Nasoona comata ( Tanasevitch, 1998 )

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 : 96-99

Nasoona comata ( Tanasevitch, 1998)

Figs 22-27

Remarks: This Nepalense species was hitherto known from males only ( Tanasevitch, 1998). When re-examining material collected during Jochen Martens’ expeditions to Nepal and kept at the SMF, the unknown females were found. The male of N. comata was described in detail earlier (see Tanasevitch, 1988), therefore I here only give photos of the male body ( Fig. 22 ) and prosoma ( Fig. 23 ). The first description of the female of N. comata is given below.

Material examined: All specimens in SMF: 1 male, 6 females; NEPAL, Taplejung Distr., Hellok in Tamur Valley, 2000 m a.s.l., forest remnant, bushes; 17. V.1988; leg. J. Martens & W. Schawaller [#371]. – 5 females; Ilam Distr., Mai Pokhari, 2100-2200 m a.s.l., forest; 25.-27.III.1980; leg. J. Martens & A. Ausobsky [#116]. – 1 female; same locality, 2100 m a.s.l., forest; 31.III.- 1.IV.1980; leg. J. Martens & A. Ausobsky [#117]. – 4 females; Taplejung Distr., Grat Lasse Dhara and Aim Lassetham, 3000-3300 m a.s.l.; 6.-7.IX.1983; leg. J. Martens & B. Daams [#275]. – 1 female; SE Yamputhin, l 650-2000 m a.s.l., forest mainly Alnus ; 26. & 30.IV.1988; leg. J. Martens & W. Schawaller [#350]. – 3 females; Yamputhin cultural land, 1650-1800 m a.s.l., open forest; 26.IV-1. V.1988; leg. J. Martens & W. Schawaller [#351]. – 5 females; Omje Kharka NW Yamputhin, natural mixed broadleaved forest, 2300-2500 m a.s.l.; 1.-6. V.1988; leg. J. Martens & W. Schawaller [#356]. – 2 females; pasture Lassetham NW of Yamputhin, 3300-3500 m a.s.l., mature Abies - Rhododendron forest; 6.-9. V.1988; leg. J. Martens & W. Schawaller [# 59]. – 1 female; upper Simbua Khola, ascent to pasture Lassetham, 3000-3150 m a.s.l., mature mixed Tsuga - Rhododendron broadleaved forest; 15. V.1988; leg. J. Martens & W. Schawaller [#364]. – 1 male, 6 females; Hellok in Tamur Valley, 2000 m a.s.l., forest remnant, bushes; 17. V.1988; leg. J. Martens & W. Schawaller [#371]. – 3 females; Panchthar Distr., Paniporua, 2300 m a.s.l., mixed broadleaved forest; 16.- 20.IV.1988; leg. J. Martens & W. Schawaller [#328]. – 1 female; between Paniporua and Hinwa Khola Valley, 1850-2300 m a.s.l., cultivated land, tree-rich; 20.IV.1988; leg. J. Martens & W. Schawaller [#329].

Description:

Female (specimen from Hellok): Total length 2.30. Carapace 1.15long, 0.80wide,unmodified, reddish brown, with a narrow, grey margin. Chelicerae 0.45 long. Legs pale brown. Leg I 4.33 long (1.25+0.30+1.13+1.00+0.65), IV 4.30 long (1.20+0.30+1.10+1.10+0.60). Chaetotaxy 2.2.1.1. Each metatarsus with a trichobothrium. Tm I 0.68. Abdomen 1.25 long, 0.85 wide, dorsal pattern as shown in Figs 25-26 . Epigyne ( Figs 24, 27 ) with elongated pockets divided with relatively wide septum. Seminal ducts wide, receptacles oval.

Taxonomic remarks: According to genitalia conformation, N. comata appears most similar to the Bornean N. intuberosa sp. nov. The male of N. comata can be easily distinguished from that of N. intuberosa sp. nov. by the presence of a hump on the male carapace bearing a group of bent, stout spines (see Figs 22-23 ), as well as by the shape of the palpal tibia. Females differ by more widely separated pockets of the epigyne in N. comata .

Distribution: The species has hitherto been known from 1650-2300 m a.s.l. in the Ilam, Panchithar and Taplejung districts in Nepal. The new records expand the known distribution of this species in Nepal, and its altitudinal range to 3500 m a.s.l.

Figures

Figs 17-27. Photographs ofNasoona intuberosa sp.nov., female paratype (17); N. kinabalu sp. nov., female paratype from Mt Kinabalu, 3150-3200 m (18) and female paratype from Mt Kinabalu, 2590 m (19); N. sabah sp. nov., female paratype from Silau- Silau Trail (20) and female paratype from Liwagu Trail (21); N. comata (Tanasevitch, 1998), specimens from Hellok, Nepal (22-27). (17-21, 24) Female abdomen, ventral view. (22) Male body, dorsal view. (23) Male prosoma, lateral view. (25-26) Female abdomen, dorsal view. (27) Epigyne, ventral view. Not to scale.