Calommata transvaalica
species of arachnid
Calommata transvaalica is a species of spider in the genus Calommata of the family Atypidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is commonly known as Transvaal's African purse-web spider.
Distribution
Calommata transvaalica is known from Gauteng and Limpopo provinces in South Africa. In Gauteng, it has been recorded from Hatfield (Pretoria), Roodeplaatdam Nature Reserve, Groenkloof Nature Reserve, and Zwartkoppies near Pretoria. In Limpopo, it occurs in the Blouberg Nature Reserve and the Soutpansberg mountains.
Habitat and ecology
This species is a free-living burrow dweller found in both the Savanna and Grassland Biome of South Africa. Females were historically sampled by hand at Roodeplaat Dam near Pretoria, where their burrows were described as having an entrance slightly raised above the ground. From the inner rim, the burrow is neatly rounded off, gradually sloping outwards and downwards to ground level, with the outer surface covered with earth resembling the surroundings. The interior is lined with loose, highly adhesive silky webbing that may provide protection against intruders. The burrows reach depths of 22–25 cm.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “Calommata transvaalica” as species of arachnid. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the science & nature register because the source frames it as species of arachnid. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
Datasets, specimens, observations and peer-reviewed methods provide the appropriate test for the technical claims summarized here. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 25, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q2289245. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
Scientific names, classifications and consensus can change while older terminology persists in catalogues and historical literature. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Calommata transvaalica”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Calommata transvaalica primary sources, Calommata transvaalica archive and Calommata research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Calommata transvaalica”?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Calommata transvaalica” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.