Paratropis tuxtlensis

Paratropis tuxtlensis is a species of spiders in the family Paratropididae. Discovered in 2014 by a group of researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico,[2] the species is only known to occur in the Volcán San Martin Biosphere Reserve in Veracruz, Mexico.[3]

Paratropis tuxtlensis
Female with egg sac
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Paratropididae
Genus: Paratropis
Species:
P. tuxtlensis
Binomial name
Paratropis tuxtlensis
Valdez-Mondragón, Mendoza & Francke, 2014[1]

Description

The holotype male measured 8.20 millimeters in length, and the paratype female measured 12.90 millimeters. When cleansed of soil (see Behavior, below) the body is reddish, with orange coloration on its chelicerae, sternum, endites, and labium. Legs are olive colored, and spinnerets are yellow.[4]

Paratropis tuxtlensis is distinguished from Paratropis papilligera, the only other species of Paratropis where the male is known, by its conical as opposed to cylindrical tibia and by the number of teeth in the cheliceral furrows: P. tuxtlensis has a total of 20 while P. papilligera has 24.[4]

The species has an orbiculate carapace and legs covered in barbed and clubbed setae.[4]

Range and habitat
Paratropis tuxtlensis habitat and microhabitat under boulders (arrow)

Paratropis tuxtlensis is the first member of the family Paratropididae to be found in North America.[2] It is native to tropical rainforest in Veracruz, Mexico. The first recorded specimens were discovered under rocks at an elevation of 1,039 metres (3,409 ft); two more individuals were collected nearby at a lower elevation.[4]

Etymology

The species name P. tuxtlensis is derived from Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, the only place to date where it has been found.[5]

Behavior
Male P. tuxtlensis, showing body encrusted with soil particles

Paratropis tuxtlensis excretes a sticky substance from glandular pores in its exoskeleton, which helps particles of soil adhere to its body. This most likely serves as a form of camouflage to conceal it from both predators and prey.[4] When exposed, the spider remains completely motionless in order to avoid detection.[4][6]

References
  1. Norman I. Platnick (June 16, 2014). "FAM. PARATROPIDIDAE Simon, 1889". The World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  2. "A new spider species with a dirt armour has been discovered". ScienceAlert. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  3. "New Species of Spider with Strange Camouflage Discovered in Mexico". Sci-News.com. Jun 24, 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  4. Valdez-Mondragón, Alejandro; Mendoza, Jorge I.; Francke, Oscar F. (16 June 2014). "First record of the mygalomorph spider family Paratropididae (Arachnida, Araneae) in North America with the description of a new species of Paratropis Simon from Mexico, and with new ultramorphological data for the family". ZooKeys. Pensoft Publishers (416): 1–21. doi:10.3897/zookeys.416.7253. PMC 4109506. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  5. "A new spider species from Mexico uses soil particles for camouflage". Phys.org. Jun 23, 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  6. "Spider Discovered in Mexico Uses Encrusted Soil Particles for Camouflage". Science, Space & Robots. June 23, 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
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