Nesticella falcata, Liu, Jie & Li, Shuqiang, 2013

Liu, Jie & Li, Shuqiang, 2013, New cave-dwelling spiders of the family Nesticidae (Arachnida, Araneae) from China, Zootaxa 3613 (6), pp. 501-547 : 511-512

Nesticella falcata new species

Figs 9–12 , 39

Type material: Holotype male, 47 male and 57 female paratypes, CHINA: Guizhou Province, Panxian County, Biyun Cave (25º46.527´N, 104º38.278´E, Altitude: 1468 m, Air Temperature: 14 ºC, Air Humidity: 92%), 13 April 2007, Yucheng Lin & Jie Liu leg.

Etymology: The species name is taken from the Latin adjective falcatus (“sickle-shaped”) and refers to the falcate branch of the dorsal process of the paracymbium of this species.

Diagnosis: N. falcata is similar to Nesticella buicongchieni (Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980) in having a similar paracymbium with four branches and similar vulva structure, but can be distinguished from the latter by the very distinct pattern of abdomen of N. buicongchieni (absent in N. falcata ) and by the almost U-shaped terminal apophysis of N. falcata , different from that of N. buicongchieni ( Figs 9–12 ).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 2.56. Prosoma length 1.24, width 1.08; Opisthosoma length 1.28, width 1.24. Eye measurements: AME 0.08; ALE 0.1; PME 0.1; PLE 0.1; AME-AME 0.02; AME-ALE 0.03; ALE- PLE 0.01; PME-PME 0.1; PME-PLE 0.05. Clypeus height 0.27. Leg formula: I, IV, II, III; leg measurements: I: 6.92 (2.2, 0.32, 2.2, 1.88, 0.32); II: 5.16 (1.48, 0.36, 1.28, 1.2, 0.84); III: 4.28 (1.4, 0.24, 1.04, 1.04, 0.56); IV: 6.4 (2.12, 0.4, 1.72, 1.44, 0.72). Somatic characters see Fig. 11 A. Palpal tibia short, with three trichobothria.

Paracymbium short, with four branches; ventral process having two branches, proximal one larger than distal one, close to each other; dorsal process having two branches, these branches close to each other, the larger branch falcate. Terminal apophysis developed, almost U-shaped, with two apexes, the proximal apex blunt, the distal apex slightly sharp. Conductor simple, long, trapeziform distally. Embolus filiform, semicircular ( Figs 9 A–C, 10A, 11).

Female (paratype): Total length 3.32. Prosoma length 1.28, width 1.2; Opisthosoma length 1.88, width 2.16. Eye measurements: AME 0.06; ALE 0.08; PME 0.1; PLE 0.08; AME-AME 0.03; AME-ALE 0.05; ALE-PLE 0.02; PME-PME 0.1; PME-PLE 0.06. Clypeus height 0.26. Leg formula: I, IV, II, III; leg measurements: I: 7.92 (2.32, 0.44, 2.24, 2.04, 0.88); II: 5.6 (1.72, 0.36, 1.4, 1.36, 0.76); III: 4.4 (1.44, 0.4, 0.92, 1.16, 0.48); IV: 6.16 (2.04, 0.44, 1.68, 1.44, 0.56). Somatic characters see Fig. 12 A. In ventral view, epigynum with a short scape; copulatory openings originating at lateral sides of the scape. Vulva slightly shorter than wide; copulatory ducts extending from copulatory openings to the spermathecae, with about three coils; spermathecae global, situated anteriorly and laterally ( Figs 9 D, 10B–C, 12).

Distribution: Known only from type locality ( Fig. 39 ).

Figures

FIGURE 9. Nesticella falcata n. sp. A. Male pedipalp, ventral; B. Same, retrolateral; C. Same, dorsal; D. Epigynum, ventral. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 10. Nesticella falcata n. sp. A. Male pedipalp, prolateral; B. Vulva, dorsal; C. Epigynum, abdominal cuticle removed, ventral. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 11. Nesticella falcata n. sp. A. Male body, dorsal; B. Male pedipalp, ventral; C. Same, prolateral; D. Same, retrolateral. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm, B – D = 0.2 mm ..

FIGURE 12. Nesticella falcata n. sp. A. Female body, dorsal; B. Epigynum, abdominal cuticle removed, ventral; C. Vulva, dorsal. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm, B – C = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 39. Collection localities in China of the nesticid species described in this paper.