Ammoxenus

{{Short description|Genus of spiders}} {{Automatic taxobox | name = Ammoxenus | image = Ammoxenus amphalodes 301149002 542652161.jpg | image_caption = Female ''A. amphalodes'' | image2 = Ammoxenus amphalodes 301149489 542653466.jpg | image2_caption = Male ''A. amphalodes'' | taxon = Ammoxenus | authority = Simon, 1893 | type_species = ''Ammoxenus coccineus'' | type_species_authority = Simon, 1893 | synonyms = }}

'''''Ammoxenus''''' is a genus of spiders in the family Gnaphosidae. The genus contains six species endemic to southern Africa, with the northernmost record from Zambia.<ref name="wsc-genus" /><ref name="dippenaar2020" /> Originally placed in the family Ammoxenidae, the genus was transferred to Gnaphosidae in 2022.<ref name="azevedo2022" />

==Taxonomy== The genus was first described by Eugène Simon in 1893, with ''Ammoxenus coccineus'' as the type species.<ref name="simon1893" /> Pierre Benoit revised the genus in 1972, and Dippenaar & Meyer added two new species in 1980.<ref name="benoit1972" /><ref name="dippenaar1980" /> Bird (2003) undertook a comprehensive revision as part of an MSc thesis, recognizing eleven new species, but these results remain unpublished.<ref name="dippenaar2020" />

==Distribution and habitat== ''Ammoxenus'' species are found throughout southern Africa, occurring in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia.<ref name="wsc-genus" /> They inhabit sandy areas where harvester termites are active, particularly in association with termite genera ''Hodotermes'', ''Microhodotermes'', and ''Psammotermes''.<ref name="dippenaar2020" />

<gallery mode=packed> Ammoxenus amphalodes 301149800 542654397.jpg|female ''A. amphalodes'' Ammoxenus amphalodes 301149002 542652712.jpg Ammoxenus amphalodes 301149002 542652814.jpg Ammoxenus amphalodes 301149002 542652907.jpg </gallery>

==Description== {{see also|Glossary of spider terms}}

''A. kalaharicus''|thumb|left

Members of ''Ammoxenus'' are small to medium-sized spiders, measuring 3–10 mm in body length. They are characterized by modified chelicerae that bear horn-like setae and curve downward from an extension of the clypeus, covered with numerous obtuse spines used for digging. The legs curl up in preserved specimens. The carapace is narrowed anteriorly and often decorated with two bands, while the opisthosoma may be dark with a median band or pale with chevrons.<ref name="dippenaar2020" />

==Ecology and behavior== ''Ammoxenus'' species are specialist predators of harvester termites and are commonly known as sand-divers or termite-feeders. They are free-living soil dwellers typically found in soft soil dumps left by termites near nest entrances. These extremely fast-moving spiders travel rapidly over soil surfaces, moving between foraging termites and even entering termite tunnels. When disturbed, they can dive head-first into sand. They actively hunt selectively-chosen termites, kill them, and drag them into loose sand where they submerge themselves before feeding.<ref name="dippenaar2020" />

During inactive periods, ''Ammoxenus'' spiders retreat to sac-like shelters made in soil heaps. Females produce small, drum-like egg sacs that are concealed with the spider in these soil retreats.<ref name="dippenaar2020" />

==Species== {{as of|2025|9}}, the genus contains six recognized species:<ref name="wsc-genus" />

* ''Ammoxenus amphalodes'' Dippenaar & Meyer, 1980 – South Africa * ''Ammoxenus coccineus'' Simon, 1893 – Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa (type species) * ''Ammoxenus daedalus'' Dippenaar & Meyer, 1980 – South Africa * ''Ammoxenus kalaharicus'' Benoit, 1972 – Botswana, South Africa * ''Ammoxenus pentheri'' Simon, 1897 – Botswana, South Africa * ''Ammoxenus psammodromus'' Simon, 1910 – Namibia, Botswana, South Africa

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="wsc-genus">{{cite web | url=https://wsc.nmbe.ch/genus/126/Ammoxenus | title=Gen. Ammoxenus Simon, 1893 | publisher=World Spider Catalog | access-date=19 September 2025}}</ref> <ref name="dippenaar2020">{{cite journal | last1=Dippenaar-Schoeman | first1=A.S. | last2=Haddad | first2=C.R. | last3=Foord | first3=S.H. | last4=Lotz | first4=L.N. | last5=Bird | first5=T.L. | year=2020 | title=The Ammoxenidae of South Africa. Version 1 | journal=South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide | pages=1–20 | doi=10.5281/zenodo.5913561}}{{Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=by4}}</ref> <ref name="azevedo2022">{{cite journal | last1=Azevedo | first1=G.H.F. | last2=Griswold | first2=C.E. | last3=Santos | first3=A.J. | year=2022 | title=Systematics and evolution of ground spiders revisited (Araneae, Dionycha, Gnaphosidae) | journal=Cladistics | volume=38 | issue=6 | pages=579–626 | doi=10.1111/cla.12226 | pmid=34706482 }}</ref> <ref name="simon1893">{{cite book | last=Simon | first=E. | year=1893 | title=Histoire naturelle des araignées. Deuxième édition, tome premier | publisher=Roret | location=Paris | pages=257–488}}</ref> <ref name="benoit1972">{{cite journal | last=Benoit | first=P.L.G. | year=1972 | title=Révision des Ammoxenidae (Araneae-Labidognatha) | journal=Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines | volume=86 | issue=1–2 | pages=179–191}}</ref> <ref name="dippenaar1980">{{cite journal | last1=Dippenaar | first1=A.S. | last2=Meyer | first2=M.K.P. | year=1980 | title=On the species of the African genus Ammoxenus (Araneae: Ammoxenidae), with descriptions of two new species | journal=Journal of the Entomological Society of South Africa | volume=43 | pages=41–49}}</ref> }}

Category:Gnaphosidae Category:Spiders of Africa Category:Taxa named by Eugène Simon