Tayshaneta concinna (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 : 22-23

Tayshaneta concinna (Gertsch, 1974) Figs 16 A–C37A–F 53F56

Leptoneta concinna Gertsch 1974: 169.

Neoleptoneta concinna (Gertsch, 1974): Brignoli 1977: 216; Platnick 1986: 7; Cokendolpher and Reddell 2001: 46.

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

Type data.

Male holotype from Lost Gold Cave, 13 miles SW of Austin, Travis County, Texas, 27-May-1963, J. Reddell and B. Frank, 30.26N, 97.81W, (AMNH, examined).

Notes.

Gertsch (1974) included a single female specimen from Stark’s North Mine in Travis County as conspecific with Tayshaneta concinna although it is unclear which characters he based this decision upon. Stark’s North Mine is a unique feature in the Austin chalk formation and appears to be largely artificial, probably carved out by local residents. Recent inventories at the site have recovered additional Tayshaneta specimens, including adult males, which share the genitalic morphology of Tayshaneta concinna and are recovered as part of the concinna clade (Clade A, Fig. 4). Given the highly disturbed nature of the habitat, it is likely that Tayshaneta concinna also occurs on the surface. Although adult males are not available from the populations in Seibert Sink (Travis County) or County Line Bat Cave (Williamson County), molecular analyses support them as close relatives of Tayshaneta concinna and they are tentatively assigned to the species pending the discovery of males.

Other material examined.

USA: Texas: Travis County: Lost Gold Cave, 5mi. W. of Austin, 3-March-1985, J. Reddell, M. Reyes, 30.26N, 97.81W, 1 ♀, (AMNH); Lost Gold Cave, 5mi. W. of Austin, 24-November-2004, P. Paquin, 30.26N, 97.81W, 2 ♂, 2 ♀, (CASC); Seibert Sink (=Stinkin Sink), 1-January-1998, M. Sanders, 30.25N, 97.82W, 1 ♀, (TMM); Seibert Sink (=Stinkin Sink), 5-January-1998, M. Sanders, 30.25N, 97.82W, 2 ♀, (TMM, TTU); Stark’s North Mine, 9mi. NNE of Austin, 20-August-1963, W. Russell, 30.38N, 97.67W, 1 ♀, (AMNH); Stark’s North Mine, 9mi. NNE of Austin, 18-September-2000, J. Jenkins, 30.38N, 97.67W, 1 ♀, (TMM); Stark’s North Mine, 9mi. NNE of Austin, 21-November-2009, J. Ledford, P. Paquin, 30.38N, 97.67W, 1 ♂, 3 ♀, 1J (CASC).

Diagnosis.

Tayshaneta concinna may be separated from all Tayshaneta species that have a ventral sclerite, except Tayshaneta anopica , Tayshaneta oconnorae and T. sandersi, by the following combination of characters: male palpal tarsus undivided, tapering apically; male retrolateral tibial spine stout, sculptured throughout, length 0.4 × tarsus length (RTS, Fig. 37B); embolus curved distally and with basal tooth (E, Fig. 37D). Separated from Tayshaneta anopica , Tayshaneta oconnorae and T. sandersi by being darkly pigmented with large eyes (Fig. 16 A–C) and by the unique shape of the embolus (E, Fig. 37D).

Description.

Complete description in Gertsch (1974: 169-170). Habitus of male in Figs 16 A–C, scanning electron micrographs of male palp in Figs 37 A–F and female genitalia in Fig. 52F.

Distribution.

Known from three caves in Travis County, Texas (Fig. 54).

Natural History.

Individuals collected in Stark’s North Mine were found in small sheet webs at the base of chalk walls, rotting wood and breakdown material.