Kilima decens
| Kilima Grass Orb-Web Spider | |
|---|---|
| File:Kilima decens 299426960 539438130.jpg | |
| Female | |
| File:Kilima decens 313488082 566124962.jpg | |
| Female | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Araneidae |
| Genus: | Kilima |
| Species: | K. decens
|
| Binomial name | |
| Kilima decens | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Kilima decens is a species of spider in the family Araneidae.[2] It is found throughout Africa and is commonly known as the Kilima grass orb-web spider.[3]
Distribution
[edit | edit source]Kilima decens has a widespread distribution throughout Africa, including Central, East, Southern Africa, and the Seychelles. In South Africa, the species is found in all provinces.[3]
Habitat and ecology
[edit | edit source]The species has been sampled from Fynbos, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, Grassland and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 1 to 1,986 m above sea level.[3] It was also sampled from potato and pumpkin fields.[3]
Kilima decens is commonly found on grasses, where they blend in with their elongated, straw-coloured bodies. Their webs are made during the night and removed early in the morning. They rest during the day on nearby vegetation, usually grass. They prey on a wide variety of flying and jumping insects.[3]
Description
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Conservation
[edit | edit source]Kilima decens is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range across all South African provinces. The species is protected in more than 15 reserves including Mkambathi Nature Reserve and Kruger National Park.[3]
Taxonomy
[edit | edit source]The species was originally described by John Blackwall in 1866 as Epeira decens from Tanzania. It was later transferred to the genus Kilima by Grasshoff in 1970. Both male and female specimens are known.[3]
References
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Citizen science observations for Kilima decens at iNaturalistLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
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