Tayshaneta microps

Tayshaneta microps, synonym Neoleptoneta microps, is a rare species of spider in the family Leptonetidae known by the common name Government Canyon bat cave spider. It is endemic to Texas in the United States, where it is known from two caves in Bexar County. It is a troglobite, an animal which spends its entire life in caves. It is one of nine Bexar County troglobites which were listed as endangered species in 2000.[2]

Tayshaneta microps

Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Leptonetidae
Genus: Tayshaneta
Species:
T. microps
Binomial name
Tayshaneta microps
(Gertsch, 1974)[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Leptoneta microps Gertsch, 1974
  • Neoleptoneta microps (Gertsch, 1974)

The main threat to this and other local troglobites is the loss of their karst cave habitat.[2] The nine other listed Bexar County invertebrates include the Robber Baron cave meshweaver (Cicurina baronia), the Cokendolpher cave harvestman (Texella cokendolpheri), and the Madla cave meshweaver (Cicurina madla).

Description

Tayshaneta microps has a hard light brown bristle bearing shell known as a carapace. Its legs are elongated and thin covered in hair-like structures called setae with few scattered spines. Abdomen is pale to yellow-brown without any patterns and is also covered in setae.[3]

All numbers in millimeters (mm):

Body length: 1.35

Carapace (hard outer shell): 0.64 long, 0.56 wide and 1.13x width

Abdomen: 0.7 long, 0.54 wide

Life History

Since Tayshaneta microps is a troglobite, it is difficult for scientists to capture and study them. According to Professor Joel Ledford of UC Davis, for the most part there is no information currently available on Tayshaneta microps life history.

What we know:

Development (larval stage, nymph stage adult stage):

  • Egg sacs for another related species Tayshaneta only contained a few eggs.

Age of dispersal:

  • Tayshenata species live sedentary lives living mainly in webs for their whole life except for males who may sometimes leave upon maturity
  • Do not disperse far. Many of the spider species are only known from a single cave

Things to look for that are not yet available:

  • development growth rate
  • age and age and size at sexual maturity
  • reproductive cycle
  • timing of reproduction of offspring quality and quantity
  • annual dormancy

References
  1. "Taxon details Tayshaneta microps (Gertsch, 1974)". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  2. Neoleptoneta microps. The Nature Conservancy.
  3. Ledford, Joel; Paquin, Pierre; Cokendolpher, James; Campbell, Josh; Griswold, Charles (2012-01-23). "Systematics, conservation and morphology of the spider genus Tayshaneta (Araneae, Leptonetidae) in Central Texas Caves". ZooKeys. 167: 1–102. doi:10.3897/zookeys.167.1833. ISSN 1313-2970.


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