The faunistic diversity of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) of the South African Cape Floristic Kingdom

A comprehensive survey of spider diversity in the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas, part of South Africa's Cape Floristic Kingdom (CFK), reveals 960 species across 62 families, representing 42.4% of South Africa's known spider fauna. The study, based on data from the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) up to 2023, identifies 269 endemic species (28%) and highlights conservation concerns for 49 species (5.1%). While most species (71%) are widely distributed with no known threats, significant data gaps remain, particularly among the 229 Data Deficient species. The Salticidae family dominates with 128 species, including 30 endemics, followed by Gnaphosidae, Thomisidae, and Lycosidae. This research underscores the CFK's rich but understudied arachnid biodiversity, emphasizing the need for further exploration to uncover and describe its hidden diversity.

Dippenaar-Schoeman, A. S., Haddad, C. R., Foord, S. H., & Lotz, L. N. (2024). The faunistic diversity of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) of the South African Cape Floristic Kingdom. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 79(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/0035919x.2024.2324912