''Aptostichus angelinajolieae'', the Angelina Jolie trapdoor spider, is a species of Euctenizidae,

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arthropods who seize their prey after leaping out of their burrows and inject it with venom. It was described by the

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professor Jason Bond in 2008, who named it after the

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

actress Angelina Jolie in recognition of her work on the

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. It was one of only seven described species of '' Aptostichus'' until 2012, when it was joined by Bono's Joshua Tree trapdoor spider and 32 other species.

Identification and distribution

Aptostichus angelinajolieae anatomy (Zookeys)

It is difficult to identify an individual as being an ''A. angelinajolieae'' specimen due to the species' morphological similarity to '' A. atomarius'' and '' A. stanfordianus''. A set of unique

mitochondrial DNA Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA or mDNA) is the DNA located in mitochondria, cellular organelles within eukaryotic cells that convert chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Mitochondrial D ...

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s sets the species apart and allows a diagnosis. ''A. angelinajolieae'' inhabits the north of Monterey County, California, restricted to the Santa Lucia Range west of the Salinas Valley, which probably serves as a dispersal barrier. Its ecoregion consists of

chaparral Chaparral ( ) is a shrubland plant community and geographical feature found primarily in the U.S. state of California, in southern Oregon, and in the northern portion of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. It is shaped by a Mediterranean c ...

forest and shrub. It is not found in the coastal dunes, which are the habitat of the geographically proximate but lighter colored '' A. stephencolberti''. Female specimens are normally seen on road cuts and humid, shaded steep banks. The species creates shallow burrows with a thin silk-soil trapdoor and white silken lined retreat.

Taxonomy

Due to the Salinas Valley barrier, there is no genetic exchangeability between ''Aptostichus angelinajolieae'' and other ''Aptostichus'' species. This and the species' exclusivity as a lineage in DNA studies makes it a cohesion species. ''A. angelinajolieae'' belongs to the ''Atomarius'' Sibling Species Complex along with the closely related species ''A. atomarius'', '' A. dantrippi'', '' A. miwok'', ''A. stanfordianus'' and ''A. stephencolberti''.

Conservation status

In addition to being widespread and abundant in its range, the Angelina Jolie trapdoor spider flourishes in moderately developed residential areas. Therefore, in terms of its conservation status, it is not considered to be a threatened species.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1394522 Euctenizidae Endemic fauna of California Spiders of the United States Fauna of the California chaparral and woodlands Natural history of the California Coast Ranges Natural history of Monterey County, California ~ Spiders described in 2008 Angelina Jolie Fauna without expected TNC conservation status

Identification and distribution

Taxonomy

Conservation status

See also

References