Nesticella robusta, Lin, Yucheng, Ballarin, Francesco & Li, Shuqiang, 2016

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 : 29

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Nesticidae

Nesticella robusta sp. n. Figs 29, 30, 82

Type material.

Holotype ♂ and paratype 1♀ (IZCAS), CHINA: Hunan Province, Yuanling County, Qixian Cave (28.44029°N, 110.56210°E, 243 m), 31.III.2016, Y. Li & Z. Chen leg.

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the Latin word “robustus” = robust, sturdy, and refers to the strong distal process of the paracymbium in the male; adjective.

Diagnosis.

Males of Nesticella robusta sp. n. can be easily recognized by the single, thick and sturdy distal process of the paracymbium (Dp) with a beak-like shape and the very short ventral process II (Va-II) that has no similarities to any other species of the brevipes -group. The morphologically closest species is Nesticella qiongensis sp. n. from which Nesticella robusta sp. n. can be separated by the slimmer and sharper distal process of the paracymbium (Dp) and the shorter ventral process II (Va-II) (Fig. 29A, B, D). Females are distinguished from those of all the other species, with the exception of Nesticella liuzhaiensis sp. n. and Nesticella qiongensis sp. n., by the short and squared scape with a flat posterior border. Nesticella robusta sp. n. is separated from the two closely related species by the less straight copulatory ducts (Cd) (Fig. 30G vs. Fig. 21F vs. Fig. 28G).

Description.

Habitus as in Fig. 30 A–D. Carapace pale yellow, dark around the margin, the median line and the cervical groove. Cervical groove and fovea distinct. Mouthparts light brown-yellowish. Sternum yellowish with light dark pigmentation, darker in the male. Legs and female palps yellowish, distally darker in tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi. Opisthosoma yellowish with paired black marks on the dorsal side, partially extended to the lateral and ventral sides and merged to each other near the spinnerets. Ventrally with a wide, dark area in the middle.

Male palp (Fig. 29 A–D): paracymbium well-developed, Va-I long and finger-like, Va-II strongly reduced (Fig. 29A, D). Distal process sturdy, strongly sclerotized and ending in a sharp tip (Fig. 29B, D). Terminal apophysis short and blunt (Fig. 29A, C). Tegular apophysis strongly sclerotized, triangular, with a rugose surface (Fig. 29A). Conductor distally twisted with a tiny, pointed process (Fig. 29A, C–D).

Epigyne (Fig. 30 E–G): darkish (Fig. 30E). Scape wide and squared with a translucent posterior margin (Fig. 30 F–G). Spermathecae small, ovate, separated from each other by about 1.5 times their diameters (Fig. 30G). Fertilization ducts long and thin, reaching the spermathecae with approximately 2.5 loops (Fig. 30 F–G). Copulatory ducts short and thick, slightly bent outward (Fig. 30 F–G).

Male (holotype). Total length 1.98. Carapace 1.14 long, 1.02 wide. Opisthosoma 0.90 long, 0.88 wide. Clypeus height 0.17. Sternum 0.61 long, 0.58 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Female (one of the paratypes). Total length 2.16. Carapace 1.07 long, 0.96 wide. Opisthosoma 1.15 long, 0.96 wide. Clypeus height 0.18. Sternum 0.60 long, 0.58 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Habitat.

Cave.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 82).