Leclercera niuqu Li et Li, 2018

Xu, Mingjie, Li, Fengyuan & Li, Shuqiang, 2018, Four new species of the spider genus Leclercera Deeleman-Reinhold (Araneae, Ochyroceratidae) from Nepal, Zootaxa 4461 (4), pp. 558-572 : 560-561

Leclercera niuqu Li et Li sp. nov.

Figs 3 , 8

Material examined. Holotype: Male (IZCAS-Ar 34331), Nepal, Mechi District, Bauwa , Bhanjyang , 27°04’03”N, 87°47’19”E, altitude 2659 m, 26 November 2016, Q. Y. Zhao leg. Paratype: 1 male, same data as holotype (IZCAS-Ar 34332).

Etymology. The species name comes from Chinese pinyin “ niuqu ” which means “irregular”, referring to the wave-shaped conductor of bulb; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Males of this new species resemble those of L. zhaoi Li et Li sp. nov. in having a conductor bifid with different sizes and a retrolateral tibial apophysis on the palp, but can be distinguished by the narrow, waveshaped distal part of the larger one ( Fig. 3A ) and the shorter retrolateral apophysis on the tibia ( Fig. 3C ).

Description. Male (holotype): Measurements: Total length 3.46; carapace length: 0.95, width: 1.05; abdomen length: 2.23, width: 1.15. Legs brown; measurements: I 11.39 (3.16, 0.47, 3.40, 2.96, 1.40), II 8.89 (2.81, 0.36, 2.72, 2.19, 0.81), III 6.75 (2.00, 0.31, 1.94, 1.72, 0.78), IV 9.62 (2.60, 0.36, 2.90, 2.48, 1.28). Carapace round, yellow, with one broad middle band and two narrow marginal bands. Anterior margin of thoracic region distinctly elevated. Six eyes. Chelicerae brown. Cheliceral promargin with lamina and one tooth, retromargin with two small teeth ( Fig. 8D ), the posterior surface of fang with 26 small denticles. Labium brown. Sternum yellow. Abdomen dark and elongate with complex patterns dorsally. Palp ( Figs 3A–D ): femur slender; tibia with one slightly curved spine and one apophysis bearing a spine retrolaterally; bulb pale yellow, ovate ( Fig. 3A ); conductor arising distally from bulb, divided into two unequal parts, one sharp and the other distinctly wave-shaped; embolus arising distally from bulb, oblique, slightly sigmoid. Embolus and conductor slightly separated (the distance is less than semidiameter of bulb).

Female: Unknown.

Variation. Males: carapace length: 0.92, 0.95, width: 1.20, 2.23, tibia I 3.16, 3.33.

Natural History. Collected in leaf litter of fragmented montane forest (mixed with tea garden) at an altitude of 2659 m.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 9 ).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Leclercera niuqu Li et Li sp. nov., male holotype. A. Right palpal bulb, ventral view; B. Right palp, dorsal view; C. Right palp, retrolateral view; D. Right palp, ventral view. CO = conductor; EM = embolus. The scale bar in figures 3B and 3C as in figure 3D.

FIGURE 8. Retromargin of chelicerae. A. Leclercera nagarjunensis Li et Li sp. nov.; B. L. sidai Li et Li sp. nov.; C. L. zhaoi Li et Li sp. nov.; D. L. niuqu Li et Li sp. nov. RT = retromarginal teeth.

FIGURE 9. Locality records for four new species of the genus Leclercera from Nepal.