Surface soil type preference for burrowing of the endangered and endemic trapdoor spider Calathotarsus simoni (Araneae: Migidae)

PANCHUK JUSTINA; FERRETTI NELSON

Arachnology

British Arachnological Society

Lugar: North Wales; Año: 2018 vol. 2018 p. 364 - 366

2050-9928

Calathotarsus simoni Schiapelli & Gerschman, 1975 is an endemic and rare trapdoor spider that lives exclusively in the mountainous systems of southern Buenos Aires province, central Argentina. In previous studies, authors suggested the preference of this species to a particular soil surface type. Thus, we hypothesized that this species differs in its responses to the soil surface type for burrow construction. To test this, we placed 26 adult females in chambers providing two choices (soilwith moss and without moss) and compared the proportions of observations in each to evaluate species preference. Calathotarsus simoni significantly preferred the soil with moss. We observed a remarkable behaviour before the construction ofthe burrow when spiders were at the soil with moss. Finally, we discuss the possible ecological significances of this preference.