The faunistic diversity of the spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of the Waterberg District in the Limpopo Province of South Africa

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The faunistic diversity of the spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of the Waterberg District in the Limpopo Province of South Africa

Abstract

The South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) has conducted surveys in the Waterberg District of the Limpopo Province, South Africa, over more than 40 years. The first annotated checklist for the Waterberg District is provided here, along with the global distributions, endemicity and conservation assessments for each species, as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria. A total of 54 families, 292 genera and 600 species were recorded. The study highlights species of special conservation concern, as well as the nine species endemic to the Waterberg District. Salticidae (95 species), followed by Thomisidae (80 species), Araneidae (53 species) and Gnaphosidae (48 species), are the most species-rich families. In contrast, single species represent 14 families. Most species (546; 91.2%) are widely distributed, with no known threats and are classified as being of Least Concern, whereas 34 species (5.6%) are still listed as Data Deficient. Seven species (1.2%) are of special concern and 11 species were not evaluated due to unresolved taxonomy. The Waterberg District has a rich spider fauna, accounting for 66.3% of the known spider fauna of the Limpopo Province, 25.6% of the total spider fauna of South Africa and with nine species endemic to the District.

Dippenaar-Schoeman AS, Munyai TC, Bird TL, Foord SH (2026) The faunistic diversity of the spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of the Waterberg District in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. African Invertebrates 67(2): 125-154. https://doi.org/10.3897/AfrInvertebr.67.191055