Abstract
We present the first records of the bolas spider, Cladomelea longipes (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1877), beyond its type locality, resulting in a considerable extension of its geographic range in Africa. We compare C. longipes with the two other species of Cladomelea known from South Africa, C. akermani Hewitt, 1923 and C. debeeri Roff & Dippenaar-Schoeman, 2004. Images of live specimens and a distribution map are provided. Cladomelea longipes is very rare locally but has a relatively large geographical distribution in the Afrotropical Region.
Highlights
The African bolas spiders belong to the genus Cladomelea Simon, 1895 (Araneidae)
We compare C. longipes with the two other species of Cladomelea known from South Africa, C. akermani Hewitt, 1923 and C. debeeri Roff & DippenaarSchoeman, 2004
The female of the third species, C. akermani Hewitt, 1923, was described from South Africa and the description of the male was later provided by Leroy et al (1998)
Summary
The African bolas spiders belong to the genus Cladomelea Simon, 1895 (Araneidae). It is a small genus with four species, all endemic to the African continent. Pickard-Cambridge, 1877), was described based on a single female. The second species, C. ornata Hirst, 1907, is only known from the female holotype collected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The female of the third species, C. akermani Hewitt, 1923, was described from South Africa and the description of the male was later provided by Leroy et al (1998). The fourth species, C. debeeri Roff & Dippenaar-Schoeman, 2004 is only known from the female holotype collected in South Africa
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