Species

Back • Paraheliophanus sanctaehelenae Clark & Benoit, 1977

Paraheliophanus sanctaehelenae Clark & Benoit, 1977

St Helenian Jumping Spider (English)

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Arachnida
  • Order: Araneae
  • Family: Salticidae
VU Vulnerable
IUCN Red List Status:
  • EX
  • EW
  • CR
  • EN
  • VU
  • NT
  • LC
  • DD
  • NE

Countries of Occurrence:
Saint Helena - British Overseas Territory

Archipelago(s):
St. Helena

Download File IUCN Portal

Assessor/s:
Pryce, D. & White, L.

Reviewer/s:
Gerlach, J.

Contributor/s:

Facilitators / Compilers/s:

Assessment Rationale:

This species was common at intermediate and higher elevations in the mid- to late-1960s (Clark and Benoit 1977). The most recent island-wide survey (Mendel, Ashmole and Ashmole 2008) found the species still to be common in the higher parts of its range; however, it was only found at two sites at intermediate levels from which it is inferred that the species is declining. It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) both of 24 km² and occurs at nine locations. Therefore, it is assessed as Vulnerable

Geographic Range:

This species is endemic to the island of St Helena, in the South Atlantic Ocean, where it is mostly present at intermediate levels and in the uplands

Regions:
Portugal - Azores
Extent of Occurrence (EOO):
24 (km2)
Area of Occupancy (AOO):
24 (km2)
Elevation Lower Limit:
137 (m)
Elevation Upper Limit:
823 (m)
Biogeographic Realms:
South Atlantic Ocean
Presence:
Extant
Origin:
Endemic St. Helena
Seasonality:
Resident

Population:

During the Peaks survey of 2005-6 (Mendel, Ashmole and Ashmole 2008) this species was found to be quite widespread in the highest portions of the island. However, this species was found only twice at lower elevations where it had been found to be much more widespread during the two Belgian expeditions to the island in the mid- to late-1960s (Clark and Benoit 1977). With the spread of invasive non-native plant species and an increase in predators that compete for resources with it (as well as potential direct predation), a population decline is inferred

Habitat and Ecology

The species is mostly associated with intermediate and especially the higher elevations on the island but has also been found once at Lemon Grove in the lower Sandy Bay valley (Clark and Benoit 1977). It appears to have a preference for more moist habitats at middle levels; otherwise its ecology is unknown

Major Threat(s):

Habitat quality decline due to the spread of invasive non-native plant species and an increase in non-native predators that will also be competing for resources threaten this species

Conservation Actions

Any research and monitoring of this species would be of value. Of critical importance is the continued expansion and linking of habitat fragments as well as removal of invasive non-native species where this is possible