''Aphonopelma hollyi'', also known as the Lubbock gold tarantula, is considered by some sources to be a species of

tarantula Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,040 species have been identified, with 156 genera. The term "tarantula" is usually used to describe members of the family Theraphosidae, although ...

native to

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

in the United States. Described in 1995, the scientific name honors the 1950s rock-and-roll singer

Buddy Holly Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959), known as Buddy Holly, was an American singer and songwriter who was a central and pioneering figure of mid-1950s rock and roll. He was born to a musical family in Lubbock, Texas ...

. Other sources suggest spiders given this name are actually ''

Aphonopelma hentzi The Texas brown tarantula, also known as Oklahoma brown tarantula or Missouri tarantula (''Aphonopelma hentzi''), is one of the most common species of tarantula living in the Southern United States today. Texas brown tarantulas can grow to leg ...

''.

Taxonomy

The species was described in 1995, based on a single adult male specimen from

Lubbock, Texas Lubbock ( ) is the 10th-most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of government of Lubbock County. With a population of 260,993 in 2021, the city is also the 85th-most populous in the United States. The city is in the northw ...

. The

holotype A holotype is a single physical example (or illustration) of an organism, known to have been used when the species (or lower-ranked taxon) was formally described. It is either the single such physical example (or illustration) or one of several ...

(i.e. the specimen on which the description was based) has been lost. A 2016 monograph of the genus '' Aphonopelma'' in the United States suggests that the specimen was actually ''

'', but in the absence of the holotype, treats ''Aphonopelma hollyi'' as a

nomen dubium In binomial nomenclature, a ''nomen dubium'' (Latin for "doubtful name", plural ''nomina dubia'') is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application. Zoology In case of a ''nomen dubium'' it may be impossible to determine whether a s ...

(i.e. a doubtful name). Based on morphology, ''A. hollyi'' was considered to be closely related to a group of ''Aphonopelma'' species including ''A. hentzi''. A study of DNA also suggested a close relationship to ''A. hentzi'', in accordance with the suggestion that the holotype was actually this species.

Etymology

''Aphonopelma hollyi'' was described as a new species by arachnologist Andrew M. Smith in 1995, based on a single male specimen collected in

in 1981, and housed at

Oklahoma State University Oklahoma (; Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a state in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, New ...

. Smith named the new species after

, who was born in Lubbock.

Description

Measurements of males are known from the male

specimen, with a body length of , and a

carapace A carapace is a Dorsum (biology), dorsal (upper) section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods, such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates, such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tor ...

of 18x17 mm. The longest legs (the fourth or rearmost pair) are 60 mm long, and the jaws are 5 mm long. The pedipalps bear four spines, and the first walking legs bear two. The color in alcohol preserved specimens is brown with gold or bronze hairs on the carapace, and light reddish brown hairs on the legs and abdomen. Female measurements were not included with the original description, but attain masses exceeding 10 grams.

Distribution and habitat

Lubbock gold tarantulas are known from Lubbock and Briscoe counties, in Northern Texas, and occur in mixed grassland and scrub woodland among grass hillsides.

Behavior

Like other '' Aphonopelma'' species, ''A. hollyi'' juveniles and adults construct burrows. In a 14-month study conducted in the mid 2000s, ''A. hollyi'' became the first wild spiders studied with implanted

passive integrated transponder Radio-frequency identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. An RFID system consists of a tiny radio transponder, a radio receiver and transmitter. When triggered by an electrom ...

(PIT) tags, which were inserted into the body to allow for redetection. This study found high rates of burrow abandonment over the period, with monthly precipitation being the dominant predictor for abandonment, although it is unclear if the annual patterns are typical of the species or simply local responses to areas prone to flooding. A separate study using radio telemetry in July, 2007, indicated adults spent up to 96% of their time in burrows, and when exited moved only short distances (no more than from burrow) before returning.

References

External links

Photograph: Female ''Aphonopelma hollyi'' at her burrow
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2801978 hollyi Fauna of the Southwestern United States Spiders of the United States Spiders described in 1995 Buddy Holly