Leclercera nagarjunensis Xu & Li & Li 2018, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Xu, Mingjie
name: Li, Fengyuan
name: Li, Shuqiang
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Ochyroceratidae
Leclercera
Leclercera nagarjunensis

description: Leclercera nagarjunensis Li et Li sp. nov.
Figs 1–2, 8
Material examined. Holotype: Male (IZCAS-Ar 34327), Nepal, Magmati District, Kathmandu, Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nagarjun Mountain, 27°48’29”N, 85°20’18”E, altitude 1887 m, 19 November 2016, Q. Y. Zhao leg. Paratypes: 1 male and 2 females, same data as holotype (IZCAS-Ar 34328–34330).
Etymology. The specific name refers to the type locality; adjective.
Diagnosis. The species resembles Leclercera machadoi (Brignoli, 1973) in having the retrolateral apophysis on the incrassate palpal tibia in males and one pair of spermathecae in females, but can be distinguished by three slightly curved spines on the retrolateral apophysis of the tibia (Figs 1B–D), compared with two spines in L. machadoi, and by the oval spermathecae (Fig. 2A), compared with the irregularly oval spermathecae in L. machadoi. Furthermore, this species is easily recognized from all other known species by the ensiform embolus in males (Fig. 1A) and a triangular apophysis medially on the external genitalic area in females (Figs 2B, F).
Description. Male (holotype): Measurements: Total length: 3.67; carapace length: 0.88, width: 0.95; abdomen length: 2.44, width: 0.88. Legs brown; measurements: I 15.72 (4.49, 0.41, 4.62, 4.48, 1.72), II 11.11 (3.21, 0.35, 3.22, 3.08, 1.25), III 7.21 (2.05, 0.31, 2.03, 1.94, 0.88), IV 11.24 (3.46, 0.37, 3.21, 2.95, 1.25). Carapace round, yellow, with one broad middle band and two narrow marginal bands (Fig. 2C). Anterior margin of thoracic region distinctly elevated. Six eyes. Chelicerae brown. Cheliceral promargin with lamina and two teeth, retromargin with two small teeth (Fig. 8A), the posterior surface of fang with 28 small denticles. Fovea shallow with dark streaks radiating slightly. Labium brown. Sternum brown. Abdomen slender and elliptic with complex patterns dorsally. Palp (Figs 1A–D): femur slender; tibia with retrolateral apophysis bearing three slightly curved spines, one ventral spine and 2 strong dorsal hairs; bulb pale yellow, ovate (Fig. 1A); conductor arising distally from bulb, trapezoidal; embolus arising distally from bulb, flattened and straight; embolus and conductor slightly separated (the distance is less than semidiameter of bulb).
Female: Measurements: total length: 3.04; carapace length: 0.96, width: 0.98; abdomen length: 2.25, width: 1.08. Leg measurements: I 15.03 (4.17, 0.36, 4.29, 4.40, 1.81), II 10.28 (2.92, 0.39, 3.08, 2.64, 1.25), III 7.19 (2.05, 0.30, 2.05, 1.88, 0.91), IV 11.04 (3.30, 0.30, 3.15, 3.04, 1.25). Similar to male in coloration and general features (Figs 2D–F) but smaller. Abdomen globular (Fig. 2D). External genitalic area somewhat swollen, covered with hairs medially. Internal genitalia as in diagnosis (Fig. 2A).
Variation. Male: carapace length: 0.88, 1.03, width: 0.95, 1.06, tibia I 4.49, 5.45; Female: carapace length: 0.95, 0.96, width: 0.94, 0.98, tibia I 3.30, 4.17.
Natural history. Collected in leaf litter under roots of big trees at an altitude of 1887 m.
Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Fig. 9).
description: Published as part of Xu, Mingjie, Li, Fengyuan & Li, Shuqiang, 2018, Four new species of the spider genus Leclercera Deeleman-Reinhold (Araneae, Ochyroceratidae) from Nepal, pp. 558-572 in Zootaxa 4461 (4) on page 560, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4461.4.6, http://zenodo.org/record/1460302