Nesticella laotica, Grall & Jäger, 2016

Grall, Elena & Jäger, Peter, 2016, Four new species of the spider genus Nesticella Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980 from Laos, Thailand and Myanmar and the first description of the male of Nesticella yui Wunderlich & Song, 1995 with a proposed new diagnostic character for the family Nesticidae Simon, 1894 (Arachnida, Araneae), Zootaxa 4085 (2) : -

Nesticella laotica new species

Figs 1–5 , 14–17 , 29–30 , 40

Type material. Holotype male, LAOS: Vientiane Province: Vang Vieng, N of Ban Phoxay, “Tham Phathao ”, N 19°01.749"N, 102°25.954"E, 290 m elevation, in cave, P. Jäger leg. by hand, 0 3.12.2012 ( SMF) . Paratypes: 1 male, 8 females with same data as holotype ( SMF, 1 male, 1 female: IZCAS)

Additional material examined (5 females). LAOS: Huaphan Province: 1 female, Tham Nam Long, 20°27 ' 50,3"N, 104°9 ' 10,7"E, 850 m elevation, W. Zillig leg., 10.01.2007 ( IZCAS). Luang Prabang Province: 2 females, SE Luang Prabang, Nam Khan, Xieng Ngeun District, Ban Keng Koung, 19°40 ' 963"N, 102°18 ' 442"E, 372 m elevation, above waterfall, close to stream, under stones, at leaves, at rock, P. Jäger leg. by hand, 23.02.2008 ( MHNG). Bolikhamsay Province: 2 females, Nam Kading National Protected Area, from 18°21 ' 34,4"N, 104°09 ' 15,5"E, 219 m elevation to 18°21 ' 19,2"N, 104°09 ' 23,5"E, 360 m elevation, primary forest, stream bed, rock boulders, gravel, at day, P. Jäger & L. Nophaseud leg. by hand, 24.03.2011 ( SMF). Vientiane Province: [5 juveniles], with same data as for holotype ( SMF).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the country, in which this species was collected; adjective.

Diagnosis. Nesticella laotica n. sp. is similar to N. connectens in having a conductor with two apices ( Fig. 14 ), a distinct terminal apophysis and a divided paracymbium, whose processes are sub-divided distally. The new species can be distinguished by its terminal apophysis, which is straightened distally in retrolateral view, by the longer embolus and the ventral process of the paracymbium whose dorsal branch is divided again distally (not divided in N. connectens ). Females are unique in having a short functional receptaculum with a half winding ( Fig. 16 ).

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 2.60; cephalothorax 1.30 long, 1.20 wide; abdomen 1.30 long, 0.90 wide. Eye measurements: AME 0.07; ALE 0.10; PME 0.11; PLE 0.11; AME–AME 0.04; AME–ALE 0.04; PME–PME 0.10; PME–PLE 0.06; AME–PME 0.07; ALE–PLE 0.00; clypeus–AME 0.26; clypeus–ALE 0.27. Leg formula: I, IV, II, III; measurements of palp and legs: palp: 1.67 (0.62, 0.21, 0.19, 0.65); I: 7.70 (2.10, 0.60, 2.10, 2.00, 0.90); II: 6.00 (1.70, 0.53, 1.50, 1.50, 0.77); III: 5.10 (1.40, 0.45, 1.40, 1.20, 0.65); IV: 6.62 (1.90, 0.52, 1.70, 1.70, 0.80).

Cephalothorax yellow with pale patterning. Abdomen light yellow with black pairs of spots, the latter partially fused posteriorly. Legs whitish, distally increasingly reddish-brownish. Ti I–IV with black band. Fe and Mt IV with one black band ( Fig. 29 ).

Palp as in diagnosis. Terminal apophysis apically denticulated. Tegular apophysis present. Paracymbium bifurcate, dorsal process beak-shaped in retrolateral view, ventral process sub-divided. In ventral view lateral branch of ventral process curved, apically divided.

Description. Female (paratype): Total length 3.10; cephalothorax 1.30 long, 1.10 wide; abdomen 1.80 long, 1.35 wide. Eye measurements: AME 0.06; ALE 0.11; PME 0.10; PLE 0.11; AME–AME 0.04; AME–ALE 0.04; PME–PME 0.10; PME–PLE 0.05; AME–PME 0.08; ALE–PLE 0.00; clypeus–AME 0.24; clypeus–ALE 0.23. Leg formula: I, IV, II, III; measurements of palp and legs: palp: 1.92 (0.63, 0.26, 0.33, 0.70); I: 7.36 (2.10, 0.57, 2.00, 1.85, 0.84); II: 5.61 (1.60, 0.50, 1.40, 1.40, 0.71); III: 4.39 (1.30, 0.46, 0.99, 1.03, 0.61); IV: 6.40 (1.90, 0.55, 1.60, 1.60, 0.75).

Cephalothorax yellowish-brown with light lateral pattern. Abdomen light yellow with pairs of black spots. Legs white, distally increasingly reddish. Fe and Ti I–IV with one black band. Mt IV with additional one black band ( Fig. 30 ).

