Menarik kecil, Grall & Jäger, 2022

Grall, Elena & Jäger, Peter, 2022, Four new genera of Heteropodinae Thorell, 1873 from Malaysia, Brunei and Papua New Guinea (Araneae: Sparassidae), Zootaxa 5169 (1), pp. 1-25 : 7-12

Menarik kecil spec. nov.

Figs 17–46 , 86–89 , 98

Type material. MALAYSIA: Sarawak: Holotype male ( SD 1366 ): West Sarawak, Semengoh arboretum, 4–10 January 1984, C.L. & P.R. Deeleman ( RMNH).

Paratypes (9 females): 2 females with same data as for holotype ( RMNH) ; 4 females ( SD 1365 & 1561) with same data as for holotype ( RMNH) ; 1 female with same data as for holotype except: 23 March 1985 ( RMNH) ; 2 females ( SD 1368 ) with same data as for holotype except: 24 & 27 March 1985 ( SMF) .

Additional material examined (1 male, 3 females, 1 subadult male, 17 juveniles, 2 egg-sacs with 15 nymphs). MALAYSIA : Sarawak Province: 7 juveniles with same data as for holotype ( RMNH) ; 4 juveniles, 1 egg-sac with 11 nymphs with same data as for holotype ( RMNH) ; 1 male ( SD 1370 ) , 3 females ( SD 1372 & 1560) , 1 subadult male ( SD 1371 ) , 3 juveniles ( SD 1373 ) , 1 egg-sac with 4 nymphs, Borneo, West Sarawak, Bako National Park , moeras [= swampy] bog, 29 & 30 March 1985, C.L. & P.R. Deeleman [+ 1 juvenile Sinopoda sp. , + 1 juvenile Heteropodinae indet.] ( RMNH; 1 male, 1 female: SMF) ; 3 juveniles ( SD 1369 ) with same data as for holotype except: 24 & 27 March 1985 ( SMF) .

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Malayan word “kecil”, meaning “little”, and refers to the small body size of this species; term in apposition.

Diagnosis. Small Sparassidae with TL <5.0 ( Figs 86–89 ). Males of Menarik kecil spec. nov. may be recognised by the following combination of characters ( Figs 17–22 ): 1. Apical part of embolus forming almost a circle in a plane oblique to cymbial length axis, 2. Tegular apophysis arising from a 7- to 8-o’clock-position, curved, its tip distad and 3. RTA with basal part bulgy and with various lobes, apical branch acutely tapering. Females are unique in the subfamily Heteropodinae having an oval to slit-like copulatory atrium at anterior half of epigyne ( Figs 23–24 , 28–36 ). Moreover, posterior part with large spherical spermathecae and long antero-laterad fertilisation ducts ( Fig. 25 ).

Description. Male (holotype): TL 3.4; PL 1.8, PW 1.8, AW 1.1; OL 1.6, OL 1.1. Eye measurements ( Fig. 40 ): AME 0.10; ALE 0.18; PME 0.10; PLE 0.20; AME–AME 0.10; AME–ALE 0.02; PME–PME 0.15; PME–PLE 0.21; AME–PME 0.18; ALE–PLE 0.19; clypeus AME 0.14; clypeus ALE 0.12. Leg formula: 2431. Measurements of palp and legs: palp: 2.80 (0.80, 0.45, 0.55, 1.00); I: 6.60 (1.80, 0.80, 1.80, 1.60, 0.60); II: 8.60 (2.40, 0.90, 2.30, 2.20, 0.80); III: 7.20 (2.10, 0.80, 1.90, 1.80, 0.60); IV: 7.40 (2.10, 0.80, 1.85, 1.95, 0.70). Spination: palp: 131, 101, 2001; legs: Fe I 323, Fe II & III 222, Fe IV 221; Pa I–IV 000; Ti I & II 1026, Ti III & IV 2226; Mt I & II 0006, Mt III 2036, Mt IV 3036. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal, 6 retromarginal teeth, 17 intermarginal denticles and 1 escort seta ( Fig. 45 ). Retrolateral claw of right leg I with 16 teeth ( Fig. 42 ). Trilobate membrane of right leg II with narrow median hook, slightly shorter than lateral projections ( Fig. 27 ).

