Tayshaneta microps (Gertsch, 1974)

Ledford, Joel, Paquin, Pierre, Cokendolpher, James, Campbell, Josh & Griswold, Charles, 2012, Systematics, conservation and morphology of the spider genus Tayshaneta (Araneae, Leptonetidae) in Central Texas Caves, ZooKeys 167, pp. 1-102 : 29-30

Tayshaneta microps (Gertsch, 1974) Figs 1B10 A–B22A–F31C32C43A–F 53E59

Leptoneta microps Gertsch 1974: 171-172.

Neoleptoneta microps (Gertsch, 1974): Brignoli 1977: 216; Platnick 1986: 8; Reddell 1988: 34; Cokendolpher 2004: 64; Reddell and Cokendolpher 2004: 86; Platnick 2010.

Tayshaneta microps (Gertsch, 1974): Ledford et al. 2011.

Type data.

Female holotype from Government Canyon Bat Cave, 5 miles SW Helotes, Bexar County, Texas, 11-August-1965, J. Reddell, J. Fish (AMNH, examined).

Notes.

Tayshaneta microps was listed under the Endangered Species Act in 2001 (U. S. Fish and Wildlife, 2010) due to pressure from urbanization in areas surrounding San Antonio, Texas. Two records are currently reported for the species, Government Canyon Bat Cave and Surprise Sink, both of which are in Northern Bexar County. The two specimens from Surprise Sink were examined in detail and while they share reduced eyes similar to Tayshaneta microps , both specimens are immature cannot be confirmed as this species in the absence of associated males.

Other material examined.

USA: Texas: Bexar County: Government Canyon Bat Cave, 5 miles SW Helotes, 24-April-1993, J. Reddell, M. Reyes, 29.56N, 98.76W, 1 ♀, (TTU); Government Canyon Bat Cave, 5 miles SW Helotes, 24-May-1993, J. Reddell, M. Reyes, 29.56N, 98.76W, 1 ♀, (TMM); Government Canyon Bat Cave, 5 miles SW Helotes, 24-May-1998, J. Reddell, M. Reyes, 29.56N, 98.76W, 4 ♀, (TMM); Government Canyon Bat Cave, 5 miles SW Helotes, 12-March-2005, P. Paquin, 29.56N, 98.76W, 2 ♂, 2 ♀, 6 juvs, (TMM); Government Canyon Bat Cave, 5 miles SW Helotes, 12-November-2009, J. Ledford, M. Sanders, N. Lake, 29.56N, 98.76W, 1 ♂, (TMM).

Diagnosis.

Tayshaneta microps may be separated from all Tayshaneta species, except Tayshaneta bullis and Tayshaneta madla , by having males with an elongate retrolateral tibial spine (RTS, Figs 31F, 32F), more than 0.5 × length of the palpal tarsus and lacking a ventral sclerite (Figs 42B, E). Separated from Tayshaneta bullis and Tayshaneta madla by the unique shape of the embolus (Fig. 43D).

Description.

Complete description of female in Gertsch (1974: 171-172). Habitus of male and female in Figs 22 A–F, scanning electron micrographs of male genitalia in Figs 43 A–F and female genitalia in Fig. 53E.

Male. (Government Canyon Bat Cave). Body length 1.27, carapace 0.56 long, 0.47 wide, length 1.19 × width. Carapace light brown, sparsely setose; eyes greatly reduced (Figs 10 A–B; 22 A–C). Legs elongate and thin, femur I 1.64 × carapace length, covered in fine setae with few scattered spines. Palpal tarsus entire, tapering apically (Fig. 31C); retrolateral tibial spine elongate, sculptured throughout, length 0.50 × tarsus length (Fig. 31C, 32C). Bulb suboval, length 1.76 × width; embolus distally oval, curved and with basal tooth (E, Fig. 43D), length 2.0 × width. Abdomen light brown, without pattern, 0.70 long, 0.50 wide, covered in fine setae.

Variation(n = 6). Total length 1.25-1.40; carapace length 1.20-1.52 × carapace width; length femur I 1.0-1.4 × carapace width.

Natural History.

One adult male specimen was collected for DNA extraction and scanning electron microscopy in November 2009. Although only a single male was found, immature and female specimens were commonly observed in small sheet webs under breakdown material and at the base of walls on opposite sides of the cave entrance.

Distribution.

Known only from Government Canyon Bat Cave, Bexar County, Texas (Fig. 59).