoregion, coastal plain forests; but further north, in tropical it continues inland into Malawi's woodlands. test and refute hypotheses...