Nesticella marapu

Nesticella marapu
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Nesticidae
Genus:	Nesticella
Species:	N. marapu
Binomial name
Nesticella marapu Benjamin, 2004

Nesticella marapu is an eyeless spider from Sumba, Indonesia. It has long legs and weak pigmentation. It is distinguished by all other species in the genus Nesticella 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