''Stasimopus mandelai'' is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
spider
Spiders ( order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species ...
in the family
Stasimopidae from the
Eastern Cape Province of
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
. This species occurs syntopically with ''
S. schoenlandi'' and a number of other
mygalomorph spider
Spiders ( order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species ...
s at the
Great Fish River Nature Reserve. The species was named in 2004 by zoologists Brent Hendrixson and
Jason Bond
Jason E. Bond is a Professor of Entomology and the Schlinger Chair in Insect Systematics at the University of California, Davis. He was previously Professor of Biology, Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences and Director of the Auburn Univ ...
"honoring
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist who served as the President of South Africa, first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1 ...
, the former president of South Africa and one of the great moral leaders of our time."
''The Times'' (South Africa) Published:Jul 13, 2008
See also
* List of organisms named after famous people (born 1900–1949)
*'' Anelosimus nelsoni''
References
Endemic fauna of South Africa
Stasimopidae
Nelson Mandela
Spiders described in 2004
Spiders of South Africa
{{Mygalomorphae-stub