Epigynum as in diagnosis. Scape short, wide. Functional receptaculum with a half winding, winding parallel to longitudinal body axis. Small apical chamber with internal sclerotized structures and apical glandular pores.

Variation Male (n=1). Total length 2.60–2.70; cephalothorax 1.30 long, 1.10–1.20 wide; abdomen 1.30–1.40 long, 0.90 wide. Eye measurements: AME 0.07; ALE 0.10; PME 0.10–0.11; PLE 0.10–0.11; AME–AME 0.035– 0.04; AME–ALE 0.04–0.05; PME–PME 0.09–0.10; PME–PLE 0.04–0.06; AME–PME 0.07; ALE–PLE 0.00; clypeus–AME 0.26; clypeus–ALE 0.26–0.27. Leg formula for all male spiders: I, IV, II, III; measurements of palp and legs: palp: total length 1.67–1.69; Fe 0.62–0.63, Pa 0.21–0.22, Ti 0.19–0.20, Ta 0.64–0.65; I: total length 7.7, Fe 2.1, Pa 0.57–0.60, Ti 2.10, Mt 2.00–2.05, Ta 0.88–0.90; II: total length 6.00, Fe 1.7, Pa 0.52–0.53, Ti 1.50, Mt 1.50, Ta 0.77–0.78; III: total length 4.77–5.10, Fe 1.40, Pa 0.44–0.45, Ti 1.10–1.40, Mt 1.1 8–1.20, Ta 0.65; IV: total length 6.62–6.64, Fe 1.90, Pa 0.50–0.52, Ti 1.70, Mt 1.70, Ta 0.80–0.84;

Female (n=12). Total length 2.50–3.10; cephalothorax 1.10–1.30 long, 0.95–1.15 wide; abdomen 1.30–1.80 long, 0.90–1.80 wide. Eye measurements: AME 0.05–0.07; ALE 0.09–0.11; PME 0.09–0.11; PLE 0.09–0.12; AME–AME 0.04–0.06; AME–ALE 0.03–0.05; PME–PME 0.08–0.10; PME–PLE 0.04–0.05; AME–PME 0.06– 0.08; ALE–PLE 0.00; clypeus–AME 0.18–0.24; clypeus–ALE 0.16–0.23. Leg formula for all female spiders: I, IV, II, III; measurements of palp and legs: palp: total length 1.65–2.10, Fe 0.5 4–0.67, Pa 0.22–0.27, Ti 0.28–0.39, Ta 0.61–0.78; I: total length 6.56–7.90, Fe 1.85–2.20, Pa 0.51–0.61, Ti 1.80–2.20, Mt 1.60–2.00, Ta 0.75–0.89; II: total length 5.11–6.22, Fe 1.45–1.80, Pa 0.47–0.55, Ti 1.30–1.60, Mt 1.10–1.50, Ta 0.68–0.78; III: total length 3.81–4.81, Fe 1.20–1.40, Pa 0.40–0.48, Ti 0.90–1.07, Mt 0.82–1.15, Ta 0.57–0.69; IV: total length 5.75–6.90, Fe 1.70–2.10, Pa 0.49–0.58, Ti 1.45–1.80, Mt 1.20–1.60, Ta 0.71–0.82.

Distribution and habitat. Nesticella laotica n. sp. was recorded from four places in Laos: two caves in Vientiane Prov. and Huaphan Prov. as well as two localities close to a stream at a forest in Luang Prabang Prov. and Bolikhamsay Prov. The following two species have similar copulatory organs that are distinctly different from those of species described above (embolus stronger, conductor restricted to distal bulb in males; functional receptaculum restricted to apical chamber, copulatory ducts wound around axis more or less transversal to body length axis in females). These are treated here sequentially.

Figures

FIGURE 40. Map with distributional records of Nesticella spp. Blue triangle— N. yui, green squares— N. beccus new species, brown stars— N. laotica new species, red circle— N. foelixi new species, black diamond— N. michaliki new species.

FIGURES 1 – 5. Nesticella laotica new species. 1 Vulva, ventral. Lines with numbers indicating position of particular µ-CT scans and the respective figure numbers; 2 – 5, virtual cross sections through internal duct system. AC, apical chamber of functional receptaculum; CD, copulatory duct; FD, fertilization duct; WD, wound ducts of functional receptaculum.

FIGURES 14 – 17. Nesticella laotica new species. 14 – 15, Male palp (14, ventral; 15, retrolateral). 16, Epigynum, ventral. 17, Vulva, dorsal.

FIGURES 24 – 32. Nesticella new species, habitus, dorsal. 24 – 25, Nesticella yui; 26 – 27, Nesticella beccus n. sp.; 28, Nesticella foelixi n. sp.; 29 – 30, Nesticella laotica n. sp.; 31 – 32, Nesticella michaliki n. sp. (24, 26, 28, 29, 31 male, 25, 27, 30, 32 female).