{{Short description|Genus of spiders}} {{Automatic taxobox | name = Rastellus | image = | image_caption = | image2 = | image2_caption = | status = | status_system = SANBI | taxon = Rastellus | authority = Platnick & Griffin, 1990 | type_species = ''Rastellus africanus'' | type_species_authority = Platnick & Griffin, 1990 | synonyms = }}
'''''Rastellus''''' is a genus of small spiders in the family Gnaphosidae. The genus contains seven species endemic to southern Africa, with the northernmost record from Botswana.<ref name="wsc-genus" /><ref name="dippenaar2020" /> Originally placed in the family Ammoxenidae, the genus was transferred to Gnaphosidae in 2022.<ref name="azevedo2022" />
==Etymology== The genus name ''Rastellus'' is derived from Latin ''rastellum'', meaning "small rake", referring to the rastelliform (rake-like) digging scoop on the chelicerae.
==Taxonomy== The genus was described by Norman I. Platnick and E. Griffin in 1990, with ''Rastellus africanus'' as the type species.<ref name="platnick1990" /> An additional species was described by Haddad (2003).<ref name="haddad2003" />
==Distribution and habitat== ''Rastellus'' species are found throughout southern Africa, occurring in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.<ref name="wsc-genus" /> They inhabit sandy environments and are adapted to life in sandy habitats, often found near termite colonies.<ref name="dippenaar2020" />
==Description== {{see also|Glossary of spider terms}}
''Rastellus'' species are very small spiders, measuring only 2–3 mm in body length. They are characterized by their pale yellow coloration without distinct markings, except for the darker tips of the chelicerae and eye region. The carapace is convex in the cephalic region and oval in dorsal view, widest between legs II and III. The eyes are arranged in a circular pattern with large posterior median eyes.
The most distinctive feature is the modified chelicerae, which bear a distal, rastelliform (rake-like) digging scoop used for excavating sand. The opisthosoma and legs are similar in color to the carapace, and the legs are of medium length.<ref name="dippenaar2020" />
==Ecology and behavior== ''Rastellus'' species are ground-living spiders adapted to sandy habitats. They use their rastelliform digging scoops to excavate burrows 4–6 cm deep, which they line with silk. The digging process involves initially diving into sand to a shallow depth, gathering sand with the scoops, then turning around and laying silk strands before pushing sand to the surface.
Most specimens are collected in pitfall traps, indicating they wander actively, though extensive hand searching has been unsuccessful in locating additional specimens. The spiders likely spend most of their time buried beneath the sand surface. Their excavations have been found near ''Psammotermes'' termite nests.<ref name="dippenaar2020" />
==Species== {{as of|2025|9}}, the genus contains seven recognized species:<ref name="wsc-genus" />
* ''Rastellus africanus'' <small>Platnick & Griffin, 1990</small> – Namibia, Botswana (type species) * ''Rastellus deserticola'' <small>Haddad, 2003</small> – Namibia, South Africa * ''Rastellus florisbad'' <small>Platnick & Griffin, 1990</small> – South Africa * ''Rastellus kariba'' <small>Platnick & Griffin, 1990</small> – Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa * ''Rastellus narubis'' <small>Platnick & Griffin, 1990</small> – Namibia * ''Rastellus sabulosus'' <small>Platnick & Griffin, 1990</small> – Namibia * ''Rastellus struthio'' <small>Platnick & Griffin, 1990</small> – Namibia, Botswana
==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="wsc-genus">{{cite web | url=https://wsc.nmbe.ch/genusdetail/129 | title=Gen. Rastellus Platnick & Griffin, 1990 | 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="platnick1990">{{cite journal | last1=Platnick | first1=N.I. | last2=Griffin | first2=E. | year=1990 | title=On Rastellus, a new genus of the spider family Ammoxenidae (Araneae, Gnaphosoidea) | journal=American Museum Novitates | issue=2995 | pages=1–11}}</ref> <ref name="haddad2003">{{cite journal | last=Haddad | first=C.R. | year=2003 | title=A new species of Rastellus (Araneae: Ammoxenidae) from South Africa | journal=African Zoology | volume=38 | pages=400–401}}</ref> }}
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Category:Gnaphosidae Category:Spiders of Africa Category:Taxa described in 1990 Category:Taxa named by Norman I. Platnick