Scientists have discovered 33 new trapdoor spider species in Southwest
America belonging to the genus that includes a notable species named
after US President Barack Obama.
These newly described species belong to the genus Aptostichus that now
contains 40 famous species including Aptostichus barackobamai, named
after Obama.
Jason Bond, who is a trapdoor spider expert and director of the Auburn
University Museum of Natural History was excited at the prospect of such
a remarkable and large find of new species in the US.
“California is known as what is characterised as a biodiversity hotspot.
Although this designation is primarily based on plant diversity, the
region is clearly very rich in its animal diversity as well.
Like other trapdoor spider species, individuals are rarely seen because
they live their lives in below-ground burrows that are covered by
trapdoors, made by the spider using mixtures of soil, sand, or plant
material, and silk.
The trapdoor serves to hide the spider when it forages for meals at the burrow entrance, usually at night.
Aptostichus species are found in an amazing number of Californian
habitats to include coastal sand dunes, chaparral, desert, oak woodland
forests, and at high altitudes in the alpine habitats of the Sierra
Nevada mountain range.
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