Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from black cotton soil habitats of a highland savanna biome in Laikipia, central Kenya

Warui, Charles M; Villet, Martin H; Young, Truman P

Title: Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from black cotton soil habitats of a highland savanna biome in Laikipia, central Kenya
Creator: Warui, Charles M
Creator: Villet, Martin H
Creator: Young, Truman P
Subject: To be catalogued
Date Issued: 2004
Date: 2004
Type: text
Type: article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442705
Identifier: vital:74025
Identifier: https://tpyoung.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk4821/files/inline-files/spiders%20in%20highlands.pdf
Description: Spiders were sampled at Mpala Research Centre, Laikipia, Kenya using pitfall trapping and sweep netting. Sampling was conducted from May 2001 to July 2002. A total of 10,487 individuals from 132 species belonging to 30 families were recorded. The family Salticidae had the highest number of species (24), followed by Gnaphosidae (20), Araneidae and Lycosidae (15 each), Theridiidae and Thomisidae (8 each) and Zodariidae (4). Most of the other families had fewer than 4 species. Throughout the study period, species not previously sampled emerged after rainfall peaks. Many species are apparently undescribed, highlighting the inadequate documentation of these taxa in Kenya. We suggest that the spider fauna of black cotton soil habitats is rich and useful for environmental monitoring, that further surveys using other collecting methods are needed, and that support for the conservation of this ecosystem should be continued. The study once more reveals the urgent need for taxonomic studies on Kenyan invertebrates.
Format: 12 pages
Format: pdf
Language: English
Relation: Journal of Afrotropical Zoology
Relation: Warui, C., Villet, M. and Young, T., 2004. Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from black cotton soil habitats of a highland savanna biome in Laikipia, central Kenya. Journal of Afrotropical Zoology, 1, pp.9-20
Relation: Journal of Afrotropical Zoology volume 1 number 1 9 20 2004
Rights: Publisher
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the authors

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