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Photo#372656
Female Aptostichus sp.? - Aptostichus atomarius - female

Female Aptostichus sp.? - Aptostichus atomarius - Female
Santa Barbara County, California, USA
February 21, 2010
Size: legspan ~1.5"
Found silk lined tube under rock, excavated ~6" to find spider, bottom 1" of tube filled solid with earwig remains, tube unbranched. Rock under which the spider was found was in the middle of a trail bisecting mixed coast live oak and central coast scrub habitat.

Moved
Moved from Aptostichus.

Aptostichus atomarius
I found another Aptostichus today so I consulted: Phylogenetic treatment and taxonomic revision of the trapdoor spider genus Aptostichus Simon (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Euctenizidae) by Jason E. Bond available for download at:
http://www.pensoft.net/journals/zookeys/article/3588/phylogenetic-treatment-and-taxonomic-revision-of-the-trapdoor-spider-genus-aptostichus-simon-araneae-%C2%A0mygalomorphae-euc and going through the specimen records for spiders with distributions in Santa Barbara County, I found a spider I had sent Jason Bond from Vandenberg (where this female was photographed) identified as Aptostichus atomarius. Under the notes on identification for A. atomarius it says they: "...tend to have carapace and legs with an orange tint whereas other sympatric species (e.g., Aptostichus icenoglei) have darker leg and carapace coloration." Given this spider's locality and appearance, I'm thinking she's A. atomarius.

 
Range
It seems the only two species in range are A. atomarius and A. simus. A. simus is a dune obligate which doesn't fit with this spider habitat wise and the new spider I found 5/27/14 (another A. atomarius) definitely lacks the endite cuspules that characterize A. simus.

 
possible Aptostichus atomarius
Thanks, Alice! I think you're probably right on that ID. I was going to move it to that species, but decided it wouldn't hurt to get Dr. Hedin's opinion first, just to be sure. I sent him an email (I think he checks these mygals eventually, but an email might bring it to his attention quicker.)

Moved
Moved from Mygalomorphs.

very nice image, great find! there are several species in the SB area, which makes determination of this female difficult. dr jason bond is nearing completion of a generic revision - when this becomes available, it may be possible to get a species ID.....

Moved
Moved from ID Request. Our experts are more likely to find this nice image here, I believe...

She's a beaut!
I'm still working on becoming more familiar with the wonderful mygalomorph spiders, but I would say there's a good chance your ID is correct. I personally would have to look at it more closely to be sure... but I'm sure that between Brent Hendrixson and Marshal Hedin, you will get a more definite answer. I do know that Aptostichus burrows are *usually* branched, but I'm sure that the lack of branching in the burrow of your specimen could be due to many variables. Beautiful photo! I'll cross my fingers for you! I'm sure Marshal and Brent will see it eventually.

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