Myrmekiaphila tigris Bond & Ray

Bond, Jason E., Hamilton, Chris A., Garrison, Nicole L. & Ray, Charles H., 2012, Phylogenetic reconsideration of Myrmekiaphila systematics with a description of the new trapdoor spider species Myrmekiaphila tigris (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Cyrtaucheniidae, Euctenizinae) from Auburn, Alabama, ZooKeys 190, pp. 95-109 : 99-105

Myrmekiaphila tigris Bond & Ray sp. n. Map 1Figs 311

Myrmekiaphila foliata Atkinson, 1886 (misidentification): Bond and Platnick 2007: 9-10.

Common name: The Auburn Tiger Trapdoor Spider

Type material.

Male holotype (AUMS090), female paratype (AUMS089, from Alabama, Lee County, Auburn, along Grove Hill Road, forested area across from intersec tion with High Point Drive, 32.5786, -85.4543, 180m, coll. J. Bond 25.i.2012; additional male paratypes (AUMS077, 081-084) from same vicinity, coll. C. Ray i.2012. Male holotype and female paratype deposited in AUMNH; additional male paratypes deposited in AUMNH, AMNH and FMNH.

Additional material examined.

ALABAMA: Choctaw Co.: Silas [31.7654, -88.3290, MYR013], 19.ii.1912 (H. Smith, CUC), 1♂. Lee Co.: Opelika [32.6454. -85.3783, MYR133], 1.i.1985 (D. Folkerts, CDF), 1♂; 3.2km S Auburn along Wire Road [32.5776, -85.5246, MYR135], 24.ii.1974 (R. Skinner, CAU), 1♂; Auburn [32.6099, -85.4808, MYR124], (AMNH), 2♀, 1 juv., [MYR127], (N. Banks, C. Baker, MCZ), 1♀, [MYR132], 10.iv.1941 (AMNH), 3♀, [MYR137], 3.iii.1968 (W. Ivey, CAU), 1♂, [MYR139], 10.v.1975 (B. Muse, CAU), 1♀, [MYR288], 1.vi.1986 (G. Mullen, CAU), 1♀; Auburn, Grove Hill subdivision, 32.5786, -85.4543 (AUMS086-088, 091, 096-115, 117-119, 121, 123-127, 130-138), 180m, xii.2011-i.2012 (C. Ray, D. Held, J. Bond, N. Garrison, AUMNH), 41♂ 2♀, 5 juv. Macon Co.: Tuskegee National Forest, Wire Road, S Interstate 85 [32.4577, -85.6576, MYR138], 12.xii.1975 (Weatherby, Brooks, CAU), 1♀; Tuskegee National Forest, 32.4522, -85.6378 [AUMS094-095], 30.i.2012 (C. Hamilton, AUMNH), 2 juv. Montgomery Co.: McGus Station [MYR140], 24.x.1915 (H. Smith, CUC), 1♂. GEORGIA: Putnam Co.: no specific locality [33.3335, -83.3499, MYR040], 23.iv.1974 (W. Merrill, FSCA) 1♂; Eatonton [33.3268, -83.3885, MYR131], 18.iv.1974 (W. Merrill, FSCA), 1♂.

Etymology.

The specific epithet, the Latin name for tiger, is a noun taken in apposition and refers to the mascot of Auburn University.

Diagnosis.

Male palpal bulb morphology (Figs 7, 8) is similar to Myrmekiaphila foliata (Fig. 1, inset) but Myrmekiaphila tigris specimens have a longer sinuous embolus with an elongate sub distal tooth. Potentially sympatric Myrmekiaphila torreya males have two-pronged bulb whereas Myrmekiaphila tigris males have only a single prong. Males also appear to have a more robust palpal tibia with a larger retro-distal lateral ledge than in other species (Fig. 7). Females are much more difficult to definitively recognize from other species on the basis of morphological differences, however, the spermathecal base is considerably less wide than noted for Myrmekiaphila torreya ( Bond and Platnick 2007) and central bulb has a more elongate stalk (Fig. 9). Also, male and female Myrmekiaphila tigris specimens tend to be larger in size than recorded for closely related Myrmekiaphila coreyi : Myrmekiaphila tigris Cl male> 6.50, female 7.36; Myrmekiaphila coreyi Cl male <4.50, female <6.00. Specimens are phylogenetically distinct as a monophy letic lineage exclusive of Myrmekiaphila torreya , Myrmekiaphila coreyi , and Myrmekiaphila foliata (Fig. 2). Known only from central Alabama and Georgia.

Description of male holotype.

