Discovery of Trogloraptor Spider: A Case Study in Scientific Process

Introduction

• Citizen scientists from the Western Cave Conservancy discovered a large spider in southern Oregon.
• The spider was sent to scientists in California and declared a new species, Trogloraptor, and a new family of spiders.
• The scientific process is dynamic, unpredictable, and non-linear.

The Science Flowchart

• Developed by Judy and colleagues to explain the real process of science.
• Science is more like a pinball machine rather than a linear process.

Trogloraptor Discovery Process

Initial Examination

• Spider sent to scientist Tracy Odizio, who examined it and consulted with a colleague.
• Initial confusion—didn't match known spider characteristics.

Further Analysis

• Charles Griswold examined the spider; initial impression was incorrect (thought it was a brown recluse).
• All anatomical details were wrong for any known family.

Research and Hypotheses

• Compared the spider to descriptions of all known spider families and fossil records.
• Hypothesized it was a new family related to goblin spiders.

Community Collaboration

• Consulted with the scientific community for other opinions.
• The consensus was it was a previously unknown family.

Publishing Findings

• Wrote and sent the paper to anonymous scientists for peer review.
• Agreement received; confirmed the discovery.

Ongoing Research

• Continuous questioning and hypothesis testing on Trogloraptor characteristics.
• Studies on its respiratory system and claws.
• Anatomical studies by Facundo Labarca on the spider's feet.
• Phylogenetic studies led by a PhD student on haplogine spiders using molecular data.

Conclusion

• Trogloraptor spiders live in protected caves, indicating ongoing research potential.
• Science is an ongoing process – we all engage in science through observation, questioning, and communication.
• The case study demystifies science, showing it's accessible to everyone.