Pseudonesticus miao, 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 : 59-60

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Nesticidae

Pseudonesticus miao sp. n. Figs 72, 73, 81

Type material.

Holotype ♂ and paratypes 18♀ (IZCAS), CHINA: Guizhou Province, Anshun City, Xixiu District, Xiaguantun Village, Duofan Cave (26.24117°N, 106.00230°E, 1396 m), 25.II.2011, H. Chen & Z. Zha leg.

Etymology.

Named after the Miao people, an ethnic minority living in Guizhou Province; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

The new species is closely related to Pseudonesticus ziyunensis sp. n. (Figs 77 A–D, 78 E–G) and Pseudonesticus clavatus (see Liu and Li 2013a: 790, figs 1-14). Males can be distinguished from those of Pseudonesticus ziyunensis sp. n. by the longer and straighter terminal apophysis (Ta), the shorter process I of the conductor (Cp-I) and the blunter distal process of the paracymbium (Dp) (Fig. 72 A–B vs. Fig. 77 A–B). Females are recognized by the narrower and longer scape (Sp) (Fig. 73 E–F vs. Fig. 78 E–F). Males of Pseudonesticus miao sp. n. can be also distinguished from those of Pseudonesticus clavatus by the lack of a ventral apophysis (Va) and the narrower distal process of the paracymbium (Dp) and the longer embolus (E) (Fig. 72 A–B, D vs. figs 1-2, 7-9). Females can be separated from those of Pseudonesticus clavatus by the slimmer scape (Sp), the spiral fertilization and copulatory ducts (Fd and Cd), which are not coiled in the other species, and the wider vulval pockets (Vp) (Fig. 73 F–H vs. figs 4-5, 12-14). The general shape of the paracymbium (P), the long terminal apophysis (Ta) and the wide scape (Sp) and, for the females, the broad lateral grooves of the epigyne, are all diagnostic characters which allow an easy separation from the other species of the genus Pseudonesticus .

Description.

Habitus as in Fig. 73 A–E. Carapace pale yellow. Eyes absent. Cervical groove and fovea indistinct. Mouthparts pale yellow in males, light brown-yellowish in females. Sternum pale yellow. Legs and female palps yellowish, distally darker in each tarsus. Opisthosoma uniformly pale yellowish and with long setae.

Male palp (Fig. 72 A–D): cymbium broad, nearly rectangular in dorsal view, with long setae, lateral cymbial furrow absent (Fig. 72B). Paracymbium with a lamellar, wide distal process, weakly sclerotized, ending with a thin, translucent sharp spur, weakly rugose on the margin (Fig. 72 A–B, D). Dorsal and ventral apophysis absent. Terminal apophysis long, finger-like, tegular apophysis flat (Fig. 72A, C–D). Conductor sclerotized, with a long, flat and translucent apex, and two short processes, Cp-I ending with a round tip, Cp-II sharp (Fig. 72A, F). Embolus long and ending at the apex of the cymbium, tiny embolic spur present in the first part (Es) (Fig. 72A).

Epigyne (Fig. 73 F–H): broad, with a weakly sclerotized ventral plate (Fig. 73F). Scape wide, with lateral grooves (Fig. 73F). Copulatory openings separated approximately by the spermathecal diameter (Fig. 73 G–H). Spermathecae partially visible at the sides of the scape through the semi-transparent tegument. Spermathecae small, globular, separated by about three diameters (Fig. 73H). Fertilization and copulatory ducts thin, long and distally coiled into two loops (Fig. 73H). Vulval pockets broad, sac-shaped, close to each others (Fig. 73H).

Male (holotype). Total length 2.58. Carapace 1.13 long, 1.01 wide. Opisthosoma 1.56 long, 1.05 wide. Sternum 0.65 long, 0.65 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Female (one of the paratypes). Total length 2.64. Carapace 1.18 long, 0.99 wide. Opisthosoma 1.60 long, 1.19 wide. Sternum 0.66 long, 0.69 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Habitat.

Cave.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 81).