Speleoticus Ballarin & Li

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 : 65-66

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Nesticidae

Genus Speleoticus Ballarin & Li gen. n.

Type species.

Speleoticus navicellatus Liu & Li, 2013 from Guangxi, China.

Etymology.

The generic name is a combination of the Greek word “Speleo-” = cave and the contract name of Nesticus , the nominal genus of the family. It alludes to the troglophyllic lifestyle of these species. The gender is masculine.

Diagnosis.

Males belonging to Speleoticus gen. n. can be distinguished from those of the other Nesticini by the relatively simple, sickle-shaped paracymbium (P) with only a few short apophyses, in contrast to the other genera where it can be more complex, usually with wide and long processes. Furthermore, the elongate tibia and the triangular or rectangular protruding terminal apophysis (Ta) allow quick separation from the other Asian genera of Nesticidae . Females can be separated from those of the other Nesticini , with the exception of Cyclocarcina , by the wide, balloon-shaped vulval pockets (Vp) located above the spermathecae which are usually around or below the spermathecae in the other genera. Females of Speleoticus gen. n. can be easily separated from those of Cyclocarcina by the very short and narrow scape (Sp) which is well-developed and strongly protruding in the latter genus.

Description.

Total length: 2.84-3.15 (male), 2.97-4.36 (female). Carapace almost round in males, ovate in females, uniformly pale yellow as the legs. Six eyes in two rows, AME absent. Cervical groove and fovea indistinct. Chelicera with three promarginal teeth and multiple retromarginal tiny denticles on the fang furrow. Opisthosoma yellowish with long setae (Fig. 80 A–B).

Male palp (Fig. 79 A–D): tibia elongate (Fig. 79 A–B). Paracymbium well-developed, sickle-like, with a single ventral apophysis usually short and squared; a short, flat dorsal apophysis and a sclerotized distal process with two ramifications (Fig. 79 A–B, D). Terminal apophysis triangular or rectangular, elongate and protruding prolaterally. Tegular apophysis reduced (Fig. 79C). Conductor wide and convoluted, with three distinct processes, two elongate and one flat and laminar (Fig. 79A). Embolus filamentous, starting from the posterior side of the bulb and reaching the apex of the conductor with a half loop (Fig. 79A, C).

Epigyne (Fig. 80 C–D): broad, with a very short scape (Fig. 80C). Well sclerotized ducts partially visible through the tegument. Copulatory openings wide, located at the lateral side of the scape (Fig. 80C). Spermathecae small and almost round (Fig. 80D). Fertilization and copulatory ducts short and slightly convoluted (Fig. 80D). Vulval pockets well-developed, with a wide, balloon-like shape, located above the spermathecae (Fig. 80D).

Composition.

Speleoticus globosus (Liu & Li, 2013), comb. n., Speleoticus libo (Chen & Zhu, 2005), comb. n., Speleoticus navicellatus (Liu & Li, 2013), comb. n., Speleoticus uenoi (Yaginuma, 1972), comb. n., and Speleoticus yaginumai (Yin, 2012), comb. n. All the species listed above are transferred from the genus Nesticus . All new combinations are supported by our molecular phylogenetic analysis.

Distribution.

China (Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan), Japan (Honshu Island, Shizuoka Prefecture).

Remarks.

Speleoticus gen. n., together with the Pseudonesticus Liu & Li, 2013, show typical adaptations to cave life, such as the absence or reduction of the eyes (in particular the AME), long legs, lack of pigmentation, etc. The close relationship between these two genera, rather than with the genera from the West Palaearctic and North America, can be cautiously hypothesized based on the morphological comparison and preliminary molecular analysis of Nesticidae . Nevertheless, further studies are necessary to understand their correct systematic position within the family. Here we illustrate male and female of Speleoticus navicellatus , the type species of Speleoticus gen. n.