Tayshaneta valverdae (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 : 36

Tayshaneta valverdae (Gertsch, 1974) Figs 28 A–F49A–F 54C60

Leptoneta valverdae Gertsch 1974: 173.

Neoleptoneta valverdae (Gertsch, 1974): Brignoli 1977: 216; Platnick 1986: 10.

Tayshaneta valverdae ( Gertsch 1974): Ledford et al. 2011.

Type data.

Male holotype from Oriente Milestone Molasses Bat Cave, 20 miles NE of Del Rio, Val Verde County, Texas, 25-January-1964, J. Reddell, McKenzie, Porter, 29.56N, 100.77W, (AMNH).

Other material examined.

USA: Texas: Bandera County: Melanie’s Cave, Hill Country State Natural Area, 23-July-2000, J. Reddell, M. Reyes, 29.63N, 99.18W, 1 ♂, 5 ♀, 2 juvs, (TMM); Harvestman Cave, Hill Country State Natural Area, 24-July-2000, J. Reddell, M. Reyes, 29.63N, 99.18W, 1 ♂, 2 ♀, 2 juvs, (TMM); Love Creek Ranch, 10.5 miles W. Medina, 6-October-1996, A. Grubbs, 29.79N, 99.42W, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, (TMM); Uvalde County: Big Fucking Snake Cave, 8-June-1985, A. Grubbs, AC, RW, 29.43N, 99.65W, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, (AMNH); Marneldo Ranch, 18-April-1997, A. Grubbs, 29.50N, 99.61W, 1 ♂, (TMM); Val Verde County: Oriente Milestone Molasses Bat Cave, 20 miles NE of Del Rio, 25-January-1964, 1 ♂, (AMNH).

Diagnosis.

Tayshaneta valverdae may be separated from all other Tayshaneta species, except Tayshaneta emeraldae , Tayshaneta fawcetti , Tayshaneta grubbsi and Tayshaneta vidrio by having the male palpal tarsus divided apically (TS, Fig. 31D) and by having a mesoapically positioned ventral sclerite on the palpal bulb (VS, Fig. 49E). Separated from Tayshaneta emeraldae , Tayshaneta fawcetti , Tayshaneta grubbsi and Tayshaneta vidrio by the unique shape of the embolus with a prominent basal tooth (Fig. 49D).

Description.

Complete description in Gertsch (1974: 173). Habitus of male and female in Figs 28 A–F, scanning electron micrographs of male palp in Figs 49 A–F and female genitalia in Fig. 54C.

Distribution.

Known from caves and surface localities in Bandera, Uvalde and Val Verde Counties, Texas (Fig. 60).