Baltocteniza
Encyclopedia
Baltocteniza is an extinct monotypic
genus
of trapdoor spider
in the Ctenizidae subfamily Ctenizinae and at present, it contains the single species Baltocteniza kulickae. The genus is solely known from the Early Eocene Baltic amber
deposits in the Baltic Sea
region of Europe.
, number "no. 12 845". It is a single subadult female individual preserved in a clear amber specimen. The amber specimen was identified as significant while the authors of the type description were examining specimens in the collections housed at the Museum of Earth, Polish Academy of Sciences
in Warsaw, Poland. B. kulickae was first studied by Kirill Eskov and Sergei Zonstein, with their 2000 type description being published in the Russian Paleontological Journal
. The generic
name was coined by Eskov and Zonstein as a combination of "Baltic" and Cteniza
, the modern trapdoor spider genus for which the family was named. This is in reference to the Baltic Sea where the type specimen was found and the genus that Baltocteniza is possibly related. The specific epithet "kulickae" was designated by K. Eskov and S. Zonstein in honour of the late Dr. Roza Kulicka, in whose care the specimen was found.
are included in the measurement. Of that length the carapace
is 1.13 millimetre (0.0444881889763779 in) and the abdomen
is 1.75 millimetre (0.0688976377952756 in). The shape and general structure of the carapace indicates a close relationship to the modern genus Latouchia of Asia and the coeval Electrocteniza
also known only from Baltic amber. The shape of the tubercle in Baltocteniza is unlike that found in most modern genera of Ctenizidaeforms the major difference between Baltocteniza, Electrocteniza and Latouchia. Electrocteniza, in general, has a more notably raised eye tubercle
then Latouchia while Baltocteniza has a much more curved anterior side of the tubercle than either of the other two genera.
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of trapdoor spider
Trapdoor spider
Trapdoor spiders are medium-sized mygalomorph spiders that construct burrows with a cork-like trapdoor made of soil, vegetation and silk. Some similar species are also called trapdoor spiders, such as the Liphistiidae, Barychelidae, Cyrtaucheniidae and some Idiopidae and Nemesiidae...
in the Ctenizidae subfamily Ctenizinae and at present, it contains the single species Baltocteniza kulickae. The genus is solely known from the Early Eocene Baltic amber
Baltic amber
The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic amber or succinite, with about 80% of the world's known amber found there. It dates from 44 million years ago...
deposits in the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
region of Europe.
History and classification
Baltocteniza kulickae is known only from one fossil, the holotypeHolotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
, number "no. 12 845". It is a single subadult female individual preserved in a clear amber specimen. The amber specimen was identified as significant while the authors of the type description were examining specimens in the collections housed at the Museum of Earth, Polish Academy of Sciences
Polish Academy of Sciences
The Polish Academy of Sciences, headquartered in Warsaw, is one of two Polish institutions having the nature of an academy of sciences.-History:...
in Warsaw, Poland. B. kulickae was first studied by Kirill Eskov and Sergei Zonstein, with their 2000 type description being published in the Russian Paleontological Journal
Paleontological Journal
Paleontological Journal is a monthly peer-reviewed Russian journal of paleontology established in 1967. It focuses on the paleontology and the fossil records of Eastern Europe and Asia. Articles are published simultaneously in Russian and English.The journal is edited by Alexei Yu...
. The generic
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
name was coined by Eskov and Zonstein as a combination of "Baltic" and Cteniza
Cteniza
Cteniza is a small genus of Old World mygalomorph spiders in the family Ctenizidae.-Species:* Cteniza brevidens * Cteniza ferghanensis Kroneberg, 1875...
, the modern trapdoor spider genus for which the family was named. This is in reference to the Baltic Sea where the type specimen was found and the genus that Baltocteniza is possibly related. The specific epithet "kulickae" was designated by K. Eskov and S. Zonstein in honour of the late Dr. Roza Kulicka, in whose care the specimen was found.
Description
Baltocteniza kulickae is 3.38 millimetre (0.133070866141732 in) in length when the cheliceraeChelicerae
The chelicerae are mouthparts of the Chelicerata, an arthropod subphylum that includes arachnids, Merostomata , and Pycnogonida . Chelicerae are pointed appendages which are used to grasp food, and are found in place of the chewing mandibles most other arthropods have...
are included in the measurement. Of that length the carapace
Carapace
A carapace is a dorsal 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 tortoises, the underside is called the plastron.-Crustaceans:In crustaceans, the...
is 1.13 millimetre (0.0444881889763779 in) and the abdomen
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
is 1.75 millimetre (0.0688976377952756 in). The shape and general structure of the carapace indicates a close relationship to the modern genus Latouchia of Asia and the coeval Electrocteniza
Electrocteniza
Electrocteniza is an extinct monotypic genus of Trapdoor spider in the Ctenizidae subfamily Ctenizinae and at present, it contains the single species Electrocteniza sadilenkoi...
also known only from Baltic amber. The shape of the tubercle in Baltocteniza is unlike that found in most modern genera of Ctenizidaeforms the major difference between Baltocteniza, Electrocteniza and Latouchia. Electrocteniza, in general, has a more notably raised eye tubercle
Tubercle
A tubercle is generally a wart-like projection, but it has slightly different meaning depending on which family of plants or animals it is used to refer to....
then Latouchia while Baltocteniza has a much more curved anterior side of the tubercle than either of the other two genera.