Nasoona indianа, Tanasevitch, 2018

Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2018, A survey of the genus Nasoona Locket, 1982 with the description of six new species (Araneae, Linyphiidae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 125 (1), pp. 87-100 : 88-89

Nasoona indianа sp. nov.

Figs 1-3 , 28-33

Holotype: Male ; INDIA, West-Bengal , Darjeeling District , Ghoom, Tigerhill, southern slope, 2200-2300 m a.s.l., sifting in forest; 13.X.1978; leg. C. Besuchet & I. Löbl [#13].

Diagnosis: According to the male palpal conformation, N. indianа sp. nov. seems to be most similar to N. setifera ( Tanasevitch, 1998) , known from a single locality in the mountains of Nepal ( Tanasevitch, 1998). The new species differs by the bifid distal apophysis of the convector, by the slender distal process of the paraconvector which was erroneously named the suprategular apophysis ( Tanasevitch, 1998), as well as by the shape of the carapace. The carapace of N. indianа sp. nov. has a small, conical postocular elevation bearing a stout seta, while in N. setifera the carapace is armed with several stout, bent spines and a seta situated on a huge postocular elevation. The shape of the carapace and the structure of the embolic division of N. indianа sp. nov. is also similar to that of N. conica ( Tanasevitch, 1998) , known from high altitudes of the Nepalense Himalayas, but the new species differs clearly by the shape of its palpal tibia.

Etymology: The specific epithet, a Latinized adjective, is derived from the name of the country of origin, India.

Description: Male (holotype): Total length 2.01. Carapace 1.13 long, 0.90 wide, pale reddish brown, with grey radial stripes and a narrow margin. Behind posterior median eyes a conical elevation with a socket terminally, indicated with arrow in Fig. 3 , probably for a large, stout seta which was lost in this specimen ( Figs 1-3 ). Chelicerae 0.55 long, unmodified. Legs yellow. Leg I 4.38 long (1.25+0.30+1.13+10.05+0.65), IV 4.44 long (1.25+0.28+1.13+1.15+0.63). Chaetotaxy: spines mostly lost, but probably 2.2.1.1. Each metatarsus with a trichobothrium. TmI 0.71. Palp ( Figs 28-33 ): Tibia slightly expanded distally, with several very short spinules terminally. Retrolateral side of tibia with a tooth-like tubercle, prolateral side with a small dark protuberance and two larger keel-shaped outgrowths. Proximal part of paracymbium narrow, distal part expanded and bearing several weak spines. Tegulum terminating in transparent protegulum. Distal suprategular apophysis short, wide, T-shaped distally, bearing a black, sharp tooth in middle. Embolus long and thin, forming a loop, radix reduced. Main body of convector relatively narrow, twisted, its distal apophysis well-sclerotized, black, bifid. Paraconvector large, complicated, with a long, sabre-shaped distal process. Abdomen 1.40 long, 0.88 wide, dorsal pattern as in Fig. 1 .

Female: Unknown.

Distribution: Only known from the type locality in the mountains of West-Bengal, India.

(1, 5-6, 10, 14) Male body, dorsal view. (8) Female body, dorsal view. (2, 12) Male prosoma, dorsal view. (3-4, 7, 9, 11, 15) Male prosoma, lateral view. (13, 16) Male prosoma, anterolateral view. Not to scale.

Figures

Figs 1-16. Photographs of Nasoona indianа sp. nov., male holotype (1-3); N. orissa sp. nov., male paratype (4); N. intuberosa sp. nov., male paratypes (5-7) and female paratype (8); N. kinabalu sp. nov., male holotype (9); N. sabah sp. nov., male paratype from Liwagu Trail (10-12) and male paratype from Silau-Silau Trail (13); N. sulawesi sp. nov., male holotype (14-16).

Figs 28-33. Nasoona indianа sp. nov., holotype. (28-29) Right palp, retrolateral and prolateral view, respectively. (30-31) Palpal tibia, prolateral and dorsal view, respectively. (32) Distal suprategular apophysis. (33) Distal suprategular apophysis and embolic division.