Nippononeta sinica, Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2006

Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2006, On some Linyphiidae of China, mainly from Taibai Shan, Qinling Mountains, Shaanxi Province (Arachnida: Araneae), Zootaxa 1325, pp. 277-311 : 281-282

Nippononeta sinica sp. n.

Figs 6–11

Material. Holotype ♂ ( SMF), China, Shaanxi Prov., S flanks of Taibai Shan, above Houshenzi, primary broadleaved forest, 1700–2600 m, 9.VI.1997, leg. J. Martens & P. Jäger.

Diagnosis. This species differs from numerous congeners by the faintly modified palpal tibia. It seems to be especially closely related to the Japanese N. subnigra Ono & Saito 2001 , being easily distinguishable by the elongated palpal tibia, the well­sclerotised, hook­shaped and distally bifid lamella characteristica, as well as by the absence of a dentiform process on the embolus.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin “Sinae”, meaning “ China ”; adjective.

Description. Male. Total length––1.75. Carapace 0.80 long, 0.65 wide, pale brown. Chelicerae 0.30 long. Legs yellow. Leg I, 2.41 long (0.68+0.20+0.58+0.55+0.40), IV––2.47 long (0.70+0.18+0.63+0.58+0.38). Chaetotaxy. Ti I–IV 2 ­0­0­0; Mt I–IV spineless. Mt IV lacking a trichobothrium, TmI––0.25. Palp ( Figs 6–11 ): Tibia only slightly modified, with neither processes nor deep hollows. Anterior pocket of paracymbium well­developed. Lamella characteristica hook­shaped, bifid apically, with a long narrow membranous branch whisked distally. Embolus basally with an unciform process. Opisthosoma 0.98 long, 0.63 wide, dorsally pale with an indistinct grey median stripe and several transverse bands in posterior part.

Female. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 6 – 11. Nippononeta sinica sp. n., holotype. 6 right palp (retrolateral view), 7 palpal tibia (dorsal view), 8 palpal tibia and paracymbium (lateral view), 9 lamella characteristica (lateral view), 10, 11 embolus (10 ventral, 11 dorsal view).