Nesticella connectens Wunderlich, 1995

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 : 42-44

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Nesticidae

Nesticella connectens Wunderlich, 1995 Figs 50, 51, 83

Nesticella connectens Wunderlich, 1995: 568, figs 40-42 (♂).

Material examined.

1♂2♀ (IZCAS), THAILAND: Satun Province, Trang District, Beating Cave, Cave A, short wet branch with mud and vegetal remains (07.15965°N, 99.80058°E, 11 m), 03.XII.2013, F. Ballarin leg; 4♀ (IZCAS), Phang Nga Province, Tap pud District, Tharn Lod Cave (08.51897°N, 98.565251°E, 116 m), 27.X.2014, H. Zhao, Y. Li & Z. Chen leg.

Diagnosis.

This species is similar to Nesticella tibetana sp. n. (see Figs 59 A–D, 60 A–G), Nesticella nepalensis (see Figs 55 A–D, 56 A–G) and Nesticella potala sp. n. (see Figs 57 A–F). Males can be distinguished by the prominent additional tegular apophysis (Tg-II) which is reduced in males of the other two species, by the longer and sharper terminal apophysis (Ta) and by the different shape of the ventral process I (Va-I) which is more bent in males of Nesticella tibetana sp. n. and slimmer in those of Nesticella nepalensis (Fig. 50A, C–D vs. Fig. 59A, 59 C–D vs. Fig. 55A, C–D). Females can be separated from those of Nesticella tibetana sp. n. by the less coiled fertilization ducts (Fd) and the longer copulatory ducts (Cd) (Fig. 51G vs. Fig. 60G), from those of Nesticella nepalensis by the more prominent scape (Sp) (Fig. 51G vs. Fig. 56G) and from those of Nesticella potala sp. n. by the more convoluted copulatory ducts (Cd) and the rounder spermathecae (S) (Fig. 51G vs. Fig. 57G).

Description.

Habitus as in Fig. 51 A–D. Carapace yellow, faintly pigmented around the radial furrows and the margins. Cervical groove distinct. Fovea shallow. Thoracic area with distinct radial furrows. Mouthparts yellow in males, brown-yellowish in females. Sternum light yellow, with sparse long setae. Legs and female palps yellowish, distally darker in tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi. Opisthosoma light yellow with dark marks in the posterior half and around the spinnerets, darker pigmentation in males.

Male palp (Fig. 50 A–D): paracymbium strongly sclerotized, Va-I elongate, ending with an almost round tip, Va-II short and rectangular; bifurcated distal process with two branches, Dp-I blunt, stocky and swollen, Dp-II elongate and sharper (Fig. 50 A–B, D). Terminal apophysis long and sharp, wrinkled, basally wide and distally narrow and curved, located behind the process of the conductor (Fig. 50A, C). Tegular apophysis sclerotized and nodular, secondary tegular apophysis well developed, protruding outward from the tegulum. (Fig. 50A, C–D). Conductor with a sclerotized, short, beak-shaped process (Fig. 50A).

Epigyne (Fig. 51 E–G): weakly wrinkled and faintly pigmented. Scape square, about as wide as long and weakly sclerotized (Fig. 51 E–F). Spermathecae nearly globular, separated by about 2/3 of their diameter (Fig. 51 F–G). Fertilization ducts long, reaching the spermathecae with two loops (Fig. 51G). Copulatory ducts thick and straight, distally as wide as the spermathecal diameter (Fig. 51 F–G).

Male. Total length 1.93. Carapace 1.05 long, 0.98 wide. Opisthosoma 1.00 long, 0.76 wide. Clypeus height 0.19. Sternum 0.65 long, 0.63 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Female. Total length 2.00. Carapace 1.06 long, 0.90 wide. Opisthosoma 1.18 long, 0.90 wide. Clypeus height 0.18. Sternum 0.65 long, 0.59 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Habitat.

Forest leaf litter, cave.

Distribution.

Malaysia, Thailand (first record) (Fig. 83).

Remarks.

Nesticella connectens was described by Wunderlich (1995) from Peninsular Malaysia based only on males. The collection of both sexes on the Thai side of the Malay Peninsula (approximately 300 km north of the type locality) allows a detailed analysis of this species and the description of the male for the first time.