Scytodes silvatica

Scytodes silvatica is a species of spider in the family Scytodidae. It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the forest spitting spider.

Forest Spitting Spider
Conservation status
Least Concern (SANBI Red List)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Scytodidae
Genus:	Scytodes
Species:	S. silvatica
Binomial name
Scytodes silvatica Purcell, 1904

Distribution

Scytodes silvatica is found in two South African provinces, Eastern Cape and Western Cape.

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits the Forest, Savanna and Thicket biomes at altitudes ranging from 1 to 1479 m above sea level. It is a wandering spider commonly collected from under stones and dark places on the soil surface.

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms

Scytodes silvatica has a deep brown or purplish-black colour, mottled with yellow. The carapace has a well-developed median stripe lying between a pair of broader yellow stripes, on each side of which is a very broad, curved, black band. The latter bears a small yellow spot just before the middle of the carapace. The sides of the carapace are broadly blackened inferiorly, with a row of four yellow spots on each side and a row of larger or smaller, more irregular yellow marks above these. The posterior part of the carapace has a median yellow spot.

Conservation

Scytodes silvatica is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species is protected in Mkambathi Nature Reserve, Asante Sana Private Game Reserve, and Tsitsikamma National Park.

Etymology

The species name is from Latin silvaticus "of the woods".

Taxonomy

The species has not been revised and is known from both sexes, but has not been illustrated.