{{Short description|Species of spider}} {{Speciesbox | name = Fat Leg Crab Spider | image = | image_caption = | image2 = | image2_caption = | taxon = Stiphropella gracilis | authority = Lawrence, 1952 | synonyms = {{Specieslist |Stiphropella gracile|Lawrence, 1952 }} }}
'''''Stiphropella gracilis''''' is a species of spider of the genus ''Stiphropella''. It is endemic to South Africa.<ref name="wsc" /> The species is the sole member of its genus, making ''Stiphropella'' monotypic.<ref name="dippenaar2020" />
==Etymology== The specific name ''gracilis'' is Latin meaning "slender" or "graceful".The genus name is a variation of the genus ''Stiphropus'', which it resembles in general appearance.<ref name="lawrence1952" />
==Distribution== ''Stiphropella gracilis'' has been recorded from three provinces in South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal, North West, and Mpumalanga. Specific localities include Weenen Nature Reserve (the type locality), Hluhluwe Nature Reserve, Pilanesberg Nature Reserve, Marble Hall, and Ermelo. The species has been found at elevations ranging from 187 to 1198 metres above sea level.<ref name="dippenaar2020" />
==Habitat== The spider is free-living and inhabits low vegetation close to ground level. Remarkably, the species has been observed in association with ants, particularly ''Anoplolepis custodiens''. In Ermelo, observations documented a mutualistic relationship where the ants appeared to protect the spiders by dragging them into holes and crevices, with no predation occurring despite the spiders being among the ant colony.<ref name="dippenaar2017" />
==Description== {{see also|Glossary of spider terms}}
''Stiphropella gracilis'' resembles ''Stiphropus'' in general appearance and eye arrangement, but differs significantly in its much larger size.<ref name="lawrence1952" /> Only females are currently known to science.<ref name="dippenaar2020" />
The female has a total length of 6 mm with a carapace length of 2.6 mm.<ref name="lawrence1952" /> The cephalothorax and chelicerae are rich blackish-brown without markings or light areas around the eyes. The pedipalps, legs, and sternum are brown, with the leg femora being darker. The opisthosoma is brown above with an olive green tinge and features some indistinct lighter transverse bars posterior to distinct large sigilla, which are reddish-brown.<ref name="dippenaar2020" /> The ventral surface is yellow-brown.<ref name="lawrence1952" />
The carapace is longer than wide, smooth and shiny, covered with numerous small pits and fine golden setose hairs. The eyes are arranged in two rows, with the anterior row less recurved than the posterior row and much less wide. The anterior lateral eyes are larger than the anterior median eyes.<ref name="lawrence1952" />
The legs are notably modified, with the anterior tibiae much thickened apically, being almost twice as wide as the metatarsi basally.<ref name="lawrence1952" /> The tarsi are stout and parallel-sided, approximately 1.5 times as long as the metatarsi. All legs lack spines but have well-scopulated tarsi below. The claws are large and conspicuous, especially on the posterior legs, where they are smooth except for 5–6 small teeth at the extreme base.<ref name="lawrence1952" />
==Conservation status== The species has been assessed as Least Concern on a national level in South Africa. While known from only a few localities, it has a relatively wide geographical range. The species is protected within several nature reserves including Hluhluwe Nature Reserve, Weenen Nature Reserve, and Pilanesberg Nature Reserve.<ref name="dippenaar2020" />
==Taxonomy== The genus has not been revised since its original description, and only the female is known.<ref name="dippenaar2020" /> The species was originally described as ''Stiphropella gracile''<ref name="lawrence1952" /> but the name was subsequently corrected to ''gracilis''.
==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="wsc">{{cite web | url=https://wsc.nmbe.ch/species/41620/Stiphropella_gracilis | title=Stiphropella gracilis Lawrence, 1952 | publisher=World Spider Catalog | accessdate=15 September 2025}}</ref> <ref name="lawrence1952">{{cite journal | last=Lawrence | first=R.F. | year=1952 | title=New spiders from the eastern half of South Africa | journal=Annals of the Natal Museum | volume=12 | pages=200}}</ref> <ref name="dippenaar2020">{{cite book | last1=Dippenaar-Schoeman | first1=A.S. | last2=Haddad | first2=C.R. | last3=Foord | first3=S.H. | last4=Lotz | first4=L.N. | year=2020 | title=The Thomisidae of South Africa. Part 3 Sm-T | publisher=South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide | location=Irene | pages=79 | doi=10.5281/zenodo.7513278}}{{Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=by4}}</ref> <ref name="dippenaar2017">{{cite book | last=Dippenaar-Schoeman | first=A.S. | year=2017 | title=Field Guide to Spiders of South Africa | publisher=Lapa Publishers | location=Cape Town}}</ref> }}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2301636}}
Category:Thomisidae Category:Spiders of South Africa Category:Spiders described in 1952 Category:Monotypic spider genera