Trogloraptor marchingtoni, Griswold, Charles E., Audisio, Tracy & Ledford, Joel M., 2012

Griswold, Charles E., Audisio, Tracy & Ledford, Joel M., 2012, An extraordinary new family of spiders from caves in the Pacific Northwest (Araneae, Trogloraptoridae, new family), ZooKeys 215, pp. 77-102 : 82-87

Trogloraptor marchingtoni sp. n. Figures 1 –6468– 86

Types.

Holotype male from M2 Cave, 15.7 km SSW Grants Pass, Josephine Co., Oregon, USA, collected 29 July 2010 by R. S. Davis and D. S. Snyder, CASENT9040013, and paratype female from No Name Cave, Josephine Co., Oregon, 17.8 km SSW Grants Pass, collected 16 Sept. 2010 by N. Marchington, CASENT9040065, deposited in CAS.

Etymology.

The specific name is a patronym in honor of Neil Marchington, cave biologist, Advisory Board member of the Western Cave Conservatory, Conservation Chair, Western Region, National Speleological Society and Deschutes County Deputy Sheriff, in gratitude for his help and kindness.

Diagnosis.

By the characters of the genus.

Male (Holotype). Total length 9.70. Markings as in Figs 9-12, 15-18, cephalothorax, legs and pedipalps yellow-brown, unmarked except for dark brown v-mark posteriorly on pars cephalica, clypeus and chelicerae orange brown, abdomen purple brown with faint light chevrons posteriorly on dorsum. Carapace 4.50 long, 3.10 wide; clypeus 1.33 high; ocular area 0.45 long, 1.30 wide; ratio of eyes ALE:PME:PLE, 1.08:1.00:1.08; diameter of PME 0.18; chelicerae 2.38 long; sternum 1.75 long, 1.88 wide; labium 1.08 long, 0.70 wide; pedipalpal coxa 1.50 long, 0.45 wide; leg measurements (Femur + Patella + Tibia + Metatarsus + Tarsus = [Total]): I: 8.25 + 1.40 + 9.25 + 9.00 + 1.45 = [29.35]; II: 7.75 + 1.35 + 8.05 + 8.00 + 1.40 = [26.55]; III: 6.40 + 1.40 + 6.25 + 5.70 + 1.60 = [21.35]; IV: 7.15 + 1.40 + 6.50 + 6.35 + 1.50 = [22.90]; pedipalp: 1.55 + 0.55 + 1.70 + 2.40 = [6.20]. Pedipalp as in Figs 9, 16, 51-58.

Variation (N=2): Total length 6.90-9.70; carapace length 1.19--1.45 times width, height 0.33-0.35 times width; PER width 2.89-3.00 times OAL; clypeal height 6.43-7.00 times PME diameter; clypeal height 1.74-2.11 times cheliceral length; sternum length 0.92-0.93 times width, labium length 1.54-1.55 times width, pedipalpal coxa length 2.81-3.33 times width; femur I length 1.83-2.30 times carapace length; metatarsus I length 2.03-2.06 times carapace length.

Female

(paratype): Total length 9.40. Markings as in male (Figs 1-8). Carapace 3.90 long, 2.90 wide; clypeus 0.93 high; ocular area 0.38 long, 1.28 wide; ratio of eyes ALE:PME:PLE, 1.00:1.00:1.07, diameter of PME 0.15; chelicerae 2.25 long; sternum 1.75 long, 1.88 wide; labium 0.95 long, 0.65 wide; pedipalpal coxa 1.38 long, 0.50 wide. Leg measurements (Femur + Patella + Tibia + Metatarsus + Tarsus = [Total]): I: 7.15 + 1.25 + 6.85 + 7.25 + 1.35 = [23.85]; II: 6.75 + 1.30 + 6.85 + 6.95 + 1.40 = [23.25]; III: 5.25 + 1.25 + 5.10 + 4.70 + 1.15 = [17.50]; IV: 5.85 + 1.25 + 5.60 + 5.15 + 1.20 = [19.05]; pedipalp: 1.50 + 0.50 + 1.05 + 2.05 = [5.10]. Genital region weakly sclerotized externally, vulva with median translucent atrium and sclerotized lateral receptaculae, receptacular apex membranous (Figs 59, 61, 62).

Variation (N=3): Total length 8.27-9.60; carapace length 1.30-1.40 times width, height 0.34-0.39 times width; PER width 2.71-3.40 times OAL; clypeal height 6.17-6.91 times PME diameter, 2.05-2.43 times cheliceral length; sternum length 0.93-0.96 times width; labium length 1.28-1.54 times width; pedipalpal coxa length 2.75-3.67 times width; femur I length 1.69-1.83 times carapace length; metatarsus I length 1.72-1.78 times carapace length.

Natural history.

This species has been collected in the dark zone of caves, hanging beneath a few strands of silk that are attached to the cave roof (Figs 5-8). Boulders and rotting logs were searched near the entrance to M2 Cave without finding any Trogloraptor . Nothing has been observed of its predatory or mating behavior. Living specimens were reared in climate controlled conditions and constructed a loose tangle of web from which they hung beneath. Multiple attempts to feed the specimens a variety of prey items failed, which may indicate a preference for specific prey.

Distribution.

Caves in southwestern Oregon.

Additional material examined

(all CAS). USA: OREGON: Josephine Co., No Name Cave, 17.8 km SSW Grants Pass, 16 Sept. 2010, N. Marchington, 1 ♀, CASENT9040051, 1 ♂, CASENT9040066, same data except 13 July 2011, 1♀, CASENT9039440; M2 Cave, 15.7 km SSW Grants Pass, 31 July 2010, Geo Graening, R. S. Davis and D. S. Snyder, 1 penultimate ♀, CASENT9040012, same data except 13 July 2011, N. Marchington, T. Audisio, C. Griswold, J. Ledford, D. Ubick, H. Wood and F. Álvarez-Padilla, 3 juveniles, CASENT9047599; Lake Cave near No Name Cave, 9.05 km S Wilderville, 13 July 2011, N. Marchington, T. Audisio, C. Griswold, J. Ledford, D. Ubick, H. Wood and F. Álvarez-Padilla, 1♂ (molted to maturity in captivity) CASENT9047600; Chapman Cave, 12 July 2011, N. Marchington, 2 juveniles, CASENT9039436.

Note.

A juvenile Trogloraptor specimen has been collected under debris in old growth redwood forest in far northwest California. The markings of this juvenile differ from the cave species, Trogloraptor marchingtoni . The northwest California specimen has dusky markings laterally on leg femora, a dusky Y marking extending back from the PLE to the posterior margin of the carapace and undulate dusky markings along the lateral carapace margin. These markings suggest that there may be at least one additional Trogloraptor species currently known only from the juvenile. Records for this specimen are as follows: CALIFORNIA: Del Norte Co., NE Crescent City, Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park, Ruth Perry Hatton Grove, US199 0.2 mi E junction with Walker Rd., elev. 60m, 10.29 km NNE Crescent City, old growth redwood, under woody debris, 31 March 2011, E. Garcia, C. Richart, A. Schoenhofer, D. Sitzmann, 1 juvenile, CASENT9040069 (CAS).