Dr. Manju Siliwal, email: manjusiliwal@gmail.com

Dr. Marshal Hedin, email: mhedin@mail.sdsu.edu

Jeremy Miller

This species endemic to southern Buenos Aires province, Argentina, is only found in grassland of mountainous systems in this region. The species was originally described for two sites (Cerro Negro and Fortín Chaco) from Tornquist locality at the Ventania mountain system and two sites (La Barrosa and Sierra de la Cruz) from Balcarce locality at the Tandilia mountain system. These records correspond to the original publication of Schiapelli and Gerschman de Pikelín, 1975. From that historic records, recent field campaings allowed to us to record specimens from only one site at Tandilia mountanious system (La Barrosa). Additionally, the species was also found in three new sites: Funke and Hinojo (Ventania) and Paititi (Tandilia), all of them located near original collection sites. Despite our extensive study of C. simoni specimens (those from Ferretti et al. 2014a) together with the examination of material stored in Museums (MACN, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina and LZI, Laboratorio de Zoología de Invertebrados II, Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina) and original records (Ferretti in prep.), we have not been able to find additional records of C. simoni outside these small areas. Given the species rarity and the extensive studies (Ferretti et al. 2012, Ferretti et al. 2014a, Ferretti et al. 2014b) carried out to identify its geographical range, we used the new observed and confirmed occurrence records (Funke, Hinojo, La Barrosa and Paititi) to calculate both the extent of occurrence (EOO) and the area of occupancy (AOO), using a 2x2 km grid, as implemented in the red R package (Cardoso 2017).

Calathotarsus simoni is endemic to the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, limited to grasslands of mountain systems. The species is recorded in two nearby localities in the mountain system of Ventania and two other in the system of Tandilia.

This species only inhabits mountainous grassland in southern Buenos Aires province. Due to its microhabitat requirements, C. simoni is not able to occupy the plains and meadows between the two mountain systems where it is known from. Much of its range is currently being invaded by alien woody plants into relict native grasslands, comprising an important threat to its populations (Zalba and Villamil 2002). The range is also impacted by intensive cattle production (Pucheta et al. 1998) and overgrazing by feral horses (Zalba and Cozzani 2004), both of which negatively affect the species through microhabitat modification.

Due to specific habitat requirements, the populations are restricted to just some particular environments inside the species range. The species only survives in hilly and rocky grassland areas at about 500-1500 meters above sea level. The areas where C. simoni lives comprise steep shaded slopes with a moist substrate with particular moss species where the spiders are able to build their burrows (Schiapelli and Gerschman de Pikelín 1973, Ferretti et al. 2014a). A recent invasion of alien tree species (e.g. Pinus halepensis) can clearly promote changes in the substrate conditions and microenvironment (Zalba et al. 2008). In addition, no individuals were found at some of the original collection sites and from the Argentinean scientific collections revised, only 10 individuals were found after its description (all from a single site).

Two locations are identified due to the invasion of the species habitat by alien woody plants, exotic tree and shrub species with a consequent modification and loss of the native habitat. Given the proximity of some of the sites the invading species are covering multiple sites following single introduction events.

No locations were lost during the last 10 years or three generations, so we can infer a stable number of locations.

Four subpopulations are known for this species. Two subpopulations are located at the Ventania mountain system Fig. 4 and the other two subpopulations are located at the Tandilia mountain system.

Figure 4.  

Habitat of C. simoni in Ventania

Ferretti et al. (2014a) highlighted the rarity of this species in nature and the specific microclimatic conditions that it needs to survive. A decrease in AOO is related to a recent invasion of alien tree species (e.g. Pinus halepensis) that clearly promotes changes in the substrate conditions and microenvironment (Zalba and Villamil 2002). Despite the effort to locate some of the subpopulations reported on the original description of the species, for example inside the Ernesto Tornquist Provincial Park, no individuals were found after two consecutive years of surveys (Ferretti et al. 2012). Only about 50% of burrows studied by Ferretti et al. (2014a) were occupied by adult individuals, all of these being females. During subsequent field campaigns, only one adult male was seen and that corresponded to a juvenile specimen later molting in laboratory conditions. This could be due to the short life span of males, as for other trapdoor species they are short-lived wandering when adulthood is reached (Gupta et al. 2015).

This species is very rare on nature and very difficult to find due to the specific microclimatic conditions that it needs. It only inhabits steep shaded and very humid slopes, with burrows only found in association to some particular species of mosses Fig. 5.

Figure 5.  

Aggregation of trapdoors of C. simoni in nature

Habitat loss, fragmentation and modification comprise the major threats and could cause local extirpations in the near future. The mountain systems of Ventania and Tandilia show the highest intensities across Argentina of woody species invasions. These regions were totally treeless at the end of the nineteenth century (Spegazzini 1896) corresponding to the native grassland habitat, but at the present time they are populated by numerous exotic tree and shrub species. Pines were originally planted in these areas during the 1950s, with trees clustered in small plantations and also spread along trails and roadsides. Currently, the locations of C. simoni are undergoing severe invasion by those trees that deeply transform the structure and composition of native grasslands and can also enhance the invasion by other exotic species (Zalba et al. 2008).

The mean density of adults recorded on a steep slope was 0.01/m2 and mean density of juveniles was 0.009/m2 (Ferretti et al. 2014a). The trapdoor is relatively thick and rigid with beveled edges and, when closed, its edges fit snugly into the tough entrance rim, which flares outward to form a complementary bevel. The door is connected to the entrance rim by a narrow but firmly articulated hinge. The entrance rim is usually nearly flush with the surrounding soil. Its inner surface is covered with a thick, tough white layer of silk, and its outer surface, which is made of soil with abundant mosses and lichens, resembles the surrounding ground surface. Most of the burrows extended roughly straight back into the soil accumulated between rocks of a hillside, approximately perpendicular to the surface Fig. 6. Data on reproduction biology are scarce. Females build spherical egg sacs, containing approximately 20 eggs. Juveniles emerge during November and December, the spring and summer seasons. From the work carried out by (Ferretti et al. 2014a) in a study area of about 2350 m², a number of 30 adult individual (just females) was reported, based on active searching for burrows and using pitfall traps. Adult males of this species are extremely hard to find and nothing is known about the courtship and mating behavior of this species.

Figure 6.  

Burrow shape of a juvenile of C. simoni

See “Extent of occurrence”

This species occurs near the “Ernesto Tornquist” Provincial Park in Ventania. However, no specimens were found inside this natural reserve (Ferretti et al. 2012). In Tandilia mountain system, one location is protected under a recently created private natural reserve. The area management inside these natural reserves involving reduction of alien species invasion (such as pines) could possibly increase the area if adequate habitat (Cuevas and Zalba 2010). Also, the installation of informative panels educating the visitors and public talks to park rangers about this rare endemic species could increase the awareness of the mountain grassland as a natural habitat that deserves protection.