Nesticella beccus new species

Figs 10–13, 26–27, 33–34, 40

Type material. Holotype male; 3 males, 6 females paratypes, LAOS: Bolikhamsay Province: east of Lak Sao, hospital cave, 18°13’3, 8.2 " N, 104°44’, 47.3"E, 534 m elevation, inside cave, aphotic zone, P. Jäger leg. by hand, 28.11.2012 (SMF).

Additional material examined (6 males, 28 females). LAOS: Bolikhamsay Province: 1 male, 2 females, Tham Man Kone, 18°13 ' 16,1"N, 104°48 ' 45,9"E, 501 m elevation, inside cave, at day, P. Jäger & J. Martens leg. by hand, 0 3.03.2010 (SMF). 1 male, 1 female, Lak Sao, 18°13 ' 38.2"N, 104°44 ' 47.3"E, 534 m elevation, inside cave and cave entrance, at day, P. Jäger & S. Bayer leg. by hand, 0 9.11.2009 (IZCAS). 1 male, 1 km W of Lak Sao, 18°11 ' 49.87"N, 104°57 ' 36.36"E, 542 m elevation, small hill and paddy fields, shrubs and trees, at night, P. Jäger & J. Martens leg. by hand, 0 2.03.2010 (SMF). Luang Prabang Province: 1 female, Tham Pha Man (E48-001(16)), 19°55 ' 41.1"N, 102°11 ' 19.1"E, Steiner leg., 0 1.01.2004 (SMF). 1 female, Tham Long Kout, 19°51 ' 50.5"N, 102°16 ' 50.8"E, H. Steiner leg. 26.12.2003 (SMF). Huaphan Province: 1 male, 1 female, Tham Houay Long Kou 2 (F 48-125-042), 20°23‘, 05"N, 104°14‘, 21"E, H. Steiner leg., 14.01.2008, Northern Lao-European Cave Project 2008 (MHNG). Khammouan Province: 1 female, 1 subadult female, 2.5 km WNW, Ban Thatot, entrance 17°37.897"N, 105°07.502"E, exit 17°37.994"N, 105°07.195"E, ca. 200 m elevation, entrance area and in front of limestone cave Tham Kamouk, P. Jäger leg. by hand, 30.04.2012 (SMF). 13 females, [1 juvenile], with same data as for preceding specimens, P. Jäger leg. by hand, 24.11.2012 (SMF). THAILAND: Mae Hong Son Province: 1 male, Turtle Cave, 18°12'41.6"N, 104°50'26.6"E, S. Jamman leg., 0 3.10.2002 (SMF). Chiang Mai Province: 1 male, 3 females, Doi Chiang Dao, S of Mueang Khong, Tham Ki Mi, 19°21 ' 47"N, 98°43 ' 22"E, 670 m elevation, cave and entrance, at day, P. Jäger & E. Grall leg. by hand, 25.06.2014 (SMF). 4 females, Doi Chiang Dao, Tham Doi Chiang Dao, 19°23 ' 39"N, 98°55 ' 40"E, 470 m elevation, in cave, P. Jäger, S. Li & E. Grall leg. by hand, 24.06.2014 (SMF).

Etymology. This species name is derived from the Latin word „ beccus “ meaning beak and refers to the beakshaped paracymbium of the male; apposition.

Diagnosis. Males of Nesticella beccus n. sp. similar to those of N. marapu Benjamin, 2004, N. connectens and N. nepalensis (Hubert, 1973) in having a distally divided paracymbium whose dorsal process is beak-shaped, a distinct terminal apophysis and a distinct conductor. N. beccus n. sp. can be distinguished from N. marapu by the fully developed eyes, males by the tegular apophysis less distinct, and females by having a larger receptaculum. N. beccus n. sp. can be distinguished from N. nepalensis by the conductor having one apex whereas the conductor of N. nepalensis has two apices (Fig. 10). Females similar to Nesticella apiculata (Liu & Li, 2013) in having a functional receptaculum with one winding but can be distinguished by the width of the duct of the functional receptaculum, expanded in N. beccus n. sp. (Fig. 12).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 2.90; cephalothorax 1.35 long, 1.30 wide; abdomen 1.60 long, 1.10 wide. Eye measurements: AME 0.07; ALE 0.10; PME 0.11; PLE 0.11; AME–AME 0.05; AME–ALE 0.04; PME–PME 0.10; PME–PLE 0.04; AME–PME 0.08; ALE–PLE 0.00; clypeus–AME 0.25; clypeus–ALE 0.26. Leg formula: I, IV, II, III; measurements of palp and legs: palp: 1.90 (0.72, 0.25, 0.23, 0.70); I: 8.68 (2.4, 0.65, 2.40, 2.30, 0.93); II: 6.84 (1.90, 0.59, 1.85, 1.70, 0.80); III: 5.22 (1.50, 0.49, 1.25, 1.30, 0.68); IV: 7.42 (2.10, 0.57, 2.00, 1.90, 0.85).

Cephalothorax light yellowish. Abdomen anteriorly light greyish, posteriorly grey to dark grey, white spot in front of anal tubercle. Legs proximally pale yellowish, distal parts increasingly reddish-brown (Fig. 26).

