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.

Nesticella marapu
Scientific classification Edit this 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

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

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The species name marapu is derived from the Sumbanese spirit of ancestors Marapu.

References

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  • Benjamin, S.P. (2004). Nesticella marapu sp. n., a blind nesticid (Araneae: Nesticidae) from Sumba, Indonesia. Rev. suisse Zool. 111:303-307. PDF