"We knew that these lineages across the coast of California were really different from each other and had been separated for a very long time," said Jochim, a researcher in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at UC Davis. The spiders pose no risk to humans, Jochim said. Though our activities can pose a risk to them. "These spiders are not scary," she said. "They mind their own business and [generally] stay in their burrows ... They live in a really important and fragile ecosystem - the coastal dunes of California. So, it's really important to protect their habitat."
"Development, erosion and sea level rise threaten dunes. Knowing which species are in an area can help conservationists focus their efforts on preserving habitat. Professor Jason Bond, who heads Jochim's research group, chose the spider's name. He's named several species after celebrities, musicians and politicians, including Aptostichus stephencolberti or Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi and Aptostichus barackobamai."
"Hidden beneath California's coastal dunes, a newly identified spider species - Aptostichus ramirezae - reveals how evolution thrives even in fragile, shifting sands. (Courtesy of Emma Jochim/UC Davis)"
Aptostichus ramirezae is a newly identified trapdoor spider species inhabiting California coastal dunes and distinct from the similar Aptostichus simus. Genetic analyses revealed that lineages along the coast have been separated for a very long time, indicating deep evolutionary divergence. The spiders are small, harmless to humans, and typically remain in burrows within fragile dune ecosystems. Coastal dunes face threats from development, erosion, and sea-level rise, and mapping species distributions can help prioritize habitat protection. The species name honors a noted arachnologist and reflects taxonomic naming practices.
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