Specimen preparation and condition. Specimen collected live from burrow, preserved in 80%. Pedipalp, leg I left side removed, stored in vial with specimen. General coloration. Carapace dark red 2.5YR 3/6; legs, chelicerae darker in color, dusky red 10R 3/4. Abdomen dark brown 7.5YR 3/2 with broad faint dusky stripes posteriorly dorsal (Figs 3, 4), ventrum spinnerets pale yellow. Cephalothorax. Carapace 6.56 long, 5.63 wide, hirsute with thin black short setae, stout black bristles along fringe; surface smooth, pars cephalica elevated. Fringe, posterior margin with black bristles. Foveal groove deep, straight. Eyes only slight elevated. AER slightly procurved, PER slightly recurved. PME slightly larger in diameter than AME. Sternum moderately setose, STRl 3.72, STRw 3.35. Posterior sternal sigilla large, irregularly shaped, nearly contiguous, anterior sigilla pairs small, oval, marginal. Chelicerae with distinct anterior tooth row comprising 11 teeth, posterior margin with single row small denticles. Palpal endites with patch of small cuspules on proximal, inner margin, labium lacks cuspules, LBw 1.19, LBl 0.70. Rastellum consists of 4 stout spines on distinct mound. Abdomen. Setose, heavy black setae intermingled with fine black setae. Legs. Leg I: 5.85, 2.88, 4.25, 3.41, 2.84; leg IV: 6.00, 3.25. Light scopulae on tarsi, metatarsi legs I, II. Tarsus I with single, slightly staggered row of 9 trichobothria. Leg I spination pattern illustrated in Figures 4, 5; TSp 12, TSr 10, TSrd 2. Pedipalp. Articles stout, lacking distinct spines (figs 6, 7). PTw 1.50, PTl 3.00, Bl 1.24. Distinct, elongate ledge on distal-retrolateral aspect tibia. Embolus stout, tapering sharply towards tip, with serrations, elongate distal tooth (Fig. 8).

Variation (8). Cl 6.81-10.30, 7.56 ± 0.41; Cw 5.40-8.08, 6.08 ± 0.30; STRl 3.80-5.25, 4.14 ± 0.17; STRw 3.38-4.85, 3.71 ± 0.17; LBw 1.02-1.57, 1.21 ± 0.07; LBl 0.56-0.70, 0.64 ± 0.02; leg I: 5.35-8.32, 6.29 ± 0.31; 4.60-5.75, 4.73 ± 0.16; 3.25-4.85, 3.75 ± 0.18; 2.88-4.20, 3.14 ± 0.16; leg IV: 5.75-8.88, 6.52 ± 0.35; 3.09-4.45, 3.48 ± 0.16; PTl 3.00-4.32, 3.27 ± 0.15; PTw 1.56-2.13, 1.68 ± 0.07; Bl 1.20-1.60, 1.30 ± 0.04; TSp 12-21, 15.25 ± 1.01; TSr 10-14, 11.75 ± 0.41; TSrd 1-2, 1.88 ± 0.13.

Description of female paratype.

Specimen preparation and condition. Female collected live from burrow, preserved in same manner as male holotype. Genital plate removed, cleared in trypsin, stored in microvial with specimen. Color. Carapace dark reddish gray 2.5YR 3/1; legs, chelicerae, dark reddish brown 2.5YR 3/4. Abdomen reddish black dorsally 2.5YR 2.5/1 faint dusky bands dorsally; ventrum, spinnerets pale yellow (figs 10, 11). Cephalothorax. Carapace 7.36 long, 6.38 wide, generally glabrous, few thin setae, pars cephalica elevated. Fringe lacks setae. Foveal groove deep, slightly procurved. Eye group slightly elevated on very low mound. AER slightly procurved, PER slightly recurved. PME-AME subequal in diameter. Sternum widest at coxae II/III, moderately setose, STRl 4.60, STRw 4.08. Three pairs of sternal sigilla anterior pairs moderate size, oval, positioned marginally, posterior pair larger, irregularly shaped, nearly contiguous. Chelicerae anterior tooth row armed with 10 teeth with single posterior margin denticle row. Palpal endites with 47 cuspules concentrated at the inner promargin posterior heel; labium with 5 cuspules, LBw 1.46, LBl 0.97. Rastellum consist of 10 very stout spines positioned on distinct mound. Abdomen. Moderately setose, posterior median spinnerets reduced in size. Walking legs. Anterior two pairs noticeably more slender than posterior pairs. Leg I 16.39 long. Tarsus I with single staggered row of 10 trichobothria. Legs I, II with moderately heavy scopulae on tarsi, metatarsi. PT3s 14, TB3s 9. Rudimentary preening comb on retrolateral distal surface, tarsus - metatarsus joint metatarsus III, IV. Spermathecae. Two simple spermathecal bulbs, moderately elongate neck, arranged on low subtriangular base (fig. 9).

Variation.

Females known only from three specimens.

Distribution and natural history.

Known from central Alabama, counties of Choctaw, Lee, Macon, and Montgomery, and the piedmont region of Georgia, Putnam County (Map 1). The type locality comprises primarily young second growth mixed deciduous forest located at the transition from the Piedmont to Coastal Plan physiographic region. The population known from the additional material in western Alabama is located in Coastal Plain Province. Specimens were found to be presumably syntopic with Cyclocosmia , Antrodiaetus , Ummidia , and possibly Myrmekiaphila torreya (collected from the region). Male specimens were collected from swimming pools and wandering on warm, damp mornings during the months of December and January. Females were collected from 6-8 cm deep burrow, some with below-ground side chambers with a trapdoor.

Genbank accession numbers.

JQ708212-JQ708215