Palp as in diagnosis ( Figs 17–22 ). Embolus basally wide, apical part filiform. Spermophor curved distinctly at distal part of tegulum, slightly in proximal half (best seen in ventral view). Tegular apophysis wide, curved and tapering. Distal part of tegulum bulging ventrally. Apical part of RTA strongly acute, beak-shaped in retrolateral view with dorsal branch; basal part broad and wide, roughly kidney-shaped in ventral view.

Colouration in ethanol ( Figs 86–87 ): Prosoma yellowish-brown, median part with brown semi-circular pattern, posterior and lateral margin dark brown. Sternum yellowish-white. Opisthosoma brown with yellow spots, posteriorly dark brown, ventrally yellow, laterally with brown stripes. Chelicerae yellowish-brown. Coxa I–III medio-dorsally with brown stripe. Palps yellowish-brown. Fe and Pa distally darker brown. Legs yellowish-brown; Fe lateral and distal part darker brown; Pa and Ti laterally with brown spots.

Female (paratype): TL 4.4; PL 2.0, PW 1.9, AW 1.2; OL 2.4, OW 1.7. Eye measurements ( Fig. 41 ): AME 0.10; ALE 0.18; PME 0.11; PLE 0.25; AME–AME 0.12; AME–ALE 0.04; PME–PME 0.16; PME–PLE 0.22; AME– PME 0.21; ALE–PLE 0.18; clypeus AME 0.19; clypeus ALE 0.17. Leg formula: 2431; measurements of palp and legs: palp: 3.00 (0.80, 0.50, 0.70, 1.00); I: 6.80 (1.80, 0.90, 1.80, 1.70, 0.60); II: 8.50 (2.40, 1.00, 2.30, 2.10, 0.70); III: 7.30 (2.10, 0.90, 1.90, 1.80, 0.60); IV: 7.60 (2.10, 0.80, 1.90, 2.10, 0.70). Spination: palp: 131, 101, 2221, 1004; legs: Fe I 222/322, Fe II & III 222, Fe IV 221; Pa I–IV 000; Ti I & II 1016, Ti III 2126, Ti IV 2226; Mt I & II 0006, Mt III 2026, MT IV 3036. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal, 6 retromarginal teeth, 16 intermarginal denticles and 1 escort seta ( Fig. 46 ). Palpal claw with 6 long teeth and 1 short tooth ( Fig. 43 ), retrolateral claw of right leg I with 16 teeth ( Fig. 44 ).

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis ( Figs 23–26 , 28–37 ). Epigynal field wider than long with two long anterior “horns” and two indistinct lateral bulges. Lateral lobes fused, with few “fusion bubbles” in posterior half and with slight median indentation at posterior margin, extending very slightly beyond epigastric furrow. Internal duct system wider than long. Glandular appendages short and mainly visible in ventral view. Fertilization ducts arising posterolaterally, long and slender, tips antero-laterad.

Colouration in ethanol ( Figs 88–89 ): Prosoma yellowish-brown, medially with semi-circular brown pattern, posterior and lateral margin dark brown. Sternum yellowish-white. Opisthosoma brown with yellow spots, medially with yellow transversal stripes, posterior part darker brown, ventral part medially yellow, laterally with brown stripes. Chelicerae yellowish-brown. Coxa I–III medio-dorsally with brown stripe. Palps yellowish-brown; Fe distally brown. Legs yellowish-brown; Fe distally and medially brown; Pa laterally brown.

