Nesticus barri Gertsch, 1984

Hedin, Marshal & Milne, Marc A., 2023, New species in old mountains: integrative taxonomy reveals ten new species and extensive short-range endemism in Nesticus spiders (Araneae, Nesticidae) from the southern Appalachian Mountains, ZooKeys 1145, pp. 1-130 : 1

publication ID

https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1145.96724

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:830628C2-76CD-4641-BFC6-144CD775ED6B

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/7A19D16D-7EA3-56E2-ABE9-989E1B233E69

treatment provided by

ZooKeys by Pensoft

scientific name

Nesticus barri Gertsch, 1984
status

 

Nesticus barri Gertsch, 1984 View in CoL View at ENA

Fig. 48A, C View Figure 48

Nesticus barri Gertsch, 1984: 36, figs 121-123, 161-163; Hedin and Dellinger 2005: 3, figs 2-10; Snowman et al. 2010: fig. 1; Carver et al. 2016: fig. 2.

Nesticus valentinei Gertsch, 1984: 29, figs 150-152.

Material examined.

Non type material: USA - Alabama, Jackson Co. • ♀; Fern Cave, AJK597; 1 Dec. 2018; M.L. Niemiller, M.E. Slay, T. Inebnit, J. Pinkley, J. Lamb, P. Pattavina, K. Sapkota, B. Miller, N. Mann leg.; MLN 18-051.8; • ♀, 1 imm; Fern Cave , AJK597, bottom of cave; 1 Aug. 2008; J. Pinkley leg.; JP 08-AJK597.1; • ♀; Fern Cave , AJK597, Johnston entrance; 2 Jun. 2018; M.L. Niemiller, M.E. Slay, T. Inebnit, B. Miller, et al. leg.; MLN 18-020.8; • ♀; Fern Cave , AJK597, Morgue - past first Bat Room; 23 Jun. 2018; A. Hinkle, S. Pitts leg.; AH 18-001.2; • ♀; Fern Cave , AJK597, upper formation passage; 2 Jun. 2018; M.L. Niemiller, M.E. Slay, T. Inebnit, B. Miller, et al. leg.; MLN 18-020.26; • ♀; Fern Cave , AJK597, upper north passage; 3 Jun. 2018; M.L. Niemiller, M.E. Slay, T. Inebnit, B. Miller, et al. leg.; MLN 18-021.1; • 8♀; Guess Creek Cave, E Trenton; 25 Sep. 1992; M. Hedin, J. Hedin, S O’Kane leg.; • 2♀, 1 imm; Moody Cave , AJK1189; 18 Mar. 2019; M.L. Niemiller, J. Lamb, A. Hinkle leg.; MLN 19-014.20; • ♀, 1 imm; Tumbling Rock Cave , AJK171; 8 Mar. 2014; M.L. Niemiller, C.D.R. Stephen, K.S. Zigler, R. Miller, C. Borer, C. Maddux, J. Clark, V. Leray leg.; MLN 14-011.10; - Alabama, Marshall Co. • 9♀; Bishop Cave , N of Guntersville Dam; 25 Sep. 1992; M. Hedin, J. Hedin, S O’Kane leg.; • ♂, 2♀; Bishop Cave ; 17 Aug. 2005; M. Hedin, R. Keith, J. Starrett, S. Thomas leg.; MCH 05_056; - Tennessee, Franklin Co. • ♂, 8♀; Keith Cave , S of Cowan; 24 Mar. 1995; M. Hedin, J. Hedin leg.; • 2♀, 2 imm; Little Crow Creek Cave , TFR15; 20 Sep. 2008; M.L. Niemiller, BT Miller, J Miller, N. Mann leg.; MLN 08-041; • ♂, 3♀; Lost Cove Cave , N / NE of Sherwood; 23 Sep. 1992; M. Hedin, J. Hedin, S O’Kane leg.; • 2♂, 7♀; Salt River Cave , W of Gonce, Alabama; 24 Mar. 1995; M. Hedin, J. Hedin leg.; • 2♀, 1 imm; Sinking Cove Cave , TFR25; 15 Oct. 2016; N.S. Gladstone leg.; NSG 16-TFR25.10; - Tennessee, Marion Co. • ♂, 2♀; Tate Spring Cave , SE of Monteagle; 15 Aug. 2004; M. Hedin, L. Hedin, R. Keith, J. Starrett, S. Thomas leg.; MCH 04_050 .

Diagnosis.

The diagnosis of Gertsch (1984) is here modified to reflect a close phylogenetic relationship to Nesticus furtivus . These taxa share an overall similarity in features of the male paracymbium and shape of the median apophysis but differ in the shape of the tegular apophysis (Fig. 48A-D View Figure 48 ). In N. barri the tegulum is forked, with a basal projection shaped like a curved blade, and with a distal crescent-shaped tegular process lying close behind the quadrate median apophysis. The epigynum of N. barri is similar to that of distant relative N. lowderi in general structure (Fig. 47A-H View Figure 47 ), but with internal plates (viewed dorsally) not as long. Females are distinctly different from N. furtivus , as discussed below in the diagnosis for this latter species.

Variation.

The shape of the basal tegular fork varies notably across cave locations. One male from Salt River Cave (MCH #2105) completely lacked a dorsal paracymbial process, without evidence that this was broken off. Variation in Nesticus barri epigynal morphology was illustrated in Hedin and Dellinger (2005), figs 2-8.

Distribution and natural history.

Known from possibly hundreds of caves in northwest Alabama and south-central Tennessee (Fig. 49 View Figure 49 ; Hedin and Dellinger 2005: fig. 1; Snowman et al. 2010: fig. 1; Carver et al. 2016: fig. 2). Carver et al. (2016) reported on the reproductive biology of this species.

Remarks.

Based on consideration of morphology Hedin and Dellinger (2005) hypothesized that troglomorphic spiders from Tate Spring Cave, Tennessee represented a northern population of Nesticus barri . The mitochondrial data included here further support this hypothesis (Fig. 6 View Figure 6 ).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Araneae

Family

Nesticidae

Genus

Nesticus

Loc

Nesticus barri Gertsch, 1984

Hedin, Marshal & Milne, Marc A. 2023
2023
Loc

Nesticus barri

Gertsch 1984
1984
Loc

Nesticus valentinei

Gertsch 1984
1984