Palp as in diagnosis. Terminal apophysis apically denticulated. Tegular apophysis present. Paracymbium bifurcate; ventral process subdivided; lateral branch of the ventral process in ventral view t-shaped and divided again. Median branch wide and slightly curved.

Description. Female (paratype): Total length 3.25; cephalothorax 1.40 long, 1.30 wide; abdomen 1.85 long, 1.35 wide. Eye measurements: AME 0.06; ALE 0.10; PME 0.10; PLE 0.11; AME–AME 0.07; AME–ALE 0.04; PME–PME 0.11; PME–PLE 0.05; AME–PME 0.07; ALE–PLE 0.00; clypeus–AME 0.24; clypeus–ALE 0.22. Leg formula: I, IV, II, III; measurements of palp and legs: palp: 2.15 (0.69, 0.28, 0.38, 0.80); I: 8.61 (2.40, 0.64, 2.40, 2.20, 0.97); II: 6.66 (1.90, 0.58, 1.75, 1.60, 0.83); III: 5.13 (1.50, 0.50, 1.20, 1.23, 0.70); IV: 7.25 (2.20, 0.59, 1.90, 1.70, 0.86).

Cephalothorax uniformly yellow. Abdomen grey, anteriorly light grey, posteriorly dark grey thin transversal stripe (Fig. 27). Legs proximally pale yellow, distal parts increasingly reddish-brown. Pa and distal Ti lighter.

Epigynum as in diagnosis. Scape short, wide. Functional receptaculum with one winding, winding parallel to longitudinal body axis. Large apical chamber with internal sclerotized structures and with apical glandular pores.

Variation Male (n=6). Total length 2.50–3.00; cephalothorax 1.20–1.40 long, 1.10–1.30 wide; abdomen 1.10– 1.60 long, 0.80–1.10 wide. Eye measurements: AME 0.06–0.07; ALE 0.10–0.11; PME 0.09–0.12; PLE 0.10–0.11; AME–AME 0.04–0.07; AME–ALE 0.03–0.05; PME–PME 0.07–0.11; PME–PLE 0.03–0.05; AME–PME 0.03– 0.09; ALE–PLE 0.00; clypeus–AME 0.21–0.29; clypeus–ALE 0.19–0.26. Leg formula for all male spiders: I, IV, II, III; measurements of palp and legs: palp: total length 0.6 6–0.75; Fe 0.60–0.72, Pa 0.21–0.25, Ti 0,20–0,24, Ta 1.71–1.90; I: total length 7.09–8.79; Fe 2.00–2.40, Pa 0.53–0.65, Ti 1.90–2.45, Mt 1.80–2.4, Ta 0.86–1.00; II: total length 5.67–7.11, Fe 1.60–2.20, Pa 0.49–0.59, Ti 1.50–1.90, Mt 1.35–1.70, Ta 0.73–0.86; III: total length 4.56– 5.26, Fe 1.30–1.50, Pa 0.41–0.49, Ti 1.16–1.25, Mt 1.03–1.40, Ta 0.62–0.74; IV: total length 6.02–7.46, Fe 1.80– 2.10, Pa 0.46–0.57, Ti 1.60–2.00, Mt 1.40–1.90, Ta 0.76–0.90.

Female (n=28). Total length 2.80–4.00; cephalothorax 1.30–1.60 long, 1.10–1.80 wide; abdomen 1.50–2.45 long, 1.10–2.05 wide. Eye measurements: AME 0.05–0.07; ALE 0.09–0.12; PME 0.08–0.12; PLE 0.09–0.12; AME–AME 0.06–0.09; AME–ALE 0.03–0.06; PME–PME 0.09–0.12; PME–PLE 0.03–0.06; AME–PME 0.05– 0.09; ALE–PLE 0.00–0.02; clypeus–AME 0.17–0.30; clypeus–ALE 0.19–0.29. Leg formula for all female spiders: I, IV, II, III; measurements of palp and legs: palp: total length 1.83–2.43, Fe 0.58–0.78, Pa 0.24–0.29, Ti 0.32–0.44, Ta 0.67–0.92; I: total length 6.92–9.24, Fe 2.00–2.80, Pa 0.56–0.71, Ti 1.80–2.85, Mt 1.65–2.50, Ta 0.81–1.06; II:, total length 5.63–7.86, Fe 1.60–2.30, Pa 0.50–0.64, Ti 1.50–2.10, Mt 1.25–1.95, Ta 0.72–0.91; III: total length 4.24–5.91, Fe 1.25–1.80, Pa 0.44–0.55, Ti 0.94–1.40, Mt 0.93–1.40, Ta 0.65–0.76; IV: total length 5.88–8.53, Fe 1.80–2.50, Pa 0.51–0.64, Ti 1.50–2.30, Mt 1.30–2.15, Ta 0.75–0.95.

Distribution and habitat. So far Nesticella beccus n. sp. was recorded from seven caves in Laos in Bolikhamsay Prov., Luang Prabang Prov., Huaphan Prov. and Khammouan Prov.. Three localities are known from Thailand, one in Mae Hong Son Prov. and two from Chiang Mai Prov. Additionally one male was found outside of caves.