Nesticus globosus, Liu, Jie & Li, Shuqiang, 2013

Liu, Jie & Li, Shuqiang, 2013, New cave-dwelling spiders of the family Nesticidae (Arachnida, Araneae) from China, Zootaxa 3613 (6), pp. 501-547 : 537

Nesticus globosus new species

Figs 31–34 , 39

Type material: Holotype male, 25 female paratypes, CHINA: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Bama County, Poyue Town, Poyue Village, Dawan Cave (24º18.097´N, 107º6.932´E, Altitude: 438 m, Air Temperature: 18 ºC, Air Humidity: 95%), 11 March 2007, Yucheng Lin & Jie Liu leg.

Etymology: The species name is taken from the Latin adjective globosus (“ball-shaped”) and refers to the spherical spermathecae of the female.

Diagnosis: The new species is similar to Nesticus navicellatus n. sp. in having a long paracymbium with four branches, a developed median apophysis, a complex conductor and small, spherical spermathecae, but can be distinguished from the latter by the absence of eyes, the long, slender distal branch of DP (dorsal process of paracymbium), the wider median apophysis, and the spherical copulatory ducts ( Figs 31–33 , 34 A–B).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 3. Prosoma length 1.48, width 1.36; Opisthosoma length 1.52, width 1.28. Eyes absent. Leg formula: I, IV, II, III; leg measurements: I: 15.79 (4.3, 0.78, 4.59, 4.4, 1.72); II: 11.22 (3.24, 0.5, 3.13, 3.25, 1.1); III: 8.32 (2.68, 0.4, 2.04, 2.24, 0.96); IV: 11.52 (3.32, 0.56, 3.24, 3.16, 1.24). Somatic characters see Fig. 34 C. Tibia of pedipalp long; paracymbium long, with four branches, proximal branch of VP (ventral process) small, trapeziform, distal branch of VP long, wide, slightly curved inward, distal branch of DP (dorsal process of paracymbium) long, slender, proximal branch of DP large; conductor complex, with a small CDA (dorsal conductor apophysis); median apophysis large; tegular projection absent; embolus proximally in origin, long ( Figs 31 , 32 A, 33).

Female (paratype): Total length 4.36. Prosoma length 1.6, width 1.48; Opisthosoma length 2.68, width 2.92. Eyes absent. Leg formula: I, IV, II, III; leg measurements: I: 14.24 (3.96, 0.52, 3.92, 4.2, 1.64); II: 9.66 (2.86, 0.32, 2.7, 2.88, 0.9); III: 6.98 (2.3, 0.27, 1.81, 1.8, 0.8); IV: 10.19 (3.03, 0.42, 2.88, 2.8, 1.06). Somatic characters see Fig. 34 D. Epigynum simple, lacking scape; median septum small; copulatory openings distinct; copulatory ducts large, global, slightly separated from each other; spermathecae small, global, situated posteriorly and laterally, widely separated from each other ( Figs 32 B–D, 34A–B).

Distribution: Known only from type locality ( Fig. 39 ).

Figures

FIGURE 31. Nesticus globosus n. sp. A. Male pedipalp, ventral; B. Same, retrolateral. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 32. Nesticus globosus n. sp. A. Male pedipalp, prolateral; B. Epigynum, abdominal cuticle removed, ventral; C. Vulva, dorsal; D. Epigynum, ventral. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 33. Nesticus globosus n. sp. A. Male pedipalp, prolateral; B. Same, retrolateral; C. Same, ventral; D. Same, dorsal. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 34. Nesticus globosus n. sp. A. Vulva, dorsal; B. Epigynum, abdominal cuticle removed, ventral; C. Male body, dorsal; D. Female body, dorsal. Scale bars: C – D = 0.5 mm, A – B = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 39. Collection localities in China of the nesticid species described in this paper.