Aptostichus killerdana Bond 2012

Specimen preparation and condition. Female collected live from burrow, preserved in 70% EtOH. Genital plate removed, cleared in trypsin, stored in microvial with specimen. General coloration. Carapace, legs, chelicerae, dark yellowish brown 10YR 4/6. Abdomen lighter in color with distinct mottled striping (Fig. 213), ventral aspect, spinnerets pale yellow. Cephalothorax. Carapace 4.75 long, 4.10 wide, generally glabrous with few light dark, thin setae; smooth surface, pars cephalica moderately elevated. Fringe lacks setae, with dark purple coloration along margins. Foveal groove deep, slightly procurved to straight. Eye group elevated on low mound. AER slightly procurved, PER slightly recurved. PME, AME subequal diameter. Sternum widest at coxae II/III, moderately setose, STRl 3.08, STRw 2.65. Three pairs of sternal sigilla anterior pairs small, oval, marginal, posterior small, somewhat irregular shaped/elongate, positioned at midpoint from margin to center. Chelicerae anterior tooth row comprising 6 teeth with posterior margin denticle patch comprising two rows. Palpal endites with 28 cuspules concentrated at the inner (promargin) posterior heel; labium with 7 cuspules, LBw 0.97, LBl 0.51. Rastellum consists of 7 stout spines not positioned on mound, one spine separated laterally; fringe of short spines along distal promargin extending upward from rastellum. Abdomen. Moderately setose. PLS all 3 segments with spigots. Terminal segment 1/2 length of medial segment, 2 enlarged spigots visible at tip. PMS single segment, with spigots, short with rounded terminus. Legs. Anterior two pairs noticeably more slender than posterior pairs. Leg I 10.63 long. Tarsus I with single staggered row of 11 trichobothria. Pedipalp, leg I moderately heavy scopulae, lighter on leg II; extends to distal aspect of leg I tibia, only on tarsus, metatarsus of leg II; sparse scopulae on tarsus of legs III, IV. PTLs 16, TBs 3. Rudimentary preening comb on retrolateral distal surface (at tarsus - metatarsus joint) of metatarsus III, VI. Spermathecae. Simple, small spermathecal bulbs with elongate sclerotized stalk, with small laterally basal extension (Fig. 214). Variation (3). Cl 4.20-4.85, 4.60±0.20; Cw 3.45-4.10, 3.88±0.22; STRl 2.70-3.18, 2.99±0.15; STRw 2.00-2.65, 2.38±0.2; LBw 0.80-1.00, 0.92±0.06; LBl 0.50-0.60, 0.54±0.03; Leg I: 9.10-10.75, 10.16±0.53; ANTd 5-6, 5.67±0.33; PTLs 9-16, 11.33±2.33; TBs 2-3, 2.67±0.33.

Aptostichus killerdana is known only from the type locality in Orange County. The species was collected from a relatively low-lying, riparian habitat in the time interval from 1969-1971. Some point thereafter the area was developed and is now Monarch Beach Golf Links; the habitat was cleared and is now a golf course. Although classified as California coastal chaparral and scrub, photographs of the area prior to development seem to indicate that it was a relatively unique and pristine coastal riparian habitat. The location was also the southernmost known locality for Apomastus kristenae Bond, 2004, likewise a species that seems to have extirpated from the area. Extensive sampling in the low-lying areas around and above the golf resort has to date proven unsuccessful.