Nesticella apiculata, 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 : 502

Nesticella apiculata new species

Figs 1–4 , 39

Type material: Holotype male, 3 female paratypes, CHINA: Henan Province, Zhengzhou City, Gongyi County, Xinzhong Town, Fuxi Mt., Xuehua Cave (34º41.4´N, 113º12.85´E, Altitude: 214 m, Air Temperature: 12 ºC, Air Humidity: 90%), 27 April 2007, Yucheng Lin & Jie Liu leg.

Etymology: The species name is taken from the Latin adjective apiculatus (“small-pointed”) and refers to the apiculate ventral process of paracymbium.

Diagnosis: The new species is similar to Nesticella mogera (Yaginuma, 1972) in having a hook-shaped ventral process on the paracymbium and similar vulva structure, but can be distinguished by the terminal apophysis developed, pocket-shaped, with many granular processes in N. apiculata , but reduced in N. mogera and by the epigynal scape short in N. apiculata , but long and trapezoidal in N. mogera ( Figs 1–4 , 17–18 ).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 2.08. Prosoma length 1.04, width 0.88; Opisthosoma length 1.08, width 0.8. Eye measurements: AME 0.05; ALE 0.08; PME 0.08; PLE 0.1; AME-AME 0.04; AME-ALE 0.03; ALE-PLE 0.01; PME-PME 0.06; PME-PLE 0.04. Clypeus height 0.18. Leg formula: I, IV, II, III; leg measurements: I: 5.2 (1.52, 0.28, 1.4, 1.36, 0.64); II: 4.04 (1.16, 0.32, 1.04, 0.92, 0.6); III: 3.28 (1, 0.24, 0.76, 0.76, 0.52); IV: 4.52 (1.28, 0.36, 1.24, 1.08, 0.56). Somatic characters see Fig. 4 B. Palpal tibia short, with three trichobothria. Paracymbium short, with three branches; ventral process having two branches, with proximal one hook-shaped; dorsal process having one branch, wide and long. Terminal apophysis developed, pocket-shaped, with many granular processes. Conductor simple, long, pointed distally. Embolus filiform, semicircular ( Figs 1 A–C, 2A, 3).

Female (paratype): Total length 2.36. Prosoma length 1.04, width 0.84; Opisthosoma length 1.28, width 1. Eye measurements: AME 0.06; ALE 0.08; PME 0.08; PLE 0.09; AME-AME 0.04; AME-ALE 0.04; ALE-PLE 0.02; PME-PME 0.08; PME-PLE 0.04. Clypeus height 0.24. Leg formula: I, IV, II, III; leg measurements: I: 4.88 (1.44, 0.4, 1.32, 1.04, 0.68); II: 3.6 (1.12, 0.32, 0.84, 0.8, 0.52); III: 2.92 (0.96, 0.32, 0.6, 0.64, 0.4); IV: 4.24 (1.36, 0.32, 1.12, 0.88, 0.56). Somatic characters see Fig. 4 A. In ventral view, epigynum with a short, trapezoidal scape; copulatory openings originating at lateral sides of scape. Vulva as long as wide; copulatory ducts extending from copulatory openings to spermathecae, with two coils; spermathecae papillary, situated anteriorly and laterally ( Figs 1 D, 2B–C, 4C–D).

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

Figures

FIGURE 1. Nesticella apiculata n. sp. A. Male pedipalp, ventral; B. Same, retrolateral; C. Same, dorsal; D. Epigynum, ventral. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 2. Nesticella apiculata n. sp. A. Male pedipalp, prolateral; B. Vulva, dorsal; C. Epigynum, abdominal cuticle removed, ventral. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 3. Nesticella apiculata n. sp. A. Male pedipalp, prolateral; B. Same, retrolateral; C. Same, ventral; D. Same, dorsal. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 4. Nesticella apiculata n. sp. A. Female body, dorsal; B. Male body, dorsal; C. Epigynum, abdominal cuticle removed, ventral; D. Vulva, dorsal. Scale bars: A – B = 0.5 mm, C – D = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 17. Nesticella mogera (Yaginuma, 1972), based on specimen from Guizhou. A. Male pedipalp, prolateral; B. Same, retrolateral; C. Same, ventral; D. Same, dorsal. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 18. Nesticella mogera (Yaginuma, 1972), based on specimen from Guizhou. A. Male body, dorsal; B. Female body, dorsal; C. Epigynum, abdominal cuticle removed, ventral; D. Vulva, dorsal. Scale bars: A – B = 0.5 mm, C – D = 0.2 mm.

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