Nesticella chongqing, 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 : 17-19

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Nesticidae

Nesticella chongqing sp. n. Figs 12, 82

Type material.

Holotype ♀ and paratype 1♀ (IZCAS), CHINA: Chongqing Municipality, Beibei District, Dajiang Village, Xiaofang Cave (30.04050°N, 106.59263°E, 799 m), 30.IV.2014, Y. Lin, H. Zhao, Y. Li, J.Wu & F. Li leg.

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the type locality, the city of Chongqing; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

The new species is closely related to Nesticella odonta (see Figs 24 A–D, 25 A–G and Chen and Zhang 1991: 158, figs 1-6) and Nesticella xiongmao sp. n. (Figs 35 A–D, 36 A–G). It can be separated from the former species by the more protruding and almost round scape (Sp) (Fig. 12D vs. Fig. 25E) and the narrower copulatory ducts (Cd) (Fig. 12F vs. Fig. 25G); it can be distinguished from the latter species by the less protruding, wider scape (Fig. 12D vs. Fig. 36E) and the larger distance between the copulatory ducts (Cd) (Fig. 12F vs. Fig. 36G). The short and slightly round scape and the straight and almost parallel copulatory (Cd) ducts allow the separaton of Nesticella chongqing sp. n. from all the other species of the brevipes -group.

Description.

Habitus as in Fig. 12 A–C. Carapace yellow with wide dark areas. Sternum dark grey. Cephalic area with several long setae around the ocular area and along the midline. Cervical groove and fovea distinct. Mouthparts yellow. Sternum with sparse black setae. Legs and palps proximally yellowish, distally darker with dark rings around each tibia and metatarsus. Opisthosoma with a light background and pairs of dark areas partially merged into each other on the dorsal, lateral and ventral sides forming a light, double cross-like mark.

Epigyne (Fig. 12 D–F): dark with a lighter mark in the center. Scape short, approximately two to three times wider than long. Posterior and lateral margin weakly sclerotized, slightly protruding beyond the epigynal posterior margin (Fig. 12D). Spermathecae nearly ovoid, separated by about 1.5 diameters (Fig. 12F). Fertilization ducts thin and long, reaching the spermathecae with 3.5 coils. Copulatory ducts short, slightly narrower at their distal end (Fig. 12 E–F).

Female (holotype). Total length 2.75. Carapace 1.30 long, 1.13 wide. Opisthosoma 1.47 long, 1.41 wide. Clypeus height 0.23. Sternum 0.75 long, 0.72 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Male. Unknown.

Habitat.

Cave.

Distribution.

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