Apomastus
Bond & Opell, 2002
Apomastus is a of mygalomorph in the Euctenizidae, to southern California and described in 2002. The genus contains only two , A. kristenae and A. schlingeri, both restricted to the Los Angeles Basin and surrounding hills. Females of both species are morphologically indistinguishable, requiring molecular or male morphological analysis for identification. The genus occupies highly vulnerable to urban development.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Apomastus: /æpəˈmæstəs/
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Identification
Females of the two are morphologically indistinguishable; species-level identification requires examination of male or molecular analysis (mitochondrial c oxidase I sequences). The can be distinguished from other euctenizids by its restricted geographic range and specific morphological characters described in Bond (2004).
Habitat
Restricted to the Los Angeles Basin, San Juan Mountains, and San Joaquin Hills of southern California. Occupies fragile subject to rapid urban encroachment.
Distribution
to southern California, United States. Known from the Los Angeles Basin, San Juan Mountains, and San Joaquin Hills.
Human Relevance
concern due to loss from urban development in the Los Angeles region. Subject of research combining molecular and morphological to resolve boundaries and assess viability.
More Details
Taxonomic history
Originally described as with A. schlingeri as . A second species, A. kristenae, was described in 2004 based on combined geographic, morphological, and molecular data. The was transferred from Cyrtaucheniidae to Euctenizidae following -level revisions.
Molecular taxonomy
Mitochondrial c oxidase I sequences have been used to infer and resolve identity, though conflicts between and Bayesian analyses raise questions about species delineation and paraphyly.