Nesticella fuliangensis, 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 : 35-37

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Nesticidae

Nesticella fuliangensis sp. n. Figs 40, 41, 83

Type material.

Holotype ♂ and paratypes 2♂6♀ (IZCAS), CHINA: Jiangxi Province, Fuliang County, Shouan Town, Zhuxian Cave (29.21353°N, 117.30285°E, 191 m), 22.V.2013, Y. Luo & J. Liu leg.

Etymology.

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

Diagnosis.

This new species is closely related to Nesticella huomachongensis sp. n. (Figs 42 A–D, 43 A–G) and Nesticella yanbeiensis sp. n. (Figs 47 A–D, 48 A–G). Males can be distinguished from those of the other two species by the smaller and slimmer process of the conductor (Cp) and by the narrower distal process of the paracymbium (Dp) (Fig. 40A, D vs. Fig. 42A, D vs. Fig. 47A, D). Females can be separated from those of Nesticella huomachongensis sp. n. by the different shape of the posterior margin of scape (convex in Nesticella fuliangensis sp. n., straight in Nesticella huomachongensis sp. n.) (Fig. 41 E–G vs. Fig. 43 E–G); from those of Nesticella yanbeiensis sp. n. by the shorter and wider scape (Sp) and by the greater distance between the copulatory ducts (Cd) (Fig. 41 E–G vs. Figs 48 E–G). The same combination of characters allows an easy separation from all the other species of the group.

Description.

Habitus as in Fig. 41 A–D. Carapace yellowish. Cervical groove and fovea indistinct. Mouthparts yellow in males, brown-yellowish in females. Sternum yellow, brighter in females. Legs yellowish, metatarsi and tarsi distally darker. Female palpal femur pale yellow, tibia and tarsus brownish. Opisthosoma uniformly faint grey, pigmented epigastric area in males, grey-yellowish in females.

Male palp (Fig. 40 A–D): paracymbium with a row of short setae (Fig. 40D), ventral apophysis sharp and triangular, distal process stumpy, strongly sclerotized (Fig. 40 A–B, D). Terminal apophysis flat, well-developed and distinctly sclerotized, basally broad and granulate (Fig. 40A, C). Conductor, ending with a sharp, horn-like, sclerotized apophysis (Fig. 40A, C–D).

Epigyne (Fig. 41 E–G): posterior margin of the scape weakly sclerotized and straight (Fig. 41E). Scape short and squared, wider than the spermathecae, with a convex posterior margin (Fig. 41F). Copulatory ducts straight and swollen (Fig. 41G), fertilization ducts twisted into two or three loops before reaching the spermathecae (Fig. 41G). Spermathecae approximately globular, as wide as the copulatory ducts, separated by about 1.5 diameters (Fig. 41 F–G).

Male (holotype). Total length 3.16. Carapace 1.47 long, 1.28 wide. Opisthosoma 1.91 long, 1.34 wide. Clypeus height 0.23. Sternum 0.91 long, 0.80 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Female (one of the paratypes). Total length 3.56. Carapace 1.56 long, 1.31 wide. Opisthosoma 2.28 long, 1.69 wide. Clypeus height 0.22. Sternum 0.97 long, 0.81 wide. Leg measurements: See Appendix A.

Habitat.

Cave.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 83).