The Mashatu Arachnid Investigation

The research department at Mashatu has recently become involved in a new sideline project - that of spiders, scorpions and other associated creatures.  The Mashatu research team have linked up with the Biosystematics Unit of the Plant Protection Research Unit of the Agricultural Research Council who are currently running a major international research program within sub-Saharan Africa.

The program originated in 1995.  The Biosystematics Unit decided to combine their extensive literature and specimen collections into a single substantial database called the African Arachno-Database (AAD).  The main goal of the project is to make an inventory of the biodiversity of arachnids in Africa.  This will provide useful information necessary when looking at the conservation and sustainable use of the biological diversity of Africa.  There is a vast amount of information that has been compiled over many years, but numerous aspects of these studies require revision. 

An area that needs particular attention is the taxonomy (classification and naming) of arachnids (Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002a).  The AAD has already completed a number of projects, including the publication of an identification manual for African Spider Families, as well as the compilation of checklists for the spiders of Namibia and Zimbabwe.  There are many other projects being run throughout Africa, including work in countries such as South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Madagascar, Yemen, The Ivory Coast and the Seychelles.  The main focus of these projects is to make a detailed survey of the arachnid fauna found in each country.  There is also work being done in Botswana, particularly in the Kalahari region.

Mashatu is now also contributing by providing a collection of arachnids from the reserve, as well as compiling a photographic record.  This endeavour will also provide our guests with some new information about these creatures. 

We have been in contact with Dr. Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman, who is in charge of the arachnid project.  She has been involved with the study of spiders for more than 30 years, and has been a great source of encouragement to us.  Our reference collection has been boosted, as we now have a few good references on southern African spiders and associated arachnids, including a great CD-Rom packed with amazing photos and information.  We have already begun to collect specimens, and have plans of using a number of techniques to capture more.  In addition to merely catching spiders, we are learning more about the various habits ansd habitats of a number of species.  This knowledge will be used to hopefully enhance any walks or other bush excursions that we arrange.  In certain areas we have located Trap-door spider nests, which we have marked so that they can be revisited . We are hoping to pin-point “spider hot-spots” within Main Camp where guests can get a glimpse of some interesting species.

Should you wish to find out more about these projects, and to contribute in any way, please feel free to speak to Jeanetta via e-mail mashatu.research@telkomsa.net