Talk:Trogloraptor

size
This source, which credits Griswold, Audisio and Ledford, says "With its legs outstretched, the spider measures up to 3 inches (8 centimeters) long." Is it not reliable? The scale in the expanded image seems consistent with the size, which is larger than that given in the article. μηδείς (talk) 04:12, 18 August 2012 (UTC)


 * That's a much better source. Thank you. The Zookeys article does not specify the leg span. Only the individual length of the legs.-- O BSIDIAN  †  S OUL  04:55, 18 August 2012 (UTC)

Lead
Strictly speaking, we don't know if "It is the sole genus in the family Trogloraptoridae, and includes only one species Trogloraptor marchingtoni." is true. There may be more than one genus and more than one species; they just haven't been found yet. I would change this but can't think of a reasonable way to do so. Illia Connell (talk) 17:52, 18 August 2012 (UTC)


 * We do know. Taxonomy requires that you publish a description of any new taxon first or at least offer incontrovertible proof of its existence (almost always a type specimen is required). Which is why while this was discovered in 2010, it only became "official" in 2012. Until a new species is described under it, it is speculation to imagine that it contains more than one. We could just as easily claim that there are two billion new species in the family as we could claim that there are two, they just haven't been found yet. We could give them imaginary names and make articles for them, but it still doesn't make them any more valid. See Species description, Alpha taxonomy, and the Principle of Typification. -- O BSIDIAN  †  S OUL  22:30, 18 August 2012 (UTC)


 * Got it. Thanks Illia Connell (talk) 23:22, 18 August 2012 (UTC)

Ecology
Is "Captured live specimens were raised in climate-controlled laboratory conditions ..." correct? Were these young specimens that were actually raised, or were they adults who were only kept in captivity? Illia Connell (talk) 18:14, 18 August 2012 (UTC)


 * "Kept" means nothing more than keeping them imprisoned, "raised" implies there was an attempt to let it follow its natural life history. The latter is more the case, and at least one specimen has molted to maturity in captivity, as mentioned in the journal article.-- O BSIDIAN  †  S OUL  22:30, 18 August 2012 (UTC)


 * Got it. Thanks Illia Connell (talk) 23:22, 18 August 2012 (UTC)

Congratulations
This is a great article, I was quite happy to see it on DYK. I hope it makes enough hits to be posted on the statistics page. Great work all around! μηδείς (talk) 00:44, 3 September 2012 (UTC)

Time travel
How did this spider give its name to animals before anyone knew it existed? Hyacinth (talk) 01:20, 3 September 2012 (UTC)
 * The genus name has not been applied to any other species. It has been used to set up the name of a biological family.  That is based on precedence.  It was the first discovered.  Close relatives that may be discovered from now on may or may not be assigned to that family.  How else could it work?  Names for groups of animals do not exist before anyone even knows they exist. μηδείς (talk) 02:46, 3 September 2012 (UTC)
 * The name has been chosen by Griswold, who also happens to preside the international society of Arachnology this year. Wakari07 (talk) 06:03, 2 October 2012 (UTC)