Aptostichus angelinajolieae
Aptostichus angelinajolieae, the Angelina Jolie trapdoor spider, is a species of Euctenizidae, nocturnal arthropods who seize their prey after leaping out of their burrows and inject it with venom. It was described by the Auburn University professor Jason Bond in 2008, who named it after the American actress Angelina Jolie in recognition of her work on the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. It was one of only seven described species of "Aptostichus" until 2012, when it was joined by Bono's Joshua Tree trapdoor spider and 32 other species. Identification and distribution. It is difficult to identify  an individual as being an "A. angelinajolieae" specimen due to the species' morphological similarity to "A. atomarius" and "A. stanfordianus". A set of unique mitochondrial DNA nucleotide substitutions sets the species apart and allows a diagnosis. "A. angelinajolieae" inhabits the north of Monterey County, California, restricted to the Santa Lucia Range west of the Salinas Valley, which probably serves as a dispersal barrier. Its ecoregion consists of chaparral forest and shrub. It is not found in the coastal dunes, which are the habitat of the geographically proximate but lighter colored "A. stephencolberti". Female specimens are normally seen on road cuts  and humid, shaded steep banks. The species creates shallow burrows with a thin silk-soil trapdoor and white silken lined retreat. Taxonomy. Due to the Salinas Valley barrier, there is no genetic exchangeability between "Aptostichus angelinajolieae" and other "Aptostichus" species. This and the species' exclusivity as a lineage in DNA studies makes it a cohesion species. "A. angelinajolieae" belongs to the "Atomarius" Sibling Species Complex along with the closely related species "A. atomarius", "A. dantrippi", "A. miwok", "A. stanfordianus" and "A. stephencolberti". Conservation status. In addition to being widespread and abundant in its range, the Angelina Jolie trapdoor spider flourishes  in moderately developed residential areas. Therefore, in terms of its conservation status, it is not considered to be a threatened species.