Nesticella sanchaheensis, 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 : 29-31

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Nesticidae

Nesticella sanchaheensis sp. n. Figs 31, 32, 82

Type material.

Holotype ♂ and paratypes 3♀ (IZCAS), CHINA: Guizhou Province, Libo County, Jialiang Town, Sanchahe Village, Sanchahe Cave (25.53333°N, 107.70000°E, 877 m), 16.III.2011, C. Wang & L. Lin leg.

Etymology.

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

Diagnosis.

The new species is closely related to Nesticella gazuida sp. n. (see Fig. 15 A–F), Nesticella xixia sp. n. (see Figs 37 A–D, 38 E–G) and Nesticella semicircularis (see Liu and Li 2013b: 521, figs 19-22). It can be easily separated from the first species by the presence of fully developed eyes (Fig. 32C vs. Fig. 15A), the wider spermathecae (S) and the thicker ducts (Fd and Cd) (Fig. 32G vs. Fig. 15F). Males can be recognized from those of Nesticella xixia sp. n. by the much wider ventral process I (Va-I), the shorter and thicker distal process I (Dp-I), the blunter tegular apophysis (Tg) (Fig. 31A, D vs. Fig. 37A, D); females are distinguished by the straight posterior margin and the longer and slimmer ducts (Fd and Cd) (Fig. 32G vs. Fig. 38G). Nesticella sanchaheensis sp. n. can be distinguished from Nesticella semicircularis by the wider tegular apophysis (Tg), the wider ventral process I (Va-I), the different shape of the distal process I (Dp-I) when viewed dorsally (Fig. 31 A–B, D vs. figs 19B, 20 A–B, 21 A–B, D) for the males; by the wider scape (Sp) with a straight posterior margin (almost round in Nesticella semicircularis ) and the rounder spermathecae (S) for the females (Fig. 32G vs. figs 20E, 22E).

Description.

Habitus as in Fig. 32 A–D. Carapace pale yellow. Cervical groove faint, fovea indistinct. Mouthparts darker than the carapace. Sternum yellowish covered with sparse long setae. Legs and female palps yellowish, distally darker in each tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi. Opisthosoma uniformly grey, darker in females.

Male palp (Fig. 31 A–D): paracymbium with two wide ventral processes, Va-I flat, wide and sharp, Va-II short, narrow and blunt (Fig. 31A, D); distal process strongly sclerotized with two branches (Fig. 31B), Dp-I small and stumpy, Dp-II bigger and pointed. Triangular dorsal apophysis laminar and wide (Fig. 31B). Terminal apophysis blunt, horn-like, translucent, and with a granulated surface. Tegular apophysis triangular, weakly sclerotized (Fig. 31A). Conductor ending with a short, spout-shaped, sclerotized process (Fig. 31A, C–D).

Epigyne (Fig. 32 E–G): weakly sclerotized. Scape translucent, lobed and protruding beyond the epigynal posterior margin, with a straight posterior margin (Fig. 32 E–F). Spermathecae small, globular, separated by about 1.8 diameters (Fig. 32 F–G). Fertilization ducts long and thin, reaching the spermathecae with three or four coils (Fig. 32G). Copulatory ducts short, constricted at the base and slightly bent in the middle (Fig. 32 F–G).

Male (holotype). Total length 2.78. Carapace 1.31 long, 1.18 wide. Opisthosoma 1.56 long, 1.15 wide. Clypeus height 0.23. Sternum 0.80 long, 0.78 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Female (one of the paratypes). Total length 2.81. Carapace 1.31 long, 1.16 wide. Opisthosoma 1.66 long, 1.38 wide. Clypeus height 0.22. Sternum 0.81 long, 0.75 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Habitat.

Cave.

Distribution.

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