Heteropoda aemulans, Bayer & Jager, 2009

Bayer, Steffen & Jäger, Peter, 2009, Heteropoda species from limestone caves in Laos (Araneae: Sparassidae: Heteropodinae), Zootaxa 2143 (1), pp. 1-23 : 11-15

Heteropoda aemulans sp. nov.

Figs 51–72, 116–117

Type material: Holotype ( PJ 2332 ): ♁, LAOS: Province Vientiane: Vang Vieng, Tham Pou Kham , N 18°55.549', E 102°23.734', 260 m, in cave, 17 November 2004, P. Jäger & V. Vedel by hand, ( SMF 58927 ) . Paratypes (13 ♀♀): LAOS: Province Vientiane : 1 ♀ ( PJ 2333 ) , same data as for holotype ( SMF 58928 ) . 1 ♀ ( PJ 2334 ) , same data as for holotype ( SMF 58929 ) . 1 ♀ ( PJ 2335 ) , same data as for holotype ( SMF 58930 ) . 1

♀ ( PJ 2336 ) , same data as for holotype ( SMF 58931 ) . 1 ♀ ( PJ 2781 ) , Ban Nadao , Tham Hoi (1), N 19°02.354', E 102°25.455', 258 m, 18 November 2004, P. Jäger & V. Vedel by hand ( SMF 58936 ) . 1 ♀ ( PJ 2782 ) , same data as for preceding specimen ( SMF 58937 ) . 1 ♀ ( PJ 2783 ) , same data as for preceding specimen ( SMF 58938 ) . 1 ♀ ( PJ 2370 ) , Ban Nadao , Tham Hoi (2), N 19°02.354', E 102°25.455', 258 m, 18 November 2004, P. Jäger & V. Vedel by hand ( SMF 58932 ) . 1 ♀ ( PJ 2371 ) , same data as for preceding specimen ( NSMT) . 1 ♀ ( PJ 2384 ) , Tham Phadeng , N 18°55.486', E 102°26.143', 282 m, cave and surrounding, at night, 19 November 2004, P. Jäger & V. Vedel by hand ( SMF 58933 ) . 1 ♀ ( PJ 2385 ) , same data as for preceding specimen ( SMF 58934 ) . 1 ♀ ( PJ 2780 ) , Tham Done , N 18°56'47.19'', E 102°26'2.84'', inside limestone cave, 14 March 2007, P. Jäger & F. Steinmetz by hand ( SMF 58935 ) . 1 ♀ ( PJ 3046 ) , Tham Done , N 18°56'47.19'', E 102°26'2.84'', cave and surroundings, 19 November 2004, P. Jäger & V. Vedel by hand ( SMF 58939 ) .

Additional material examined (13 juveniles). LAOS: Province Vientiane : 1 juv. ♀ ( PJ 2328 ) , 3 juv. (PJ 2329–2331), same data as for holotype ( SMF 59093 ) . 1 juv. ( PJ 3079 ) , Tham Pou Na , N 18°55'32.59'', E 101°22'55.5'', 279 m, in cave, 15 March 2008, SD 574, P. Jäger by hand, ( SMF 58940 ) . 1 juv. ( PJ 3083 ) , same data as for preceding specimen ( SMF 58943 ) . 2 juv. (PJ 3080–3081), Tham Phathad , N 19°01'45.1'', E 102°25'59.4'', 258 m, in cave, 14 March 2008, P. Jäger by hand ( SMF 58941 ) . 1 juv. ( PJ 3082 ) , same data as for preceding specimens, SD 571 ( SMF 58942 ) . 1 juv. (SD 578), same data as for preceding specimen ( SMF) . 1 juv. ( PJ 3082 ) , same data as for preceding specimens ( SMF 58942 ) . 2 juv. (PJ 3087–3088), Ban Nadao, Tham Hoi (1), N 19°02.354', E 102°25.455', 258 m, 18 November 2004, P. Jäger & V. Vedel by hand ( SMF 58944 ) .

Note: Juveniles could be readily identified by their size and colouration.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the similarity of the present species with Heteropoda maxima (Latin “aemulare”, meaning “to emulate”); present participle active, term in apposition.

Diagnosis. Tibia and cymbium of male palp strongly elongated, cymbium slightly more than 3 times as long as tegulum ( Figs 51, 53). Ventral flange of conductor turning prolaterally basally, before the basal quarter of conductor ( Fig. 56). RTA with a narrow dorsal branch ( Figs 52–53, 55), vRTA with only indistinct hump ( Fig. 53). Sperm duct distinctly S-shaped. Legs of male extraordinary elongated (length of metatarsus of second leg/ width of prosoma = ca. 3.5). Septum of epigyne broadest in its middle part, the latter more than two times as broad as the anterior, narrow part between copulatory openings ( Fig. 64). Anterior part of internal duct system longer than wide, median part of first winding running parallel or only slightly diverging posteriorly; posterior part of internal duct system not or barely covered by anterior part ( Fig. 61, 70–72).

