Oxyopes bothai

Botha's Lynx Spider
	female
	female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Oxyopidae
Genus:	Oxyopes
Species:	O. bothai
Binomial name
	Oxyopes bothai; Lessert, 1915

Oxyopes bothai is a species of spider in the family Oxyopidae.^[2] It is commonly known as Botha's lynx spider.^[3]

Distribution

Oxyopes bothai occurs in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and South Africa.^[2] In South Africa, the species is widely distributed across all provinces at altitudes ranging from 16 to 1,698 m above sea level.^[3]

Habitat and ecology

The species is commonly found on grasses across multiple biomes including Fynbos, Forest, Grassland, Savanna, Nama Karoo, and Thicket biomes.^[3] It has also been sampled from pistachio orchards, demonstrating its adaptability to agricultural environments.

Description

female
female
female

Oxyopes bothai is known only from females.^[3] The species displays the typical lynx spider morphology with long, slender legs bearing prominent spines and a characteristic tapering opisthosoma.^[3]

Conservation

Oxyopes bothai is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range across multiple provinces.^[3] The species is protected in more than ten protected areas and faces no significant threats.

References

↑ Lessert, R. de (1915). "Araignées du Kilimandjaro et du Merou. 1. Oxyopidae et Agelenidae". Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 23: 474.
1 2 "Oxyopes bothai Lessert, 1915". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). The Oxyopidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 17. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6450695. Retrieved 21 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

External links

Citizen science observations for Oxyopes bothai at iNaturalist

[lessert1915d-1] Lessert, R. de (1915). "Araignées du Kilimandjaro et du Merou. 1. Oxyopidae et Agelenidae". Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 23: 474.

[wsc-2] 1 2 "Oxyopes bothai Lessert, 1915". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 21 September 2025.

[dippenaar2020-3] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). The Oxyopidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 17. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6450695. Retrieved 21 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

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