Meta meruensis
| Meruensis Orb-Web Spider | |
|---|---|
| File:Meta meruensis 13030411.jpg | |
| File:Meta meruensis 13030430.jpg | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Tetragnathidae |
| Genus: | Meta |
| Species: | M. meruensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Meta meruensis | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Meta meruensis is a species of spider in the family Tetragnathidae.[2] It is commonly known as the meruensis orb-web spider.[3]
Distribution
[edit | edit source]Meta meruensis is found in Tanzania and South Africa.[2] In South Africa, the species is recorded from three provinces: KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga.[3]
Habitat and ecology
[edit | edit source]The species has been collected from low vegetation near water in Forest and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 687 to 2,785 m.[3]
Description
[edit | edit source]| [icon] | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2025) |
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Conservation
[edit | edit source]Meta meruensis is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range.[3] The species is protected in Blouberg Nature Reserve, Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve, and Lhuvhondo Nature Reserve.[3]
Taxonomy
[edit | edit source]The species was originally described by Albert Tullgren in 1910 from Tanzania.[1] According to Marusik and Larsen in 2018, the species is misplaced in Meta and based on the shape of the epigyne, it may belong to Leucauge.[4] However, it differs from Leucauge in several aspects, including the absence of the double fringe of trichobothria on leg IV.[4]
It is known only from females.[3]
References
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- ^ a b c d e f Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).File:Creative Commons by small.svg This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Citizen science observations for Meta meruensis at iNaturalistLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
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