| Califorctenus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Ctenidae |
| Genus: | Califorctenus |
| Species: | C. cacachilensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Califorctenus cacachilensis Jiménez, Berrian, Polotow & Palacios-Cardiel, 2017[1] | |
Califorctenus is a genus of spiders in the familyCtenidae. It was first described in 2017 by Jiménez, Berrian, Polotow, and Palacios-Cardiel.[2] As of 2017[update], it contains only one species,Califorctenus cacachilensis, also known as the Sierra Cacachilas wandering spider.[1][3]
Califorctenus cacachilensis is named after theSierra de las Cacachilas mountain range inBaja California Sur, where it was first found in anabandoned mine by Michael Wall and Jim Berrian, researchers from theSan Diego Natural History Museum, during an expedition on November 4, 2013.[4][5][6]
We think it's a new species. The spider, from leg to leg, is aboutsoftball-sized. Its abdomen is the size of twoquarters. It's like a small-sizedtarantula, but much daintier, not as husky. It's quite bald, and its abdomen is mustard brown withiridescence.
— Michael Wall, 2014Union-Tribune article[4]
Subsequent collaboration with María Jimenez, anentomologist fromMexico who identified it as a member of theCtenidae or wandering spider family, confirmed it was a new species and genus.[6][7] Berrian initially noted shed exoskeletons during the 2013 expedition, and eventually found two dozen spiders, bringing eight back to San Diego for further study.[7] He received a spider bite during the expedition, which he described as "like being poked by a cactus spine and a little mild pain."[7]
Finally we stopped at an abandoned mine and were led down the shaft by the mine manager. There were no plants there in the darkness, but our headlights soon revealed treasures amongst the overwhelming numbers of cockroaches! There was a mouse on her nest and what might be a new species of large cave spider (according to arachnologist Jim Berrian). Going deeper into the mine shaft we found the bats, and bat expert Drew Stokes caught a lesser long-nosed bat.