Tayshaneta anopica (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 : 17-19

Tayshaneta anopica (Gertsch, 1974) Figs 1A2D12 A–F33A–F52A–B 56

Leptoneta anopica Gertsch 1974: 172.

Neoleptoneta anopica (Gertsch, 1974): Brignoli 1977: 216; Platnick 1986: 6; Platnick 2010.

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

Type data.

Female holotype from Cobb Cave (= Cobb’s Caverns), 15 miles north of Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas, 31-March-1963, J. Reddell, D. McKenzie, 30.78N, 97.73W, (AMNH, examined).

Notes.

Cobb Cave is also known as Cobb’s Caverns and is located on the Cobb Ranch in Northern Williamson County (Figs 1A, 55). The general area of Cobb’s Spring has a long history of occupation by Indians who likely discovered the cave thousands of years ago (K. White, pers. comm.). The cave was first reported by the National Speleological Society in 1948 (K. White, pers. comm.) and briefly operated as a commercial cave from 1962 to 1969.

Other material examined.

USA: Texas: Williamson County: Cobb’s Caverns, 15mi. N. of Georgetown, 30-March-2004, M. Warton, 30.78N, 97.73W, 1♂, (TTU); Cobb’s Caverns, 15mi. N. of Georgetown, 12-October-2004, K. White, 30.78N, 97.73W, 1 ♀, (TMM); Cobb’s Caverns, 15mi. N. of Georgetown, 24-November-2004, P. Paquin, 30.78N, 97.73W, 1 ♀, (TMM); Cobb’s Caverns, 15mi. N. of Georgetown, 7-September-2007, P. Paquin, 30.78N, 97.73W, 1♂, (TMM); Cobb’s Caverns, 15mi. N. of Georgetown, 10-December-2009, P. Paquin, C. Crawford, 30.78N, 97.73W, 3 juvs, (TMM); Corn Cobb’s Cave, 17-July-2008, M. Archambault, J. Ledford, P. Paquin, 30.75N, 97.73W, 1 ♀, (TMM); Corn Cobb’s Cave, 15-October-2008, P. Paquin, Parker, Baird, 30.75N, 97.73W, 1 ♀, (TMM); Corn Cobb’s Cave, 31-October-2008, P. Paquin, Crawford, Parker, 30.75N, 97.73W, 1 ♀, (TMM).

Diagnosis.

Tayshaneta anopica may be separated from all Tayshaneta species that have a ventral sclerite and an undivided male palpal tarsus, except Tayshaneta concinna , Tayshaneta oconnorae and Tayshaneta sandersi , by the following combination of characters: pigmentation and eyes entirely absent (Figs 12 A–B); femur I elongate, 1.7 –2.3× carapace length; male retrolateral tibial spine thin, sculptured throughout, length 0.50 × tarsus length (Fig. 33A); embolus curved distally and with prominent basal tooth (E, Fig. 33D). Separated from Tayshaneta concinna , Tayshaneta oconnorae and Tayshaneta sandersi by having a straight ventral sclerite (VS, Figs 33B, E) and by the unique shape of the embolus (E, Fig. 33D).

Description.

Complete description of female in Gertsch (1974: 172). Habitus of female in Figs 12 D–F, genitalia as in Fig. 52A and images of egg-sac in Figs 2D, 52B.

Male ( Cobb’s Caverns). Body length 1.38, carapace 0.62 long, 0.45 wide, length 1.36 × width. Carapace depigmented to light brown, eyes absent, sparsely setose (Figs 12 A–C). Legs elongate and thin, femur I 2.0 × carapace length, covered in fine setae.Palpal tarsus entire, tapering apically; retrolateral tibial spine straight, on shallow base, sculptured throughout, length 0.50 × tarsus length (RTS, Fig. 33A). Bulb suboval, length 1.84 × width; embolus circular, with prominent basal tooth (E, Fig. 33D), length 1.17 × width. Abdomen pale to yellow-brown, without pattern, 0.76 long, 0.54 wide, covered in fine setae.

Variation (n = 2). Total length 1.25-1.38; carapace length 1.19-1.36 × carapace width; femur I length 2.0-2.2 × carapace width.

Distribution.

Known only from two caves in Williamson County, Texas (Figs 1A, 56). Cobb’s Caverns is the largest known cave in the area, however, several smaller karst features occur on the property including Corn Cobb’s Cave (K. White, pers. comm.). The records of Tayshaneta anopica from Corn Cobb’s Cave suggest that it may be more broadly distributed in the Cobb’s Spring region.

Natural History.

An egg-sac for this species was found with a female specimen from Corn Cobb’s Cave (Figs 2D, 52B). The egg-sac was found hanging by a single thread covered with small pebbles and contained two eggs.