Species Details
- Species name
- Typhochrestus simoni Lessert, 1907
- Synonyms
- Typhochrestus simoni de Lessert, 1907, Typhochrestus dorsuosus Simon, 1884
- Taxonomy
- Animalia :: Araneae :: Linyphiidae
- tall sward & scrub
- upland
Distribution
The species has been recorded in Britain only from the south slope of Y Lliwedd, Snowdonia, Caernarvonshire; Porton Down, South Wiltshire; and the south slope of Bindon Hill, Lulworth, Dorset, all since 1966. It is also known from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and Italy.Habitat and ecology
The Welsh site is montane Festuca-Nardus grassland at 450 - 600 m. The other sites are at low altitudes on short rabbit-grazed or lichen-rich chalk grassland. The main period of activity is probably in March and April, but both sexes have also been found in January and February and a male in November. Most continental records have suggested T. simoni to be a montane species, but the records from Lulworth and Porton Down indicate that it also occurs at low altitudes on dry exposed downland.Status
The spider was numerous in one area of Porton Down but there has been only one record in Britain for at least 30 years, at Portland in 2003. It is also rare in Europe.Threats
Its chalk grassland habitat is the more severely threatened, by conversion to arable agriculture on shallow slopes and by scrub encroachment where grazing ceases on steeper slopes.Management and conservation
Ensure that adequate levels of grazing are maintained on its chalk grassland sites. Text based on Dawson, I.K., Harvey, P.R., Merrett, P. & Russell-Smith, A.R. (in prep.).Stats
- First recorded
- 1965
- Last recorded
- 2023
- Total records
- 42
- Total visits
- 39
Conservation status
Typhochrestus simoni
| Source | Reporting category | Designation | Date designated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Review of the scarce and threatened spiders (Araneae) of Great Britain: Species Status No. 22 (Sep 2017) | Rare and scarce species | Nationally Rare. Includes Red Listed taxa | 42979 | |
| A Review of the scarce and threatened spiders (Araneae) of Great Britain: Species Status No. 22 (Sep 2017) | Red listing based on 2001 IUCN guidelines | Critically Endangered | 42979 | The spider was once numerous in one area of Porton Down, Wiltshire, but there has been only one record in Britain for at least 30 years, at Portland, Dorset, in 2003. Threats: Its chalk grassland habitat is the more severely threatened, by conversion to arable agriculture on shallow slopes and by scrub encroachment where grazing ceases on steeper slopes. |
Photos and media
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Spatial distribution - hectad map
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Temporal distribution - records by year
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Temporal distribution - records by week
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