Nesticus latiscapus Yaginuma, 1972

Suzuki, Yuya & Ballarin, Francesco, 2020, Nesticus kosodensis Yaginuma, 1972 bona species. Molecular and morphological separation from N. latiscapus Yaginuma, 1972 with notes on cave scaffold-web spiders subspecies in Japan (Araneae, Nesticidae), Subterranean Biology 35, pp. 79-96 : 86-89

Nesticus latiscapus Yaginuma, 1972 Figures 1d, e , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8c, d

Nesticus latiscapus Yaginuma, 1972: 291, f. 16-19 (♂♀).

N. latiscapus Yaginuma, 1979: 264, pl. 7, f. 1, 3 (♂♀).1

Material examined.

Holotype. Japan - Honshu Island • ♂; Yamanashi Prefecture, Minamitsuru-gun (former Kamikuishiki-mura), Aokigahara, Shoji-o-ana cave, Nichi-do cave (精進御穴日洞); [35.4709N, 138.6385E]; 2 Nov. 1969, Ueno S. & Kato K. leg.; NSMT-Ar 61.

Paratype. Japan - Honshu Island • 1♀; same data as the holotype; NSMT-Ar 62.

Other material.

Japan - Honshu Island • 1♂, 2♀♀; Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Saiko Bat Cave (西湖蝙蝠穴); 35.4942N, 138.6714E; 09 Oct. 2014; Ballarin F. leg.; FBPC • 1♂, 2♀♀; same locality, Ryugu Doketsu Cave (龍宮洞穴); 35.4855N, 138.6683E; 09 Oct. 2014; Ballarin F. leg.; FBPC • 1♀; same locality, Narusawa Ice Cave (鳴沢氷穴); 35.4745N, 138.6665E; 10 Oct. 2014; Ballarin F. leg.; FBPC • 1♀; same locality, Fugaku Wind Cave (富岳風穴); 35.4775N, 138.6571E; 10 Oct. 2014 • 3♂♂, 2♀♀, Narusawa-mura, unnamed lava tunnel; 35.4749N, 138.6831E; 01 Apr. 2019; Ballarin F. leg.; FBPC • 1♂, 1♀; Narusawa area, 18 Aug. 2017, Suguro T. leg; TSPC.

Diagnosis.

See diagnosis of N. kosodensis stat. nov.

Redescription.

Male. Total length: 3.86-4.30 carapace: 1.87-2.02 long, 1.58-1.81 wide (based on three males).

Habitus as in Fig. 1d . Coloration and shape as in N. kosodensis stat. nov., some specimens with light-colored midline and lateral edges of carapace. Leg measurements as following (based on one male): I 16.16 (4.31, 0.83, 4.77, 4.57. 1.68), II 12.21 (3.38, 0.81, 3.37, 3.27, 1.38), III 9.17 (3.01, 0.65, 2.16, 2.36, 0.99), IV 12.23 (3.84, 0.70, 3.18, 3.26, 1.25).

Palp as in Figs 5 , 6 , 8c . Paracymbium with five processes: ventral process recurved, narrower at the basal part, dorsal process 1 sharp, weakly curved when observed lat erally and ventrally, dorsal process 2 short and straight, dorsal process 3 small, distal process wing-shaped, with a serrated edge. Bulge of embolus absent, median apophysis lobate, strongly protruded prolaterally, tegular apophysis absent.

Female. Total length: 3.91-4.43, carapace: 1.68-1.72 long, 1.47-1.59 wide (based on three females).

Habitus as in Fig. 1e . Coloration and shape as in N. kosodensis stat. nov., some specimens with abdomen dorsal markings large and fused, giving a general darker coloration. Legs measurements as following (based on one female): I 15.67 (4.44, 0.94, 4.60, 4.04, 1.65), II 11.78 (3.38, 0.81, 3.16, 3.04, 1.39), III 8.68 (2.77, 0.75, 1.90, 2.10, 1.16), IV 11.99 (3.81, 0.81, 3.07, 2.97, 1.33).

Epigyne and vulva as in Figs 7 , 8d . Scapus prolonged posteriorly, duck beak-shaped, almost the same width or slightly wider towards the tip, ending with slightly divergent edges and lobate corners. Edge of copulatory openings straight, parallel towards the edges of the scapus. Insemination and fertilization ducts reaching spermathecae with a short and convoluted trait. Spermathecae oval. Vulval pockets wrinkled, located above spermathecae.

Distribution.

Endemic to the Fuji Mountain area in central Honshu, Japan (Yamanashi Prefecture). See Fig. 10 .

Figures

Figure 1. Habitus of Nesticus kosodensis stat. nov. and N. latiscapus. a, b N. kosodensis stat. nov. adult male c ditto, adult female d N. latiscapus, adult male e ditto, adult female. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 5. Male palp of N. latiscapus from Saiko Bat Cave. a Ventral view b dorsal view c ventro-retrolateral view d retrolateral view e ventro-prolateral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 6. Male palp of N. latiscapus (illustrated). a Ventral view b dorsal view c ventro-retrolateral view d retrolateral view e ventro-prolateral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 7. Female genitalia of N. latiscapus from Saiko Bat Cave. a, c Epigyne, ventral view b, d vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 8. Type material of the species discussed in this work. Nesticus kosodensis stat. nov.: a palp of the holotype, ventral view b epigyne of the paratype, ventral view; N. latiscapus: c palp of the holotype, ventral view d epigyne of the paratype, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 10. Distribution of Nesticus kosodensis stat. nov. (green dots) and N. latiscapus (red dots) in Japan. Stars show the type localities of the species.