Nesticella verticalis, Liu, Jie & Li, Shuqiang, 2013

Liu, Jie & Li, Shuqiang, 2013, New cave-dwelling spiders of the family Nesticidae (Arachnida, Araneae) from China, Zootaxa 3613 (6), pp. 501-547 : 522

Nesticella verticalis new species

Figs 27–30 , 39

Type material: Holotype male, 7 female paratypes, CHINA: Guizhou Province, Tianzhu County, Fengcheng Town, Yanzhai Village, Zhonggu Cave (26º54.242´N, 109º10.683´E, Altitude: 410 m, Air Temperature: 15 ºC, Air Humidity: 90%), 20 May 2007, Yucheng Lin & Jie Liu leg.

Etymology: The species name is taken from the Latin verticalis (“upright”) and refers to the two apexes of the palpal terminal apophysis slightly vertical to each other in this species.

Diagnosis: N. verticalis can be distinguished from other Nesticella species by having the two terminal apophysis apexes slightly vertical to each other and by having the copulatory openings large and distinct ( Figs 27 A, 28A–B, D, 29B–C).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 2.36. Prosoma length 1.24, width 1.12; Opisthosoma length 1.08, width 1. Eye measurements: AME 0.06; ALE 0.08; PME 0.08; PLE 0.08; AME-AME 0.03; AME-ALE 0.03; ALE-PLE 0.02; PME-PME 0.08; PME-PLE 0.04. Clypeus height 0.26. Leg formula: I, IV, II, III; leg measurements: 6.46 (1.9, 0.4, 1.8, 1.46, 0.9); II: 4.84 (1.44, 0.36, 1.24, 1.04, 0.76); III: 3.68 (1.2, 0.32, 0.76, 0.84, 0.56); IV: 5.28 (1.76, 0.44, 1.32, 1.16, 0.6). Somatic characters see Fig. 29 A. Palpal tibia short, with three trichobothria. Paracymbium short, with four branches; ventral process having two branches, proximal one slightly higher, the two branches close to each other; dorsal process having two branches, these branches close to each other. Terminal apophysis developed, with two apexes, the proximal apex small and sharp. Conductor simple, long, trapeziform distally. Embolus filiform, semicircular ( Figs 27 , 28 A, E, 29).

Female (paratype): Total length 2.56. Prosoma length 1.08, width 1; Opisthosoma length 1.52, width 1.64. Eye measurements: AME 0.06; ALE 0.08; PME 0.08; PLE 0.07; AME-AME 0.02; AME-ALE 0.04; ALE-PLE 0.01; PME-PME 0.08; PME-PLE 0.04. Clypeus height 0.25. Leg formula: I, IV, II, III; leg measurements: I: 6 (1.8, 0.36, 1.68, 1.36, 0.8); II: 3.96 (1.08, 0.32, 0.96, 0.92, 0.68); III: 3.28 (1.04, 0.28, 0.68, 0.72, 0.56); IV: 4.56 (1.6, 0.36, 1.12, 0.92, 0.56). Somatic characters see Fig. 30 A. In ventral view, epigynum with a short and narrow scape; copulatory openings large and distinct, originating at lateral sides of the scape. Vulva slightly longer than wide; copulatory ducts extending from copulatory openings to the spermathecae, with about three coils; spermathecae global, situated anteriorly and laterally ( Figs 28 B–D, 30).

Distribution: Known only from type locality ( Fig. 39 ).

Figures

FIGURE 27. Nesticella verticalis n. sp. A. Male pedipalp, prolateral; B. Same, retrolateral. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 28. Nesticella verticalis n. sp. A. Male pedipalp, ventral; B. Epigynum, ventral; C. Vulva, dorsal; D. Epigynum, abdominal cuticle removed, ventral; E. Male pedipalp, dorsal. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 29. Nesticella verticalis n. sp. A. Male body, dorsal; B. Male pedipalp, ventral; C. Same, prolateral; D. Same, retrolateral. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm, B – D = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 30. Nesticella verticalis n. sp. A. Female body, dorsal; B. Epigynum, abdominal cuticle removed, ventral; C. Vulva, dorsal. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm, B – C = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 39. Collection localities in China of the nesticid species described in this paper.