Aptostichus huntington, Bond, Jason E., 2012

Bond, Jason E., 2012, Phylogenetic treatment and taxonomic revision of the trapdoor spider genus Aptostichus Simon (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Euctenizidae), ZooKeys 252, pp. 1-209 : 154-156

Aptostichus huntington sp. n. Figures 337-341Map 34

Types.

Male holotype (AP408) and two male paratypes (AP408) from California, Fresno County, Billy Creek at Huntington Lake, 37.2379, -119.2295 4, 2130m, coll. J. Halstead 21-28.viii.1984; deposited in CAS.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a noun taken in apposition from the type locality of Huntington Lake.

Diagnosis.

Male of this species can be distinguished from others in the Sierra species group by their elongate sternum, strongly curved tarsus and unique tibia I prolateral spination pattern comprising> 31 spines.

Description of male holotype.

Specimen preparation and condition. Specimen presumed to have been collected from pitfall trap, preserved in 70%EtOH. Coloration faded; abdomen extremely faded, collapsed. Pedipalp, leg I left/right side removed, stored in vial with specimen. General coloration. Carapace, chelicerae, legs strong brown 7.5YR 4/6. Abdomen uniform light brown 7.5YR 6/3, with mottled chevron striping. Cephalothorax. Carapace 5.31 long, 4.00 wide, generally glabrous with very light white setae intermingled with few thin black setae, stout black bristles along fringe; surface smooth, pars cephalica elevated. Fringe, posterior margin with black bristles. Foveal groove deep, strongly recurved. Eyes on low mound. AER slightly procurved, PER slightly recurved. PME, AME subequal diameter. Sternum moderately setose, STRl 3.53, STRw 1.88; very thin. Posterior sternal sigilla small, positioned marginally, not contiguous, anterior sigilla pairs very small, oval, marginal. Chelicerae with distinct anterior tooth row comprising 5 teeth, posterior margin with single row of small denticles. Palpal endites with patch of small cuspules on proximal, inner margin, labium lacks cuspules, LBw 0.77, LBl 0.19. Rastellum consists of 8 stout spines not on prominent mound. Abdomen. Setose, heavy black setae intermingled with fine black setae. Legs. Leg I: 4.80, 3.48, 4.24, 2.56, 0.00; leg IV: 5.05, 2.90. Tarsi strongly bent. Light tarsal scopulae on all legs I, II; metatarsus I with light scopula distally. Tarsus I with single, slightly staggered row of 12 trichobothria. Leg I spination pattern illustrated in Figures 337, 338, 341; TSp 32, TSr 7, TSrd 1. Tibia I long relative to femur I, distal retrolateral spine group absent (Fig. 337). Metatarsus not anteverted, lacks distinct mid–ventral mating apophysis, proximal excavation (Figs 337, 338, 341). Metatarsus, tarsus I long. Strongly bent tarsus I lightly pseudosegmented. Tarsus I lacks ventral spines. Pedipalp. Palpal tibia short, width slightly less than half length (Figs 339, 341). Retrolateral surface tibia with large spine, numerous smaller, elongate ventral spines (Figs 339, 341). Palpal bulb very short (Bl/Cl 14.50). Embolus intermediate width, very thin distally, slight curvature at midpoint, not serrated distally. PTw 0.77, PTl 1.95, Bl 0.77.

Variation (3). Cl 5.31-5.75, 5.58 ± 0.14; Cw 4.00-4.44, 4.27 ± 0.14; STRl 3.51-3.81, 3.62 ± 0.10; STRw 1.88-2.28, 2.08 ± 0.12; LBw 0.74-0.77, 0.75 ± 0.01; LBl 0.19-0.27, 0.23 ± 0.02; leg I: 4.80-5.06, 4.93 ± 0.08; 3.38-3.48, 3.43 ± 0.03; 4.00-4.31, 4.18 ± 0.09; 2.56-3.00, 2.77 ± 0.13; 0-0, 0 ± 0; leg IV: 5.05-5.44, 5.21 ± 0.12; 2.90-3.44, 3.11 ± 0.17; PTl 1.95-2.04, 1.98 ± 0.03; PTw 0.74-0.78, 0.76 ± 0.01; Bl 0.77-0.81, 0.79 ± 0.01; TSp 32-39, 34.33 ± 2.33; TSr 7-9, 7.67 ± 0.67; TSrd 1-1, 1 ± 0.

Description of female.

Known only from male specimens.

Material examined.

Known only from the type material.

Distribution and natural history.

Aptostichus huntington is known only from the type specimen from Fresno County, collected in a pitfall trap in September. The habitat type is characterized as Sierran Steppe, Mixed Coniferous Forest, and Alpine Meadow.

Conservation status.

The conservation status of Aptostichus huntington is likely to be characterized as imperiled due to its rarity and restricted distribution.

Species concept applied.

Morphological.

Remarks.

Like Aptostichus sierra , despite extensive searching in the areas around the type locality over the past decade, I have been unable to recover a single Aptostichus huntington specimen. This species is either very rare or I have been unable to pinpoint its exact microhabitat.