Aptostichus elisabethae
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Ordo: Araneae
Familia: Euctenizidae
Genus: Aptostichus
Name
Aptostichus elisabethae Bond, 2012 sp. n. – Wikispecies link – Desert Trapdoor Spider’ ZooBank link – Pensoft Profile
Types
Male holotype (AP389) from California, San Bernardino County, Pisgah Crater, 34.7465, -116.37551, 666m, coll. Norris & Heath 26.xi.1961 deposited in AMNH; female paratype (AP1254) from type locality, coll. J. Bond 27.i.1997; deposited in AUMNH.
Etymology
The specific epithet is a patronym in honor of my beautiful daughter Elisabeth Morgen Bond.
Diagnosis
Males are most similar to Aptostichus satleri, Aptostichus lucerne and Aptostichus fornax as a consequence of lacking any spines on the distal quadrant of the retrolateral aspect of the leg I tibia (Figs 293, 294, 296). They lack the larger retrolateral palpal tibial spines of Aptostichus fornax and the numerous prolateral tibia I spines (TSp) and embolus serrations of Aptostichus lucerne and Aptostichus satleri; Aptostichus elisabethae is much lighter in coloration and lacks the distinct abdominal markings (Fig. 292) of Aptostichus satleri. Females can be distinguished by having a sternum that is almost as long as it is wide and a rastellum composed of at least 8 large spines.
Description of male holotype
Specimen preparation and condition. Specimen collected from pitfall trap, preserved in 80% EtOH. Coloration faded. Pedipalp, leg I left side removed, stored in vial with specimen. General coloration. Carapace, chelicerae, dark red 2.5YR 3/6. Abdomen very pale brown 10YR 7/4, lacking dorsal markings (Fig. 292). Cephalothorax. Carapace 3.84 long, 3.32 wide, glabrous; stout black bristles along fringe; surface smooth, pars cephalica elevated. Fringe, posterior margin with black bristles. Foveal groove deep, recurved. Eyes on low mound. AER slightly procurved, PER slightly recurved. PME’s smaller in diameter than AME’s. Sternum moderately setose, STRl 1.94, STRw 1.84. Posterior sternal sigilla moderate in size, widely separated, anterior sigilla pairs small, oval, marginal. Chelicerae with distinct anterior tooth row comprising 3 teeth, posterior margin with patch of small denticles. Palpal endites and labium lack cuspules, LBw 0.60, LBl 0.43. Rastellum consists of 10 stout spines not on prominent mound. Abdomen. Setose, heavy black setae intermingled with fine black setae. Legs. Leg I: 3.84, 3.24, 2.38, 1.52, 1.25; leg IV: 3.45, 2.05. Tarsi curved; tarsus I with light pseudosegmentation. Very light (sparse) tarsal scopulae on all legs, light scopulae on metatarsus I, II. Tarsus I with single, slightly staggered row of 9 trichobothria. Leg I spination pattern illustrated in Figures 293, 294, 296; TSp 14, TSr 4, TSrd 0. Pedipalp. Articles stout, with distinct patch of distal prolateral tibial spines (Fig. 295). PTw 0.75, PTl 1.53, Bl 0.68. Embolus broad, tapering sharply toward tip, lacking serrations.
Variation (10). Cl 3.75-4.69, 4.03±0.08; Cw 3.06-4.00, 3.29±0.08; STRl 1.83-2.37, 2.00±0.05; STRw 1.68-2.10, 1.82±0.04; LBw 0.53-0.62, 0.58±0.01; LBl 0.38-0.44, 0.41±0.01; leg I: 3.75-4.25, 3.87±0.05; 3.06-3.38, 3.14±0.03; 2.25-2.58, 2.35±0.03; 1.46-1.68, 1.52±0.02; 1.20-1.35, 1.25±0.01; leg IV: 3.27-3.81, 3.43±0.05; 1.86-2.38, 2.04±0.04; PTl 1.32-1.59, 1.43±0.03; PTw 0.68-0.84, 0.74±0.02; Bl 0.62-0.69, 0.65±0.01; TSp 8-16, 11.90±0.75; TSr 3-10, 6.2±0.61; TSrd 0-0, 0±0.
