Habrocestum auricomum

Medikwe Habrocestum Jumping Spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Salticidae
Genus:	Habrocestum
Species:	H. auricomum
Binomial name
	Habrocestum auricomum; Haddad & Wesołowska, 2013

Habrocestum auricomum is a species of spider in the family Salticidae.^[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as Medikwe Habrocestum jumping spider.^[3]

Distribution

Habrocestum auricomum is found in South Africa,^[2] where it is presently only known from three proximate localities south of the Soutpansberg Mountains in Limpopo, namely Goro Game Ranch near Vivo, Lhuvhondo Nature Reserve, and Medikwe Mountain Reserve.^[3]

Habitat and ecology

Habrocestum auricomum inhabits the Savanna biome at altitudes ranging from 807 to 1341 m.^[3]

Free-living ground-dweller sampled from leaf litter and pitfall traps.^[3]

Description

Conservation

Habrocestum auricomum is listed as Data Deficient by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to the small geographical range and the unknown female. There are no known threats and it is protected in the Lhuvhondo Nature Reserve and Medikwe Mountain Reserve in the Soutpansberg. However, the status of the species remains obscure and some more sampling is needed to collect the female and more accurately determine its range.^[3]

Taxonomy

Habrocestum auricomum was described by Haddad and Wesołowska in 2013 from Medikwe Mountain Reserve and is known only from the male.^[1]

References

1 2 Haddad, C.R.; Wesołowska, W. (2013). "Additions to the jumping spider fauna of South Africa (Araneae: Salticidae)". Genus. 24 (3–4): 459–501.
1 2 "Habrocestum auricomum Haddad & Wesołowska, 2013". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Van der Walt, V.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2025). The Salticidae of South Africa. Part 2 (E-Ha). Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 50. doi:10.5281/zenodo.15266589. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

[haddad2013-1] 1 2 Haddad, C.R.; Wesołowska, W. (2013). "Additions to the jumping spider fauna of South Africa (Araneae: Salticidae)". Genus. 24 (3–4): 459–501.

[wsc-2] 1 2 "Habrocestum auricomum Haddad & Wesołowska, 2013". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-10-01.

[dippenaar2025-3] 1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Van der Walt, V.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2025). The Salticidae of South Africa. Part 2 (E-Ha). Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 50. doi:10.5281/zenodo.15266589. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

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