Leclercera sidai 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 : 561

Leclercera sidai Li et Li sp. nov.

Figs 4–5 , 8

Material examined. Holotype: Male (IZCAS-Ar 34333), Nepal, Mechi District, Mai Khola , 26°53’00”N, 87°55’41”E, altitude 470 m, 24 November 2016, Q. Y. Zhao leg. Paratype: 1 female, same data as holotype (IZCAS-Ar 34334).

Etymology. The specific name is from the Chinese pinyin for ribbon (Si Dai), in reference to the shape of conductor; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. This species is easily recognized from all other known species by the slender, upright conductor and embolus ( Fig. 4A ), and by the retrolateral apophysis on palpal tibia in males ( Figs 4B–D ). Females of this new species are similar to those of L. mulcatus comb. n. in having one spermathecae on arched, tubiform stalks on each side ( Fig. 5A ), but can be distinguished by a flattened base of the spermathecae, compared with a bulging base in L. mulcatus .

Description. Male (holotype): Measurements: Total length: 4.75; carapace length: 1.02, width: 1.05; abdomen length: 3.44, width: 0.92. Legs brown; measurements: II and IV missing, I 19.2 (5.64, 0.36, 5.51, 6.09, 1.60), III 8.55 (2.56, 0.25, 2.44, 2.34, 0.96). Carapace sub-circular, yellow, with one broad middle band and two narrow marginal bands ( Fig. 5C ). Anterior margin of the thoracic region distinctly elevated. Six eyes. Chelicerae brown. Cheliceral promargin with lamina and one tooth, retromargin with two small teeth ( Fig. 8B ), the posterior surface of fang with 22 small denticles. Fovea shallow. Labium brown. Sternum brown. Abdomen slender with complex patterns dorsally. Palp ( Figs 4A–D ): femur slender; tibia with apophysis retrolaterally; bulb pale yellow, ovate ( Fig. 4A ); conductor arising distally from bulb, slender, sigmoid, with swollen area basally; embolus arising distally from bulb, long, sigmoid. Embolus and conductor slightly separated (the distance is less than semidiameter of bulb).

Female: Measurements: total length: 2.56; carapace length: 0.85, width: 0.89; abdomen length: 1.58, width: 0.70. Leg measurements: IV missing, I 13.49 (3.59, 0.32, 3.91, 4.17, 1.50), II 9.59 (2.56, 0.28, 2.84, 2.76, 1.15), III 6.62 (1.78, 0.26, 1.88, 1.82, 0.88). Similar to male in coloration and general features ( Figs 5E–F ), but smaller. Abdomen globular ( Figs 5E–F ). External genital area simple. Internal genitalia with one pair of spermathecae on long and transparent stalks ( Fig. 5A ).

Natural History. Collected in leaf litter of broad leaved forest, with very high local humidity, at an altitude of 470 m.

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

Figures

FIGURE 4. Leclercera sidai 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 4B and 4C as in figure 4D.

FIGURE 5. Leclercera sidai Li et Li sp. nov., male holotype and female paratype. A. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; B. Female epigastric furrow, ventral view; C. Male habitus, dorsal view; D. Male habitus, ventral view; E. Female habitus, dorsal view; F. Female habitus, ventral view. SP = spermatheca. The scale bar in figure 5C as in figure 5D. The scale bar in figure 5F as in figure 5E.

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.