Nemesia gajui Rafael & Molero-Baltanás, 2026, n. sp.

Nemesia gajui n. sp. (Figs 4B; 5B; 6C, D; 7C, D; 8D) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 5005DA12-6D4A-4E4B-808C-663824636C4E TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype. Spain • ♂; Cortijo el Alcaide, Córdoba; 37°51’9”N, 4°49’26”W; Alt.: 78 m; 23.XI.2022; MNCN 20.02/41856. Paratype. Spain • ♀; Cortijo el Alcaide, Córdoba; 37°51’9”N, 4°49’26”W; Alt.: 78 m; 22.XI.2020; MNCN 20.02/41857. ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Spain • ♀; Alcolea, Córdoba; 37.943846, -4.693745; Alt.: 172 m; 27.III.2022; Coll. CPP- 0208 • ♀; Alcolea, Córdoba; 37°56’37”N, 4°41’37”W; Alt.: 172 m; 27.III.2022; Coll. CPP- 0293 • ♀; Cortijo el Alcaide, Córdoba; 37°51’9”N, 4°49’26”W; Alt.: 78 m; 5.IV.2022; Coll. CPP- 0205 • ♀; Cortijo el Alcaide, Córdoba; 37°51’9”N, 4°49’26”W; Alt.: 78 m; 05.IV.2022; Coll. CPP- 0302 • ♂; Cortijo el Alcaide, Córdoba; 37°51’9”N, 4°49’26”W; Alt.: 78 m; 19.XI.2022; Coll. CPP- 0357 • ♂; Cortijo el Alcaide, Córdoba; 37°51’9”N, 4°49’26”W; Alt.: 78 m; 9.XI.2022; Coll. CPP- 0356 • ♂; Cortijo el Alcaide, Córdoba; 37°51’9”N, 4°49’26”W; Alt.: 78 m; 19.XI.2022; Coll. CPP- 0358. ETYMOLOGY. — The name of this species is in honour of Dr Miquel Gaju, Professor of Zoology in the University of Córdoba and mentor of both authors of the present work. DIAGNOSIS. — Bulb of N. gajui n. sp. is slightly wider than that of N. shenlongi and N. eira n. sp. The tip of the embolus differs among the three species: in N. gajui n. sp. it is wider and somewhat straight, with a small arrowhead-like tip (Fig. 4B 1); in N. shenlongi, it has an intermediate width and is curved, resembling a curved nail at the tip (Fig. 1C1), whereas in N. eira n. sp, the end of the embolus is more elongated, with a blunt tip (Fig. 4A 1). The spermathecae of N. gajui n. sp. resemble those of N. shenlongi, but the ends of the receptacles diverge in N. gajui n. sp. (Fig. 5B). The third pair of sternum sigillae in N. gajui n. sp. are elongated and brown (Fig. 6B), in contrast to those of N. eira n. sp, which are orange and ovoid. DESCRIPTION Holotype: MNCN 20.02 /41856 Male General appearance. Cream colour when alive with dark medal-shaped mark on middle of prosoma and dark dots on opisthosoma. In alcohol, brownish prosoma with whitish pubescence and opisthosoma brown with undefined dorsal cardiac mark and four to five chevrons (Fig. 7C). Prosoma. Clypeus with transversal light brown line, five bristles, and white pubescence. POP black, covering all eyes. Caput low. Crest zone brownish with eight short bristles. Chelicerae dark brown with two dorsal stripes of whitish pubescence. Cheliceral rastellum with five strong bristles (sometimes four). Fang ridge smooth. Cheliceral furrow teeth with six marginal denticles. Sternum brown with elongated dark brown or black sigillae, first two pairs of sigillae marginal, and third pair submarginal. Maxillae same colour as sigillae with three to six cuspules other males with four to seven. Labium and coxae dark brown or black. Palp and legs I-IV. Cymbium dorsal patch with 14-17 spines. Bulb globular,embolus with wide duckbill-shaped end (Fig.4B). Palp tibia ratio 2.09±0.14. Apical dorsal patch of tibia of palp with 12-15 spines. Clasper hook slightly curved. Clasper field with scopula. Metatarsus I curved. Femora of palp and legs dark