Nesticus jonesi Gertsch, 1984

Fig. 56A-C

Nesticus jonesi Gertsch, 1984: 38, figs 153-155, 167-169.

Material examined.

Type material: Holotype: USA - Alabama, Morgan Co. • ♂ holotype; Cave Spring Cave; 2 May 1959; W.B. Jones, Royer, Steeves, T.C. Barr leg; AMNH; New collections from type locality: - Morgan Co. • 4♂, 14♀; Wheeler NWR, Cave Spring Cave, E of Decatur; 14 Nov. 1992; M. Hedin, J. Hedin leg.

Diagnosis.

Similar to regional congener Nesticus barri, this species is long-legged and nearly eyeless, but is otherwise morphologically and genetically allied with members of the Nesticus reclusus group from montane western North Carolina. Very similar in male and female genital morphology to close phylogenomic kin N. dellingeri (Fig. 55A-G), N. dykemanae (Fig. 59A-C) and N. binfordae (57A-C), but geographically disjunct, troglomorphic, and larger in body size. Also differing from these taxa in the shape of the tegular apophyses (both basal and distal), and the shape of the basal edge of the median apophysis (Fig. 56A).

Distribution and natural history.

This species is known only from the type locality south of the Tennessee River in north-central Alabama (Fig. 53). Geographically far-flung from phylogenetic relatives, perhaps similar to the biogeographic situation observed in Nesticus paynei and/or N. carteri, both of which also include disjunct populations towards the southern end of the Tennessee River valley.

Collections in 1992 revealed a very large spider population in Cave Spring Cave, perhaps up to 1,000 individuals. This cave is home to a protected bat colony and located in a US National Wildlife Refuge. The extraordinary size of the Nesticus jonesi population is perhaps related to the high productivity associated with the large bat colony and/or the protected status of this cave.

Remarks.

Part of a near phylogenomic trichotomy with Nesticus dykemanae and N. binfordae (Figs 3, 4), with sCF values near a lower limit.