Nesticella nepalensis (Hubert, 1973)

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 : 46

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Nesticidae

Nesticella nepalensis (Hubert, 1973) Figs 55, 56, 83

Nesticus nepalensis Hubert, 1973: 165, figs 2-5 (♂♀).

Nesticella nepalensis : Lehtinen and Saaristo 1980: 55 (transfer from Nesticus ).

Nesticella nepalensis : Marusik and Guseinov 2003: 38, figs 22-24 (♂).

Material examined.

1♂ (IBPN), INDIA: Uttarakhand State, Gobind Ghat Village (30.625°N, 79.55833°E, 1900 m), 17-23.V.1999, Y.M. Marusik leg. 2♀ (IZCAS), CHINA: Tibet Autonomous Region, Dinggye County, Chentang Town (27.91458°N, 87.48098°E, 3267 m), 3.VIII.2014, Y. Li leg.

Diagnosis.

Nesticella nepalensis is similar to Nesticella connectens (see Figs 50 A–D, 51 A–G), Nesticella tibetana sp. n. (see Figs 59 A–D, 60 A–G) and Nesticella potala sp. n. (see Figs 57 D–F). Males can be recognized by the blunt tip of the terminal apophysis (Ta) and by the straighter and slimmer ventral process I of the paracymbium (Va-I) which are respectively sharper, more bent and thicker in males of the other species (Fig. 55A, C–D vs. Fig. 50A, C–D vs. Fig. 59A, C–D). Females can be separated from those of Nesticella connectens by the less prominent scape (Sp) (Fig. 56 E–G vs. Fig. 51 E–G), from those of Nesticella potala sp. n. by the almost round spermathecae (S) instead of triangular spermathecae and by the coiled fertilization ducts (Fd), which are lacking in Nesticella potala sp. n. (Fig. 56 E–G vs. see Figs 57 D–F), and finally from those of Nesticella tibetana sp. n. by the shorter scape (Sp), the smaller spermathecae (S) and the less twisted fertilization ducts (Fd) (Fig. 56 E–G vs. Fig. 60 E–G).

Description.

See Figs 55 A–D, 56 A–G and Hubert (1973).

Habitat.

Forest leaf litter, under stone.

Distribution.

China (Tibet) (first record) (Fig. 83), India (Uttarakhand), Nepal.