Sinopoda chiangmaiensis, 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 : 78

The S. chiangmaiensis species-group

Within the new Sinopoda species three differ in various morphological features from all congeners. The herein established chiangmaiensis -group includes: S. chiangmaiensis spec. nov., S. lot spec. nov. and S. phathai spec. nov. Members of this group are distributed in northern Thailand. They are large spiders with a body size for males of 11.50 mm up to 12.70 mm and for females of 14.9 mm up to 16.0 mm. Colouration of the opisthosoma is yellowishwhite, the prosoma and the legs and palps are yellowish-brown. Male specimens (1 species, n=4) can be recognized by the following combination of characters: 1. small and inconspicuous embolic apophysis (distinct embolic apophysis in most other Sinopoda species), 2. slender spermophore (wider in most other Sinopoda species), 3. distal part of tegulum wider than proximal part and 4. conductor arising from 12-o’clock-position with distal part bent dorsally (in most other Sinopoda species conductor arising from 1-o’clock-position with distal part straight or ventrad).

Note: Males from only one species of the newly erected species group are known, so it is difficult to give a comprehensive diagnosis. With the discovery of more males this diagnosis could be modified and sharpened.

Diagnosis: Females of this group (3 species, n=12) can be distinguished from all known Sinopoda species by the following combination of characters: 1. distinct sclerotized bulges located laterally from lobal septum, 2. reduced lobal septum, 3. glandular appendages situated at median part of internal duct system, running dorso-anteriorly of anterior part of spermathecae and extending only in anterior part of internal duct system (in most other Sinopoda species glandular appendages situated at anterior part of internal duct system, running laterally to posteriorly of anterior part and in several Sinopoda species glandular appendages extending in posterior part of internal duct system), 4. anterior part of internal duct system curved (straight in most other Sinopoda species), 5. internal duct system wider than long (in most other Sinopoda species longer than wide), 6. posterior part of internal duct system wider than anterior part (in most other Sinopoda species anterior part wider than posterior part).

Note: We recognized similarities between females of the chiangmaiensis -group and S. ruam spec. nov. But there are also some differences that have led us not to include this species in the group. For further details see S. ruam spec. nov.