Nesticella gracilenta, 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 : 512

Nesticella gracilenta new species

Figs 13–16 , 39

Type material: Holotype male, 3 male and 14 female paratypes, CHINA: Guizhou Province, Puding County, Huachu Town, Jinqian Cave (26º12.98´N, 105º37.99´E, Altitude: 1324 m, Air Temperature: 12ºC, Air Humidity: 93%), 27 April 2007, Yucheng Lin & Jie Liu leg.

Etymology: The species name is taken from the Latin adjective gracilis (“slender, thin”) and refers to the gracile branch of the paracymbium ventral process of this species.

Diagnosis: This new species is similar to Nesticella shanlinensis n. sp., but can be distinguished from the latter by the following characters: 1, proximal apex of the terminal apophysis is blunt in N. gracilenta , but strongly sharp in N. shanlinensis ; 2, the epigynal scape is noticeably short and wide in N. gracilenta , but not in N. shanlinensis . These two new species can be distinguished from other Nesticella species by the following combined characters: paracymbium with the proximal branch of the ventral process slender, the proximal branch of dorsal process large; slender vulva which is longer than wide ( Figs 13–16 , 23–26 ).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 2.6. Prosoma length 1.2, width 1.04; Opisthosoma length 1.52, width 0.96. Eye measurements: AME 0.06; ALE 0.08; PME 0.07; PLE 0.08; AME-AME 0.03; AME-ALE 0.03; ALE-PLE 0.02; PME-PME 0.11; PME-PLE 0.02. Clypeus height 0.26. Leg formula: I, IV, II, III; leg measurements: I: 8.76 (2.6, 0.36, 2.56, 2.36, 0.88); II: 6.52 (2.04, 0.44, 1.72, 1.6, 0.72); III: 4.64 (1.48, 0.4, 1.04, 1.16, 0.56); IV: 6.6 (2.24, 0.4, 1.68, 1.64, 0.64). Somatic characters see Fig. 16 B. Palpal tibia short, with three trichobothria. Paracymbium short, with five branches; ventral process having two branches, proximal one slender, distal one inwardly crisped, slightly separated from each other; dorsal process having three branches, these branches close to each other. Terminal apophysis developed, with two apexes, the proximal apex small and blunt. Conductor simple, long, trapeziform distally. Embolus filiform, semicircular ( Figs 13 A–B, 14A–B, E, 15).

Female (paratype): Total length 2.8. Prosoma length 1.32, width 1.04; Opisthosoma length 1.56, width 1.24. Eye measurements: AME 0.05; ALE 0.1; PME 0.1; PLE 0.1; AME-AME 0.03; AME-ALE 0.03; ALE-PLE 0.03; PME-PME 0.09; PME-PLE 0.05. Clypeus height 0.28. Leg formula: I, IV, II, III; leg measurements: I: 7.36 (2.28, 0.44, 2.04, 1.76, 0.84); II: 5.4 (1.76, 0.36, 1.36, 1.2, 0.72); III: 4.04 (1.32, 0.36, 0.88, 0.96, 0.52); IV: 5.56 (1.92, 0.4, 1.44, 1.16, 0.64). Somatic characters see Fig. 16 A. In ventral view, epigynum with a short and wide scape; copulatory openings originating at lateral sides of the scape. Vulva longer than wide; copulatory ducts extending from copulatory openings to the spermathecae, with about three coils; spermathecae papillary, situated anteriorly and laterally ( Figs 13 C, 14C–D, 16C–D).

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

Figures

FIGURE 13. Nesticella gracilenta n. sp. A. Male pedipalp, prolateral; B. Same, retrolateral; C. Epigynum, ventral. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 14. Nesticella gracilenta n. sp. A. Male pedipalp, ventral; B. Same, dorsal; C. Vulva, dorsal; D. Epigynum, abdominal cuticle removed, ventral; E. Distal conductor, ventral. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 15. Nesticella gracilenta n. sp. A. Male pedipalp, prolateral; B. Same, retrolateral; C. Same, ventral; D. Same, dorsal. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 16. Nesticella gracilenta 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 23. Nesticella shanlinensis n. sp. A. Male pedipalp, prolateral; B. Same, retrolateral; C. Epigynum, ventral; D. Male pedipalp, dorsal. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 24. Nesticella shanlinensis n. sp. A. Male pedipalp, ventral; B. Vulva, dorsal; C. Epigynum, abdominal cuticle removed, ventral. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 25. Nesticella shanlinensis n. sp. A. Male pedipalp, prolateral; B. Same, retrolateral; C. Same, ventral; D. Same, dorsal. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 26. Nesticella shanlinensis n. sp. A. Female body, dorsal; B. Male body, dorsal; C. Vulva, dorsal; D. Epigynum, abdominal cuticle removed, ventral. 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.