Nesticella qiongensis, 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 : 27-29

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Nesticidae

Nesticella qiongensis sp. n. Figs 27, 28, 82

Type material.

Holotype ♂ and paratypes 2♀ (IZCAS), CHINA: Hainan Province, Diaoluoshan Mountain National Nature Reserve, Diaoluoshan Holiday Village (18.72943°N, 109.86358°E, 1010 m), 15.VIII.2007, S. Li leg.

Etymology.

The specific name derives from the Chinese pinyin for “Qiong”, and refers to an alias name of Hainan Island where the species was collected; adjective.

Diagnosis.

Nesticella qiongensis sp. n. can be distinguished from the majority of the species belonging to the brevipes -group, with the exception of Nesticella falcata , Nesticella liuzhaiensis sp. n. and Nesticella robusta sp. n., by the absence of a dorsal apophysis (Da) (Fig. 27B) and the stocky, hooked distal process I (Dp-I) (Fig. 27D) in the males; by the wide and short scape (Sp) with a convex posterior margin and the almost straight ducts (Fd and Cd) in the females (Fig. 28G). It can be differentiated from Nesticella falcata (see Liu and Li 2013b: 511, figs 9-12) by the shorter and blunt distal process II (Dp-II), the stockier distal process I (Dp-I) (Fig. 27D vs. figs 9B, 11D), the wider, triangular tegular apophysis (Fig. 27A vs. figs 9A, 11B), and by the wider spermathecae and the straighter, tubular ducts (Fig. 28 F–G vs. figs 10 B–C, 12 B–C). It can be separated from Nesticella liuzhaiensis sp. n. by the narrower scape with a convex posterior margin (straight in Nesticella liuzhaiensis sp. n.) and by the shorter distance between the spermathecae and the copulatory ducts (Fig. 28G vs. Fig. 21F). It can be distinguished from Nesticella robusta sp. n. by the thicker distal process I (Dp-I), the longer ventral process II (Va-II), strongly reduced in Nesticella robusta sp. n. (Fig. 27 A–B, D vs. Fig. 29 A–B, D), and by the straighter copulatory ducts (Fig. 28G vs. Fig. 30G).

Description.

Habitus as in Fig. 28 A–D. Carapace pale yellow in males, darker in females, with a dark color around the margins and at the cephalic area. Thoracic area marginally pigmented. Several sparse setae present at the ocular area and along the cervical groove. Cervical groove distinct. Fovea deep. Mouthparts pale yellow in the male, darker in the female. Sternum lighter in the male than in the female. Legs and female palps yellowish, distally darker in tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi. Opisthosoma yellowish with paired black marks on the dorsal side, partially merged each other; the dark spots are extended to the lateral and ventral sides. Darker and more evident pattern in females. Spinnerets and colulus pale yellow in males, darker in females.

Male palp (Fig. 27 A–D): paracymbium with Va-I broad and laminar, ending in a rounded tip, Va-II stout and nodular (Fig. 27A). Two distal processes, Dp-I massive, strongly sclerotized and bent downward, Dp-II short and fingerlike (Fig. 27 A–B, D). Terminal apophysis blunt, finger-shaped (Fig. 27A, C). Tegular apophysis wide, triangular and strongly sclerotized (Fig. 27A). Conductor distally twisted, surrounding a small, spur-shaped, sclerotized process (Fig. 27A, C).

Epigyne (Fig. 28 E–G): strongly sclerotized (Fig. 28E). Scape very short and wide, marginally sclerotized, with a convex posterior margin (Fig. 28E). Spermathecae ovate, separated by about 1.7 diameters (Fig. 28 F–G). Fertilization ducts thin and long, with approximately four coils before reaching the spermathecae (Fig. 28G). Copulatory ducts short and thick, almost straight and only slightly bent outward (Fig. 28F).

Male (holotype). Total length 1.88. Carapace 1.04 long, 0.92 wide. Opisthosoma 0.84 long, 0.79 wide. Clypeus height 0.17. Sternum 0.60 long, 0.59 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Female (one of the paratypes). Total length 2.18. Carapace 1.09 long, 0.94 wide. Opisthosoma 1.16 long, 0.92 wide. Clypeus height 0.18. Sternum 0.63 long, 0.63 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Habitat.

Forest leaf litter.

Distribution.

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