Spider burrows in ichnological context: a review of literature data and burrows of the wolf spider Trochosa hispanica Simon, 1870 from Albania

Abstract

A general review of spider burrows and history of their research in eighteenth to nineteenth centuries are provided on the basis of the literature, which is dispersed and almost forgotten by majority of ichnologists. Moreover, burrows of the wolf spider Trochosa hispanica Simon, 1870 from a mountain meadow in Albania are presented. They are composed of an almost straight through gently curved to slightly winding vertical shafts (8.2-17.2 mm in diameter) with a basal, oval chamber, which is 14.5-30.6 mm wide. Above the ground level, some of them show a low, agglutinated chimney a cone composed of soil granules. The burrows are 83-235 mm long. They are comparable with the trace fossil Macanopsis Macsotay, 1967. Other spider burrows can form a simple shaft, which may be ascribed to the ichnogenus Skolithos Haldeman, 1840, or a shaft with the side oblique branches, which is is similar to the ichnogenus Psilonichnus Fürsich, 1981. Many spider burrows show one or more chambers. Their outlet may be closed with a trapdoor or show a chimney sticking above the ground. They may show scratch traces running parallel to the burrow. The burrows are domiciles in which spiders spend a part of, or even the whole life. They protect spiders against harsh environmental conditions, foremost against too low or to high temperature, sheet floods, or predators. Moreover, they can be also a place for copulation, oviposition, parental care, placement of cocoons, or shedding the exuvia. Burrowing spider are more common in in warmer climatic zones, in open space, above the water ground level, and less common in flooded. So far, very few examples of fossil spider burrows are recognised, mostly in Cenozoic sediments, even if spiders are known since the Carboniferous.

Peer Review #1 of "Wolf spider burrows from a modern saline sandflat in central Argentina: morphology, taphonomy and clues for recognition of fossil examples (v0.1)"

“…8H). Manuscript to be reviewed 1980; Carrel, 2008;Suter, Stratton & Miller, 2011;Albín, Simó & Aisenberg, 2015;Hils & Hembree, 2015;Vrenozi & Uchman, 2015;Foelix et al, 2017;Uchman, Vrenozi & Muceku, 2017). In particular, the presence of a neck and downward widening seem to be a common feature in wolf spider burrows found in natural settings.…”

“…Silk lined burrows are unique in spiders and essentially impart stability in soft substrates to prevent collapse (Ratcliffe & Fagerstrom, 1980;Foelix et al 2017;Hils & Hembree, 2015) Manuscript to be reviewed wolf spider burrows (Uchman, Vrenozi & Muceku, 2017), well above those of all others arthropods that habit in the same environment.…”

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“…Burrow construction in spiders is considered a primary adaptation as a retreat from high temperatures and dry air conditions typical of arid environments (e.g., Cloudsley-Thompson, 1983;Punzo, 2000). Important functions as dwelling, nesting, mating, breeding, and foraging are also related to burrows (e.g., Marshall, 1996;Aisenberg, Viera & Costa, 2007;Hils & Hembree, 2015;Uchman, Vrenozi & Muceku, 2017).…”

“…In general, modern spider burrows consist of vertical or oblique, simple or branched vertical forms, sometimes with a terminal chamber, in some cases silk lined, and structures atop as trap doors or a turret can be found (e.g., Ractliffe & Fagerstrom, 1980;Bryson, 1939;Hils & Hembree, 2015;Uchman, Vrenozi & Muceku, 2017). Among the burrowing spiders, those of the wolf spiders (Lycosidae) tend to produce a nearly vertical burrow with or without a terminal chamber in flat terrain, whereas many trapdoor spider burrows (families Nemesiidae, Ctenizidae, Antrodiaetidae) are at an oblique angle and located on inclined surfaces (Uchman, Vrenozi & Muceku, 2017).…”

“…In general, modern spider burrows consist of vertical or oblique, simple or branched vertical forms, sometimes with a terminal chamber, in some cases silk lined, and structures atop as trap doors or a turret can be found (e.g., Ractliffe & Fagerstrom, 1980;Bryson, 1939;Hils & Hembree, 2015;Uchman, Vrenozi & Muceku, 2017). Among the burrowing spiders, those of the wolf spiders (Lycosidae) tend to produce a nearly vertical burrow with or without a terminal chamber in flat terrain, whereas many trapdoor spider burrows (families Nemesiidae, Ctenizidae, Antrodiaetidae) are at an oblique angle and located on inclined surfaces (Uchman, Vrenozi & Muceku, 2017). This simple morphology can be comparable to the ichnogenenera Skolithos Hadelman, 1840 or Cylindricum Linck, 1949(Smith et al, 2008Hils & Hembree, 2015;), the Y-shaped forms to Psilonichnus Fürsich, 1981 (Uchman, Vrenozi & Muceku, 2017), and those with a terminal chamber to Macanopsis Macsotay, 1967 (Hasiotis, 2006;Mikuś & Uchman, 2012;Hils & Hembree, 2015;Uchman, Vrenozi & Muceku, 2017).…”