Nesticella dazhuangensis, Lin, Yucheng, Ballarin, Francesco & Li, Shuqiang, 2016

Lin, Yucheng, Ballarin, Francesco & Li, Shuqiang, 2016, A survey of the spider family Nesticidae (Arachnida, Araneae) in Asia and Madagascar, with the description of forty-three new species, ZooKeys 627, pp. 1-168 : 19

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Nesticidae

Nesticella dazhuangensis sp. n. Figs 13, 14, 82

Type material.

Holotype ♂ and paratypes 2♂2♀ (IZCAS), CHINA: Yunnan Province, Tengchong County, Dazhuang Village (25.02670°N, 98.45563°E, 1600 m), 30.XI.2013, Y. Li & J. Liu leg.

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the type locality; adjective.

Diagnosis.

Males can be distinguished from those of the other species belonging to the brevipes -group by the stocky, unbranched distal process (Dp) of the paracymbium (Fig. 13 A–B); by the thin and sharp tegular apophysis (Tg) (Fig. 13A) and by the narrower cymbium when observed in dorsal view (Fig. 13B). Diagnostic characters for the females are the remarkably wide spermathecae (S) (Fig. 14F) and the short, fertilization (Fd) and copulatory (Cd) ducts each with only a few coils (Fig. 14G) which are respectively smaller and longer/more coiled in the other species of the same group.

Description.

Habitus as in Fig. 14 A–D. Carapace yellow, dark at margins and in the midline. Clypeal area yellowish. A single long seta present between AMEs. Cervical groove faintly visible, fovea distinct. Mouthparts orange. Sternum faintly dark, with sparse long setae. Legs and female palps yellowish, distally darker in each segment. Opisthosoma with a yellowish background and distinct dark pattern formed by transverse bands. Wide dark band between the epigastral furrow and spinnerets.

Male palp (Fig. 13 A–D): cymbium approximately two times longer than wide (Fig. 13B). Both ventral processes of the paracymbium stocky and triangular (Fig. 13A), distal process wide and strongly sclerotized, lacking any branch (Fig. 13 A–B, D). Dorsal apophysis flat and triangular (Fig. 13B). Terminal apophysis wide and membranous, wrinkled (Fig. 13A). Tegular apophysis sharp, with a wrinkled surface (Fig. 13A, C–D). Conductor ending with a sharp sclerotized process (Fig. 13A, C–D).

Epigyne (Fig. 14 E–G): dark, with a pale area in the center (Fig. 14E). Scape short, tongue-like, marginally sclerotized (Fig. 14 E–G). Spermathecae broad, ovoid, separated by about 2/3 of their diameters (Fig. 14G). Fertilization ducts short and thin, reaching the spermathecae with only one coil (Fig. 14 F–G). Copulatory ducts short and thick (Fig. 14 F–G).

Male (holotype). Total length 2.56. Carapace 1.38 long, 1.25 wide. Opisthosoma 1.28 long, 1.00 wide. Clypeus height 0.23. Sternum 0.78 long, 0.75 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Female (one of the paratypes). Total length 2.59. Carapace 1.25 long, 1.09 wide. Opisthosoma 1.56 long, 1.16 wide. Clypeus height 0.19. Sternum 0.75 long, 0.68 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Habitat.

Forest leaf litter.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 82).