Antrodiaetus pacificus

(Simon, 1884)

Pacific Foldingdoor Spider

Antrodiaetus pacificus is a mygalomorph spider native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, ranging from San Francisco Bay to Alaska. It is the northernmost mygalomorph spider on the continent. The was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1884 under the name Brachybothrium pacificum. It constructs burrows in soft substrates and exhibits year-round activity with peak mating season between early June and late November.

Antrodiaetus pacificus m by G. Blagoev, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.Antrodiaetus pacificus by lcspiderlab. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Antrodiaetus pacificus: /ænˌtroʊdiˈiːtəs pəˈsɪfɪkəs/

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Identification

Distinguished from other Antrodiaetus by geographic distribution along the Pacific coast. The combination of dark , sclerotized abdominal patches, and burrow-building in cool, damp forest supports identification. Molecular data may be required to distinguish from cryptic species in the A. unicolor complex where ranges overlap.

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Appearance

dark brown to black. bears two to three sclerotized patches. Females approximately 13 mm in length; males approximately 11 mm in length.

Habitat

Cool, damp forest environments. Constructs burrows in soft substrates including sand, moss, or decaying wood.

Distribution

Pacific coast of North America from San Francisco Bay, California north to Alaska.

Seasonality

Active year-round with peak activity between late July and early September. Mating season occurs between early June and late November.

Diet

Predominantly beetles. Prey captured by waiting at burrow entrance after dark.

Life Cycle

brooded within burrow. occurs in burrow.

Behavior

ambush . Closes burrow entrance during daylight hours. Opens burrow at dusk and waits at entrance for prey. Constructs and maintains burrows in soft substrates.

Ecological Role

of ground-dwelling insects, particularly beetles. Burrowing activity may contribute to soil aeration and nutrient cycling in forest .

Similar Taxa

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Etymology

name from Greek 'antrodiaitos' (αντροδιαιτος), meaning 'living in caves', combining 'antron' (αντρον, 'cave') and 'diaita' (διαιτα, 'way of life, dwelling'). Specific epithet 'pacificus' refers to Pacific coast distribution.

Historical taxonomy

Originally described as Brachybothrium pacificum by Simon in 1884.

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