''Nesticella marapu'' is an eyeless spider from
Sumba
Sumba ( id, Pulau Sumba) is an island in eastern Indonesia. It is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands and is in the province of East Nusa Tenggara. Sumba has an area of , and the population was 779,049 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as a ...
,
Indonesia. It has long legs and weak pigmentation. It is distinguished by all other species in the genus ''
Nesticella
''Nesticella'' is a genus of spiders of the family Nesticidae. Most of its species are found in Asia—from Russia to Japan, down to Indonesia and several other islands, including New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu
Hiri Motu, also ...
'' by the beak-shaped
paracymbium.
The species is of a bright yellow color, with a body length of less than 3mm, males being a bit smaller.
Of the eyes, not even eye sockets are visible.
It is only known from the 3 km long Marro cave close to
Kabalidana, west of
Waimangura.
Name
The species name ''marapu'' is derived from the Sumbanese spirit of ancestors
Marapu.
References
* Benjamin, S.P. (2004). ''Nesticella marapu'' sp. n., a blind nesticid (Araneae: Nesticidae) from Sumba, Indonesia. ''Rev. suisse Zool.'' 111:303-307
PDF
Nesticidae
Spiders of Asia
Spiders described in 2004
Cave spiders
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