Nesticella hongheensis, 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 : 21

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Nesticidae

Nesticella hongheensis sp. n. Figs 16, 17, 82

Material examined.

Holotype ♂ and paratypes 1♂4♀ (IZCAS), CHINA: Yunnan Province, Pingbian County, a mountain without name, close to Honghe River (22.99625°N, 103.65815°E, 1244 m), 20.V.2015, Z. Chen & Y. Li leg.

Etymology.

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

Diagnosis.

Nesticella hongheensis sp. n. is easily distinguished from the majority of the species belonging to the brevipes -group, with the exception of Nesticella semicircularis and Nesticella lisu sp. n., by having a wide, triangular dorsal apophysis (Da) (Fig. 16B), a rectangular distal process on the paracymbium (Dp-I) (Fig. 16D) and, for the females, by the appearance of the short scape (Fig. 17E) and the thick copulatory ducts (Fig. 17 F–G). Males can be separated from those of Nesticella semicircularis (see Liu and Li 2013b: 521, figs 19-22) by the dark pattern, the wider dorsal apophysis (Da), by the wider distal process (Dp-I), and the stockier tegular apophysis (Tg) (Fig. 16A, 16D vs. figs 20A, 21 A–C). Females of Nesticella hongheensis sp. n. are recognized by the black marks on the opisthosoma, the wider and much shorter scape and the shape of the copulatory ducts (Cd), strongly bent in the middle (Fig. 17 A–G vs. fig. 22 A–E). Males can be separated from those of Nesticella lisu sp. n. (see Figs 19 A–D, 20 A–G) by the wider tegular apophysis (Tg) and the smooth distal process (Dp-I) lacking a serrated margin and laterally compressed ranther than dorsoventrally compressed (Fig. 16 A–B, D vs. Fig. 19 A–B, D). Females are recognized from those of Nesticella lisu sp. n. by the wider and shorter scape (Sp), the thick and strongly sclerotized copulatory ducts (Cd) and by the thinner and less coiled fertilization ducts (Fd) (Fig. 17 F–G vs. Fig. 20 F–G).

Description.

Habitus as in Fig. 17 A–D. Carapace pale yellow in males, darker in females; dark in the midline, at margins and at the cephalic area. Cephalic area with several setae on the clypeus and along the cervical groove. Cervical groove and fovea distinct. Mouthparts pale yellow. Sternum greysh in males, darker in females. Legs and female palps yellowish, distally darker in each segment. Opisthosoma black with a light mark followed by three pairs of spots on the dorsal and lateral sides. The whole pattern is more evident in females.

Male palp (Fig. 16 A–D): cymbial surface finely reticulated, densely covered with thick, long setae (Fig. 16B). Paracymbium with the first ventral process wide with a sharp tip, the second smaller and blunt (Fig. 16A, D). Two compact distal processes laterally compressed, Dp-I wide and strongly sclerotized, Dp-II short and stocky. Dorsal apophysis triangular, broad and flat (Fig. 16B). Terminal apophysis blunt, translucent and fingerlike (Fig. 16A, C). Tegular apophysis short and stocky (Fig. 16A). Conductor with a thin process (Fig. 16A, C).

Epigyne (Fig. 17 E–G): dark with sparse setae. Scape almost absent, wide and very short (Fig. 17 E–G). Spermathecae small, globular, separated by approximately 1.8 diameters (Fig. 17 F–G). Fertilization ducts thin, long, reaching the spermathecae with three coils (Fig. 17G). Copulatory ducts short, thick, curved in the middle (Fig. 17 F–G).

Male (holotype). Total length 2.15. Carapace 1.13 long, 1.05 wide. Opisthosoma 1.05 long, 1.02 wide. Clypeus height 0.21. Sternum 0.66 long, 0.72 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Female (one of the paratypes). Total length 2.25. Carapace 1.18 long, 1.03 wide. Opisthosoma 1.28 long, 0.95 wide. Clypeus height 0.22. Sternum 0.72 long, 0.71 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Habitat.

In humid and shaded areas, including anthropogenic habitats.

Distribution.

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