Sinopoda sitkao, Jäger, Peter, 2012

Jäger, Peter, 2012, Revision of the genus Sinopoda Jäger, 1999 in Laos with discovery of the first eyeless huntsman spider species (Sparassidae: Heteropodinae), Zootaxa 3415, pp. 37-57 : 44-46

Sinopoda sitkao spec. nov.

Figs 24-26, 36-38, 81

Type material: Holotype: female, LAOS: Luang Prabang Province: Nam Ou, Muang Ngoi, Tham Doun Mai , N 20°45'27.2'', E 102°38'51.7'' [370 m altitude], cave in limestone, by hand, 22 January 2012, H. Steiner leg., field number 064/12 ( SMF, PJ 3388, SD 850 ) .

Paratype: 1 female, with same data as for holotype, but field number 068/12 ( SMF, PJ 3389 ) .

Diagnosis. Medium-sized Heteropodinae , body length of females: 15.6. Females (Figs 24-26) similar to those of S. undata Liu et al., 2008 in having a relatively broad lobal septum and internal duct system with slim spermathecae, but are distinguished from this and other Sinopoda spp . by 1. Glandular appendages much shorter than in S. undata and not semicircular, 2. Posterior part wider than anterior part with glandular appendages, 3. Lateral lobes massive and not as narrow as in S. undata .

Etymology. The species name is derived and simplified from the Lao word “sîitkâao” meaning “pale” and referring to the fact that the species exhibits an overall pale appearance as typical for cave-dwellers; term in apposition.

Description. Female (holotype): Prosoma length 7.4, prosoma width 6.2, anterior width of prosoma 3.5, opisthosoma length 8.2, opisthosoma width 4.9. AME 0.31, ALE 0.48, PME 0.38, PLE 0.55, AME-AME 0.15, AME-ALE 0.04, PME-PME 0.29, PME-PLE 0.42, AME-PME 0.40, ALE-PLE 0.42, clypeus AME 0.61, clypeus ALE 0.50. Spination: Palp: 131, 101, 2121, 1114; legs: femur I-III 323, IV 331; patella I-III 001, IV 000; tibia I 2026, II-III 2126, IV 2226; metatarsus I-II 1014, III 2016, IV 3036. Ventral metatarsus III with sparse double row of stiff bristles in proximal half, IV with dense double row of bristles along entire length and distal patch of bristles. Leg formula: 2413. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 13.1 (4.1, 1.9, 3.2, -, 3.9), leg I 41.5 (11.4, 4.2, 12.3, 11.3, 3.1), leg II 44.7 (12.8, 4.6, 13.9, 11.3, 3.1), leg III 38.8 (11.4, 3.7, 11.1, 9.8, 2.8), leg IV 42.2 (11.8, 3.5, 12.0, 11.8, 3.1). Cheliceral furrow with 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, and with ca. 25-30 denticles in restricted patch close to anterior teeth. Margin of chelicerae close to fang base with one bristle. Palpal claw with 9+1 (10+1) teeth. Sternum, ventral coxae and ventral femora covered sparsely with long setae, frontal chelicerae with dense cover of long setae, otherwise with shorter setae.

Copulatory organ in diagnosis (Figs 24-26). Epigynal field as wide as long, with two long anterior bands and one slit sensillum on the left side close to the field. Lateral lobes fused, posteriorly with only slight median indentation. Epigynal pockets running from lateral to medio-anterior, where copulatory openings are situated. Lateral furrows distinct, longitudinal. Glandular appendages extending not in posterior half of internal duct system. Spermathecae diverging as a “V” posteriorly, fertilisation ducts arising posteriorly, long and laminar. Few sclerotised spheres present at median junction of lateral lobes.

Colouration in ethanol (Figs 36-38): Yellowish-brown. Dorsal prosoma yellowish-brown with cephalic part slightly reddish-brown, covered by dark-grey hairs, except for characteristic transversal band posteriorly, fovea distinct, radial striae indistinct. Sternum and ventral coxae pale yellowish-brown, gnathocoxae and labium slightly reddish-brown. Chelicerae deep reddish-brown. Legs yellowish-brown. Opisthosoma uniformly greyish-brown covered by short dark-grey setae. Spinnerets reddish-brown.

Male. Unknown.

Variation. Paratype female with PL 7.2, OL 8.3.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality (Fig. 81).