Variation. Male (SD 1370). TL 4.45; PL 2.05, PW 1.95; OL 2.4, OW 1.65. Measurements of leg II: 9.60 (2.70, 1.00, 2.70, 2.40, 0.80); Spination: palp: Mt 1110; legs: Fe II 223, Fe III 222/322; Ti II 2026; Mt II 006, Mt III 2026. Chelicerae denticles anterior 3, posterior 5 teeth. In the male from Bako National Park the disto-dorsal apophysis of the male palpal tibia and the retrolateral outline of the basal RTA is differently shaped ( Fig. 22 ). Additionally, the dorsal branch of the RTA was longer and more pronounced ( Fig. 21 ). Females (n = 11). TL 3.7–4.75; PL 1.8–2.15, PW 1.75–2.05, AW 1.1–1.15; OL 1.8–2.6, OW 1.0–1.9. Measurements leg VI: total length 6.90–7.90, Fe 1.95–2.20, Pa 0.70–0.80, Ti 1.80–2.00, Mt 1.80–2.10, Ta 0.65–0.80. Spination: palp: Ti 2121; legs: Fe I 323, Fe II 322, 232, Fe III 232, Fe IV 321, 231; Ti III 1006, 2026, 2226, Ti IV 2126; Mt III 1016, 2006, 2016, 3036. Chelicerae with 3 prolateral, and 5 retrolateral teeth. One female with 6 (left) and 7 (right) retromarginal teeth. Female epigynes with various shapes of atrium ( Figs 28–36 ). Spermathecae in some females antero-laterad, ducts leading to spermathecae were narrower ( Figs 29, 31, 33 ), in some female laterad ( Figs 28, 30 ), in some females in between ( Figs 32, 34 ).

Notes. The majority of females examined showed scars on the surface of the epigyne. In most females with scars present they are most distinct in the right half ( Figs 23 , 28–29, 32–33 ). Only one female showed a larger scar on the left side ( Fig. 30 ). Egg-sacs contained nymphs with TL 1.2, PL 0.65–0.75, the egg-sac with 11 nymphs had a diameter of 3.5 mm and was 2.0 mm thick.

Distribution and habitat. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 98 : blue squares).

Figures

FIGURE 98. Distribution of the new genera and species in Malaysia, Brunei and Papua New Guinea.

FIGURES 17–22. Menarik kecil gen. & spec. nov., males from Sarawak (17–20 holotype; 21–22 male, SD 1370). 17–19 Left palp (17 prolateral, 18 ventral, 19 retrolateral); 20–22 Palpal tibia (20, 22 dorsal, 21 retrolateral). aRTA—apical part of RTA, bRTA—basal part of RTA, dB—dorsal branch of RTA, ddA—disto-dorsal apophysis, E—embolus, S—spermophor, ST—subtegulum, TA—tegular apophysis.

FIGURES 23–27. Menarik kecil gen. & spec. nov. female paratypes (23–26) and male paratype (27) from Sarawak. 23–24 Epigyne, ventral; 25 Vulva, dorsal; 26 Schematic course of internal duct system, ventral; 27 Trilobate membrane, distal metatarsus of right leg II, dorsal.At—atrium, EF—epigynal field, FB—“fusion bubbles”, FD—fertilization duct, FW—first winding of internal duct system, GA—glandular appendages, MA—muscle attachment point, Sc—scar, SP—spermatheca.

FIGURES 28–39. Menarik kecil gen. & spec. nov. female paratypes (28–37) and egg-sac (38–39) from Sarawak. 28–36 Epigyne, ventral (28–35 not dissected, 36 dissected); 37 Vulva, dorsal; 38–39 two views of the same egg-sac. Arrows indicating scars at the anterior epigyne. Note the different shapes of the epigynal atrium.

FIGURES 40–46. Menarik kecil gen. & spec. nov. holotype male (40, 42, 45) and female paratype (41, 43–44, 46) from Sarawak. 40–41 Eyes, dorsal; 42–44 Claws (42, 44 right leg I, retrolateral claw, retrolateral; 43 left palp, prolateral); 45–46 Left chelicera, ventral.

FIGURES 82–97. Heteropodinae gen. & spp. nov., habitus (dorsal and ventral, respectively). 82–85 Borniella parva gen. & spec. nov.; 86–89 Menarik kecil gen. & spec. nov.; 90–93 Micropoda davisae gen. & spec. nov.; 94–97 Tiomaniella ladam gen. & spec. nov. (82–83, 86–87, 90–91, 94–95 holotype male, 84–85, 88–89, 92–93, 96–97 female paratype).