brown, remaining segments brown. Retrolateral maculae on femora and patellae of anterior legs, prolateral side of femora of posterior legs. Scopula on all ventral sides of first two pairs of legs. MTF4 ratio: tibia> femur> metatarsus, but in two specimens, tibia> metatarsus> femur. Spines, Palp. Cym= 14:17 (12-18:14-16-17), Patch= 12:15 (11-13-17:10-13-16); prolateral side, Pa= 1:1, Ti= 0:0 (1:1); Leg I: prolateral side, Pa= 2:2, Ti= 3:3 (4:3), Met= 3:3 (2:2); retrolateral side, Pa= 1:1 (12), Ti= 3:3, Met= 3:2 (2:2-3); Leg II: prolateral side, Pa= 2:2, Ti= 3:3, Met= 3:3; retrolateral side, Pa= 1:1 (0:1), Ti= 3:3, Met= 2:2 (3:3); Leg III: prolateral side, Pa= 2:2, Ti= 4:4 (3:3), Met= 3:3; retrolateral side, Pa= 1:1 (2-3:2), Ti= 3:3 (4-6-7:4-5-6-7), Met= 3:3; Leg IV: prolateral side, Pa= 2:2 (1:1), Ti= 6:5 (5:5), Met= 3:3 retrolateral side, Pa= 1:1 (0:1), Ti= 5:5 (3-4:3), Met= 3:3. Opisthosoma. Epiandrous fusillae: 56 rectangular; epiandrous area: 0.77 mm 2; density: 75.61 epiandrous fusillae/mm2. In remaining males, epiandrous fusillae: 50±9; epiandrous area: 0.66± 0.09 mm 2; density: 75.61±13.35 epiandrous fusillae/ mm 2. Spinnerets: PLS: proximal segment as long as middle and distal segments together. PMS cone-shaped. Measurements (n = 4). Bl= 15.67 (12.91-16.29); Prosoma. Ca= 4 (3.73-4.22); CL= 6.89 (5.99-6.89); CW= 5.53 (5.36- 5.84); Ch= 2.21 (1.93-2.47); Th= 1.84 (1.37-2.15); Cly= 0.2 (0.14-0.2); AER= 1.11 (1.11-1.2); PER= 1.27 (1.26-1.29); ALE= 0.28 (0.27-0.32); PLE= 0.27 (0.25-0.28); AME= 0.2 (0.19-0.22); PME= 0.19 (0.16-0.2); w= 0.62 (0.58-0.62); mal= 2.29 (2.15-2.38); maw= 1.25 (1.16-1.39); lal= 0.57 (0.57-0.71); law= 1.24 (1.1-1.26); stl= 3.33 (3.21-3.55); stw= 2.67 (2.52-2.71); Palp: E1= 0.57 (0.54-0.59); E2= 0.21 (0.2-0.23); E3= 0.47 (0.42-0.47); Bu= 1.44 (1.44-1.62); Em= 0.72 (0.72-0.81); Se= 2.21 (1.93-2.21); Tiw= 1.22 (1.22- 1.5); Cyl= 1.31 (1.24-1.47); Til= 2.7 (2.7-2.92); Pal= 1.9 (1.78-2); Fel= 3.67 (3.52-3.75); TOTAL= 9.58 (9.51-9.99); Leg I: TiIw= 1.41 (1.24-1.52); Tal= 2.42 (2.42-2.69); Mel= 3.8 (3.4-3.94); Til= 3.93 (3.64-3.93); Pal= 3.09 (2.75-3.46); Fel= 5.18 (4.66-5.98); TOTAL= 18.42 (14.45-19.73); Leg II: Tal= 2.34 (2.32-2.42); Mel= 3.65 (3.47-3.88); Til= 3.58 (3.38-3.65); Pal= 2.83 (2.79-2.97); Fel= 5.13 (5.13-5.61); TOTAL= 17.53 (17.16-18.52); Leg III:Tal= 2.48 (2.48-2.81); Mel= 4.3 (4.18-4.54); Til= 3.16 (3.01-3.32); Pal= 2.34 (1.87- 2.6); Fel= 4.43 (3.92-4.71); TOTAL= 16.71 (15.57-17.89); Leg IV: Tal= 2.77 (2.77-2.98); Mel= 5.5 (5.33-6.25); Til= 6.4 (6.29-6.8); Pal= 3.39 (3.08-3.72); Fel= 5.59 (5.28-6.25); TOTAL= 23.65 (22.96-25.55). Paratype: MNCN 20.02/41857 Female General appearance. Cream colour when alive with dark dots on opisthosoma. Brownish prosoma with central dark medal-shaped mark, covered by whitish pubescence. Opisthosoma brown with undefined dark drawn formed by dots (Fig. 7B). Prosoma. Clypeus light brown with seven bristles. POP black, covering all eyes (Fig. 5C). Caput slightly elevated. Crest zone light brown with nine bristles.Chelicerae as in holotype. Cheliceral rastellum with five strong bristles, sometimes six. Fang ridge smooth. Cheliceral furrow teeth with six promarginal denticles, five in some specimens. Sternum yellowish-brown with elongated dark brown sigillae, first two pairs of sigillae marginal, the third pair submarginal. Maxillae showing the same colour as