Hamus, Ballarin & Li, 2015

Ballarin, Francesco & Li, Shu-Qiang, 2015, Three new genera of the family Nesticidae (Arachnida: Araneae) from Tibet and Yunnan, China, Zoological Systematics 40 (2), pp. 179-190 : 180

Genus Hamus gen. nov.

Type species: Hamus bowoensis sp. nov.

Etymology. The generic name is derived from the Latin word " hamus " meaning "hook". The term refers to the shape of processes of the terminal apophysis and of the conductor in the nominal species. The gender is masculine.

Diagnosis. Several characters diagnose the genus as new in the Nesticidae . For the male, the short paracymbium ending with a hooked process, the apex of the embolus ending in the center of the palpal bulb, the shape of the terminal apophysis with its C-like hooked processes and the distally swollen palpal femur. A long and laminar conductor with a counterclockwise course also occurs in Nescina gen. nov., however Hamus gen. nov. has two strongly sclerotized processes at the base of the conductor while only a single laminar process is present in Nescina gen. nov. ( Figs 1B and 3B ). This structure, together with the difference of size and all the other diagnostic characters in male palp and epigyne, clearly distinguish the two genera. The tuft of hair present on the femur I of the male is also helpful to separate this genus from all the others. Females have massive spermathecae visible through the tegument and peculiar orientation of the insemination ducts.

Distribution. China (Tibet).

Figures

Fig. 1. Hamus bowoensis sp. nov., male palp. A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C. Prolateral view. D. Retrolateral view. Scale bars= 0.1 mm.

Fig. 3. Nescina minuta sp. nov., male palp. A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C. Prolateral view. D. Retrolateral view. Scale bars= 0.1 mm.