Nesticella xiongmao, 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 : 32

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Nesticidae

Nesticella xiongmao sp. n. Figs 35, 36, 82

Type material.

Holotype ♂ and paratypes 8♂5♀ (IZCAS), CHINA: Sichuan Province, Baoxing County, Longdong Town (30.47382°N, 102.70562°E, 1180 m), 28.VI.2004, S. Li leg.

Etymology.

The specific name derives from the Chinese pinyin “xióng māo” = panda, and refers to the type locality of the new spider species, located in the type locality of the giant panda; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

The new species can be easily distinguished from all the species belonging to the brevipes -group, with the exception of Nesticella odonta and Nesticella chongqing sp. n., by the sharp, hook-like distal process I of the paracymbium (Dp-I) that is bent downward (Fig. 35D), the lobed distal process II (Dp-II) (Fig. 35D) and the triangular tegular apophysis (Tg) with a sharp tip (Fig. 35A). Females can be distinguished by the tongue-like, protruding scape (Sp) with an almost round posterior margin (Fig. 36F) and by the compact, straight ducts that are almost parallel to each other (Fig. 36G). Nesticella xiongmao sp. n. can be recognized from Nesticella odonta by the thinner distal process I of the paracymbium (Dp-I) (Fig. 35A, D vs. Fig. 24A, D) and the shorter and less lobed distal process II (Dp-II) (Fig. 35D vs. Fig. 24D); females are distinguished by the longer, tongue-like scape (Sp) with an almost round posterior margin rather than a flat scape (Fig. 36 E–F vs. Fig. 25 E–F), by the more compact and straighter ducts (Fd and Cd) and by the shorter distance between the spermathecae (S) (Fig. 36 F–G vs. Fig. 25 F–G). Females of Nesticella xiongmao sp. n. can be separated from those of Nesticella chongqing sp. n. by the more protruding and narrower scape and by the narrower space between the copulatory ducts (Cd) (Fig. 36 F–G vs. Fig. 12 E–F).

Description.

Habitus as in Fig. 36 A–D. Carapace pale yellow, dark at margins and near the cephalic area; darker in females. Ocular area dark. Cervical groove and fovea distinct. Mouthparts brown-yellowish. Sternum pigmented, darker in female. Legs and female palps yellowish, distally darker and with a dark ring at each tibia and metatarsus. Opisthosoma covered with long setae, greyish, with paired black marks on the dorsal, lateral and ventral sides, partially fused to each other. The whole pattern is more evident in males.

Male palp (Fig. 35 A–D): Va-I long and laminar, Va-II short and stockier (Fig. 35A). Two sclerotized distal processes, Dp-I hook-like, long and sharp, Dp-II short and lobed, bent downward (Fig. 35D). Terminal apophysis blunt, finger-like, translucent and with a textured surface (Fig. 35C). Tegular apophysis strongly sclerotized, triangular, with a sharp tip (Fig. 35A, C–D). Conductor with a small, tooth-like process (Fig. 35A, C–D).

Epigyne (Fig. 36 E–G): greyish. Scape lobed and protruding out of the epigynal posterior margin, tongue-like, about two times longer than wide, and showing an almost round posterior margin (Fig. 36F). Spermathecae small, ovate, separated each other by about 1.3 diameters (Fig. 36 F–G). Ducts compact and straight, almost parallel to each other. Fertilization ducts thick and long, reaching the spermathecae with 2.5 loops (Fig. 36G). Copulatory ducts thick and short (Fig. 36F).

Male (holotype). Total length 2.45. Carapace 1.18 long, 1.09 wide. Opisthosoma 1.45 long, 1.06 wide. Clypeus height 0.23. Sternum 0.75 long, 0.70 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Female (one of the paratypes). Total length 2.91. Carapace 1.17 long, 0.99 wide. Opisthosoma 1.84 long, 1.64 wide. Clypeus height 0.23. Sternum 0.71 long, 0.66 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Habitat.

Forest leaf litter.

Distribution.

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