sigillae with three to eight cuspules, but others with five to nine. Labium and coxae as for male (Fig. 5D). Palp and legs I-IV. Dark brown in proximal segments and light brown in distal segments, with sides of tarsi and metatarsi darkened by scopulae. Maculae only on femora, on prolateral and retrolateral sides of all legs. MTF4 ratio: tibia> femur> metatarsus. Spines, Palp. Prolateral side, Pa= 2:3 (1-2-3:1-2), Ti= 2:2 (2:3); retrolateral side, Ti= 1:1; Leg I: prolateral side, Pa= 2:2, Ti= 3:3; Leg II: prolateral side, Pa= 2:2, Ti= 3:3, Met= 1.1 (0:0); Leg III: prolateral side, Pa= 0:0 (2:2), Ti= 2:1 (2:2), Met= 2:2; retrolateral side, Ti= 3:2 (2:2), Met= 3:3; Leg IV: prolateral side, Met= 1:0 (0-1:0-1); retrolateral side, Ti= 2:2, Met= 3:2 (2:3). Opisthosoma. Spinnerets: PLS: proximal segment as long as middle and distal segments together. PMS: digitiform. Spermathecae: short, mound-shaped with divergent ends of receptacles (Fig. 4B). Measurements (n = 5). Bl= 19.96 (9.1-19.96); Prosoma. Ca= 4.89 (4.17-5.58); CL= 8.13 (6.69-9.01); CW= 6.86 (5.28- 7.6); Ch= 3.93 (3-4.23); Th= 2.84 (2.19-3.03); Cly= 0.36 (0.13-0.36); AER= 1.42 (1.3-1.61); PER= 1.44 (1.39-1.68); ALE= 0.37 (0.33-0.42); PLE= 0.37 (0.32-0.4); AME= 0.17 (0.17-0.27); PME= 0.25 (0.22-0.25); w= 0.68 (0.65-0.76); mal= 3.25 (2.62-3.25); maw= 1.84 (1.46-2.06); lal= 0.85 (0.65-1.39); law= 1.45 (1.17-1.82); stl= 4.22 (3.63-5.1); stw= 3.27 (2.78-3.82); Palp:Tal= 2.64 (2.01-2.99);Til= 2.69 (2.18- 3.54); Pal= 2.28 (1.78-2.56); Fel= 4.47 (3.68-4.77); TOTAL= 12.08 (10.1-13.36); Leg I: Tal= 1.99 (1.64-1.99); Mel= 3.39 (2.53-3.39); Til= 3.9 (3.02-4.09); Pal= 3.7 (3.01-3.99); Fel= 5.91 (4.9-6.48); TOTAL= 18.89 (15.57-19.39); Leg II: Tal= 1.7 (1.64-2.05); Mel= 3.05 (2.47-3.05);Til= 3.61 (2.63-3.62); Pal= 3.47 (2.77-3.84); Fel= 5.22 (4.45-5.63); TOTAL= 17.05 (14.21-18.13); Leg III: Tal= 2.43 (1.33-2.43); Mel= 2.99 (2.53-3.94); Til= 2.33 (2.08-2.8); Pal= 3.04 (2.32-3.08); Fel= 4.02 (3.51-4.55); TOTAL= 14.81 (12.06-16.47); Leg IV: Tal= 2.2 (1.71-2.47); Mel= 4.96 (3.78-5.32); Til= 7.08 (5.95-7.52); Pal= 4.12 (3.51-4.4); Fel= 5.68 (4.62-6.03); TOTAL= 24.04 (19.79-25.74). INTRASPECIFIC VARIATIONS The populations from El Patriarca and El Alcaide have darker marks on the prosoma and opisthosoma compared to the population from Alcolea. Additionally, the eye group seems to be wider in spiders from El Alcaide than in those from the other two locations. NATURAL HISTORY Two of the three areas where the species was found – Alcolea and El Patriarca, within the municipality of Córdoba – can be described as open “dehesa” with holm oaks, mastics, and wild olive trees, featuring a dense yet low-growing herbaceous layer on loamy soil. The third location – El Alcaide – is a soil accumulation at the abutment of the railway bridge that crosses the Guadalquivir River, situated in a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Córdoba. The burrow of this species is a simple gallery 20-25 cm deep. Two juveniles were captured and kept in captivity to obtain mature males; the first died, while the second, excavated on 1 November 2023, had reached adulthood. The other males were captured using traps at the end of November after a heavy rain. Apart from the burrow structure and the absence of active hunting behaviour, all other aspects of biology of this species are similar to those of N. eira n. sp.