Published October 1, 2021 | Version version 1: 1-54.

South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide: The Stasimopidae of South Africa 2021 version 1: 1-54.

  • 1. University of Venda
  • 2. University of the Free State
  • 3. National Museum Bloemfontein

Description

Stasimopidae is monotypic and represented by the genus Stasimopus Simon, 1892. It is a
southern African endemic represented by 45 species and two subspecies. The genus has
not yet been revised and based on the morphological diversity contained within the genus,
it is possible that it could be split in to multiple genera at some point in the future
(Opatova et al. 2020). According to Hewitt (1915) the characters employed in distinguishing
the various species are all somewhat variable, even in specimens taken from the same locality
and with the advent of more material from different parts of the country it becomes
increasingly difficult to draw a hard and fast line between the various species. Of the 47
Stasimopus taxa known from South Africa 46 were South African endemics and 18 Eastern
Cape Endemics. Only Stasimopus fordi Hewitt, 1927 was also known from Lesotho and Botswana.
Only 23 species were known from both sexes and 18 only from the female. Stasimopus
specimens are difficult to collect and are not well sampled. Twenty-two species are
known only from the type locality. Presently only two species are listed as Least Concern
due to their wider distribution range and 40 species are data deficient. Only five species
are listed of special concern, ranging from Critical Rare (S. mandelai Hendrixson & Bond,
2004), Near Threatened (S. robertsi Hewitt, 1910), Endangered (S. filmeri Engelbrecht &
Prendini, 2012 and S. griswoldi Engelbrecht & Prendini, 2012) and Vulnerable (S. hewitti
Engelbrecht & Prendini, 2012).

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F60. STASIMOPIDAE IDENTIFICATION GUIDE.pdf

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