Description of female paratype
Specimen preparation and condition. Female collected live from burrow, prepared in same manner as male holotype. Genital plate removed, cleared in trypsin, stored in microvial with specimen. General coloration. Carapace, legs, chelicerae, yellowish brown 10YR 5/4. Abdomen pale brown dorsally 10YR 6/3, very light chevron marking pattern. Cephalothorax. Carapace 3.44 long, 3.06 wide, generally glabrous, very sparse fine black setae; generally smooth surface, pars cephalica moderately elevated. Fringe lacks setae. Foveal groove deep, slightly procurved. Eye group slightly elevated on very low mound. AER slightly procurved, PER slightly recurved. PME’s smaller in diameter than AME’s. Sternum widest at coxae II/III, moderately setose, STRl 1.92, STRw 1.74. Three pairs of sternal sigilla anterior pairs small in size, oval, marginal; posterior pair moderate in size, oval, mesially positioned but not contiguous. Chelicerae anterior tooth row comprising 4 teeth with posterior margin denticle patch. Palpal endites with 45 cuspules concentrated at the inner (promargin) posterior heel; labium lacks cuspules, LBw 0.62, LBl 0.38. Rastellum consists of 8 stout spines not positioned on mound; fringe of short spines along distal promargin extending upward from rastellum. Abdomen. Moderately setose. PLS all 3 segments with spigots. Terminal segment 1/2 length of medial segment, 2 enlarged spigots visible at tip. PMS single segment, with spigots, short with rounded terminus. Legs. Anterior two pairs noticeably more slender than posterior pairs. Leg I 9.00 long. Tarsus I with 9 trichobothria arranged in wide row. Legs I, II with light scopulae on tarsus, metatarsus; light scopulae on distal aspect tarsus legs III, IV. PTLs 17, TBs 6. Rudimentary preening comb on retrolateral distal surface, tarsus-metatarsus joint, of metatarsus III, IV. Spermathecae. 2 simple spermathecal bulbs with short stalk; basal extension small (Fig. 297).
Variation. Known only from the type material.
Material examined
United States: California: San Bernardino Co.: Pisgah Crater, 34.7465, -116.37551, 666m, Norris, Heath 1.ii.1961-25.ii.1961, 26.xi.1961, 6.i.1963 [AP317-333, 389, 22♂, 1juv, AMNH]; J Bond 27.i.1997, [AP1254, 1258, 1♀, 1juv, AUMNH]; Inyo Co.: China Lake Naval Weapons Center, 35.9039, -117.66395, 828m, G Pratt, C Pierce 15.ii.1997 [AP593, 1♂, UCR].
Distribution and natural history
Aptostichus elisabethae is known from Mojave Desert habitat at two localities in San Bernardino and Inyo Counties (Map 33). Based on limited pitfall trap data males appear to disperse November-February. The habitat and terrain at the type locality, Pisgah Crater, is the most extreme I encountered for any Aptostichus species. The Pisgah Crater locality is the site of a young volcanic cinder cone from which basaltic lava flows once extended for a considerable distance out from the vent source (Fig. 6). Female burrows, during winter months are visible by way of small soil mounds at the burrow entrance. Like other species, we presume that these mounds are formed when individuals extend their burrows during the rainy reason. Despite observing a number of “mounds” at the type locality during one collecting expedition in January of 1997, I was only able to collect two specimens from their burrows. Burrows were deep (15–20 cm) and unusually complicated with numerous side chambers and long horizontal below ground extensions that were often >10cm in length.
Conservation status
The conservation status of Aptostichus elisabethae would likely be considered vulnerable or imperiled; it is rare in collections, abundance is low, and it is relatively restricted in distribution (see comments below regarding Inyo County locality). The type locality is the site of a quarry (not presently active) where hectorite and volcanic cinders are mined.
Species concept applied
Morphological.
Remarks
I have included the single specimen from Inyo County as part of the Aptostichus elisabethae hypothesis. Although this specimen is similar to Aptostichus elisabethae it is sufficiently different to lead me to believe that if more specimens were available it would likely be considered a separate species. However, at this time I have conservatively decided to group these specimens as a single species. The female paratype, the only known female specimen collected for the species has very lightly sclerotized spermathecae and as such may not be fully mature.
Original Description
- Bond, J; 2012: Phylogenetic treatment and taxonomic revision of the trapdoor spider genus Aptostichus Simon (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Euctenizidae) ZooKeys, 252: 1-209. doi
Images
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![Figures 292–297. Aptostichus elisabethae sp. n. 292–295 male holotype (AP389) from San Bernardino County; scale bars = 1.0mm 292 habitus [806425] 293 retrolateral aspect, leg I [806429] 294 prolateral aspect, leg I [806431] 295 retrolateral aspect, pedipalp [806433] 296 line drawings of leg I spination pattern; retrolateral aspect patella, tibia, and metatarsus; prolateral aspect, patella and tibia 297 female paratype (AP1254), cleared spermathecae [806434]; scale bar = 0.1mm.](/wiki/File:ZooKeys-252-001-g078.jpg)
