Sinopoda caeca, Grall & Jäger, 2020

Grall, Elena & Jäger, Peter, 2020, Forty-seven new species of Sinopoda from Asia with a considerable extension of the distribution range to the South and description of a new species group (Sparassidae: Heteropodinae), Zootaxa 4797 (1), pp. 1-101 : 14-15

Sinopoda caeca spec. nov.

Figs 6 a–b, 56 a–c

Type material: Holotype: female (SD 1390), LAOS: Vientiane Province: Vang Vieng, N of Ban Phoxay, Tham Hoi and Tham Loup , N19°02.350’, E102°25.423’, 256 m, in cave, by hand, 23 July 2018, P. Jäger & S. Packheiser leg. ( SMF).

Paratypes: 3 females (SD 1381, 1388, 1395) with same data as holotype ( SMF) .

Additional material examined: 1 subadult female (SD 1389) with same data as holotype ( SMF) .

Etymology: The species name is derived from the Latin word “caecus, -a, -um” meaning “blind” and refers to the completely lacking eyes and remnants of lenses in this species; adjective.

Diagnosis: Females of S. caeca spec. nov. are similar to those of S. scurion Jäger, 2012 in being completely eyeless. They can be distinguished from the latter species by 1. lobal septum covers nearly whole epigyne (covers nearly half of the epigyne in S. scurion ), 2. lateral lobes more distinct and triangular-shaped (rounded in S. scurion ), 3. epigynal field with posterior part of anterior bands as wide as anterior part and short (posterior part wider than anterior part and longer in S. scurion ), and 4. glandular appendages situated laterally of internal duct system (situated ventrally of internal duct system in S. scurion ).

Description: Female (holotype): Total length 11.30; prosoma 5.20 long, 4.30 wide, anterior width of prosoma 2.60; opisthosoma 6.10 long, 2.80 wide. Leg formula: 2413. Eyes or remnants of lenses completely absent. Measurements of palp and legs: palp: 9.85 (2.80, 1.40, 2.45, 3.20); I: 28.10 (7.70, 2.90, 8.30, 7.30, 1.90); II: 30.80 (8.70, 3.10, 9.30, 7.70, 2.00); III: 27.00 (7.70, 2.60, 7.90, 7.00, 1.80); IV: 28.60 (8.00, 2.40, 8.20, 8.00, 2.00). Spination: palp: 131, 101, 2121, 1014; legs: Fe I–III 323, IV 321; Pa I–IV 000; Ti I–IV 2026; Mt I–II 0004, III 1007 /1006, IV 3036. Cheliceral furrow with 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth.

Colouration in ethanol: Prosoma yellow, antero-medially with diamond-shaped brown spot, antero-laterally reddish-brown. Sternum yellowish-white with brown margin. Opisthosoma yellowish-grey, antero-medially with longitudinal grey stripe, ventral part greyish-brown. Chelicerae brown, basal part with yellow stripes. Palps yellowish-white; Ti and Ta yellow. Legs yellowish-white.

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis. Epigynal field wider than long with two short anterior bands and two slit sensilla. Lateral lobes fused with broad median indentation posteriorly. Lobal septum covering nearly the entire width of the epigynal field, anteriorly with median indentation. Epigynal pockets running from latero-anterior to medioanterior. Fusion bubbles arranged medially at a longitudinal line at epigyne. Internal duct system roughly as wide as long. Spermathecae fused along median line. Glandular appendages extending only in anterior half of internal duct system, short and straight. Fertilization ducts situated postero-laterally, curved.

Male: Unknown.

Variation: Female (n=3): Total length 9.40–13.00; prosoma 4.50–5.60 long, 3.90–4.60 wide, anterior width of prosoma 2.40–2.70; opisthosoma 4.90–7.40 long, 2.40–4.60 wide. Measurements leg I: total length 25.20–30.50, Fe 6.70–8.30, Pa 2.60–3.10, Ti 7.60–9.20, Mt 6.50–7.90, Ta 1.80–2.00. Spination: legs: Pa I–III 001, III 101; Ti I–IV 2126; Mt III 2006.

Distribution: Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURES 6 a–b. Sinopoda caeca spec. nov., holotype female from Tham Loup, copulatory organ. a Epigyne, ventral; b Vulva, dorsal.