Description. Male (n=1):

Prosoma length 7.7, prosoma width 6.3, anterior width of prosoma 3.2, opisthosoma length 6.7, opisthosoma width 3.6. Eyes: AME 0.33, ALE 0.64, PME 0.46, PLE 0.67, AME – AME 0.11, AME – ALE 0.03, PME – PME 0.21, PME – PLE 0.35, AME – PME 0.42, ALE – PLE 0.44, clypeus height at AME 0.62, clypeus height at ALE 0.42. Eyes not reduced in size ( Fig. 117).

Cheliceral furrow with denticles situated close to three promarginal teeth ( Fig. 58), retrolateral margin with 4 teeth. Trilobate membrane as in Fig. 54.

Spination: Palp: 131, 101, 2121; legs: femur I–II 323, III 333, IV 331; patella I – III 001, IV 000; tibia I – II 2226, III–IV 2126; metatarsus I – II 1014, III 2014, IV 3036. Leg formula: 2143. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 15.2 [5.3, 2.0, 3.8, 4.1], I 71.4 [18.5, 5.0, 21.8, 21.9, 4.2], II 77.1 [20.4, 5.3, 24.6, 22.8, 4.0], III 57.5 [16.1, 4.4, 17.4, 16.4, 3.2], IV 62.1 [16.8, 4.1, 18.1, 19.5, 3.6].

Pedipalp as in diagnosis, with RTA arising distally on tibia, dRTA long, narrow, and distally continuously converging to the tip ( Fig. 55). Conductor long, reaching cymbial margin, sabre-shaped, arising in a 9- o’clock-position on tegulum ( Fig. 56). Embolus arising in a 6-o’clock-position on tegulum, running a semicircle. Sperm-duct clearly sinuous, invert S-shaped ( Figs 52, 56).

Colouration. Generally lighter greyish-brown to yellowish-brown with darker brown pattern on opisthosoma, darker brown annulate patches on the legs, and darker brown transversal band basally on prosoma with radial patches on remaining part. Annulate patches on the legs more or less equal in length and in colour (♀, Fig. 116).

Female (n=13):

Prosoma length 8.5 – 14.5, prosoma width 7.2 – 12.0, anterior width of prosoma 3.9 – 6.6, opisthosoma length 10.7 – 21.1, opisthosoma width 6.5 – 13.3. Eyes: AME 0.32 – 0.47, ALE 0.66 – 0.86, PME 0.51 – 0.71, PLE 0.68 – 0.90, AME – AME 0.18 – 0.31, AME – ALE 0.07 – 0.18, PME – PME 0.28 – 0.47, PME – PLE 0.53 – 0.81, AME – PME 0.46 – 0.67, ALE – PLE 0.57 – 0.73, clypeus height at AME 0.96 – 1.73, clypeus height at ALE 0.67 – 1.32.

Cheliceral furrow, teeth and denticles as in male, except teeth on retromargin of cheliceral furrow in some specimens with 5 teeth (n=6, Fig. 57).

Palpal claw with 9 ( Fig. 59), rarely 10 (n=2) or 8 (n=1) teeth. Arising points of the teeth forming a curved line ( Fig. 59).

Spination: Palp: 131, 101, 2121, 1014 legs: femur I,II 323, III 333(323 n=1), IV 331(341 n=1), Patella highly variable (000, 001, 100, 101); tibia I 2226 (2126 n=2/ 2026 n=2), II 2226 (2126 n=2), III 2126 (2226 n=4), IV 2126 (2226 n=1), metatarsus I – II 1014, III 2014, IV 3036. Leg formula: 2413(2143 n=4). Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 15.8 – 26.8 [4.8 – 8.4, 2.3 – 3.8, 3.6 – 6.3, 5.1 – 8.3], I 51.7 – 84.7 [14.8 – 23.2, 5.0 – 8.8, 15.6 – 25.2, 13.4 – 23.2, 2.9 – 4.6], II 56.5 – 93.3 [16.1 – 26.7, 5.5 – 9.0, 17.5 – 28.1, 14.2 – 24.8, 3.2 – 4.8], III 48.0 – 77.6 [14.1 – 23.4, 4.6 – 7.6, 15.4 – 23.0, 12.2 – 20.6, 2.8 – 4.1], IV 53.5 – 81.6 [15.2 – 23.6, 4.4 – 7.4, 15.6 – 24.6, 15.0 – 24.6, 3.3 – 4.9].

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis. Epigynal field with moderately long anterior bands (length/basal length 1.42–1.77). Median septum freely visible, barely covered by lateral lobes ( Fig. 64). Anterior, narrow part of septum between the two copulatory openings less than half as broad as its median, broadest part. Median septum at least slightly convex ( Fig. 64). Septal pocket variable, narrow to wide, triangular to rounded ( Figs 64–66, 68–69). Septum barely covered by lateral lobes, in posterior view extending beyond lateral lobes ( Fig. 63). Slit sense organs in most cases outside of epigynal field. Anterior part of internal duct system relatively small, not or barely covering posterior part; overall width of posterior parts is always larger than that of anterior parts ( Figs 61, 70–72); anterior part always clearly longer than wide and with more than one winding until turning point ( Figs 61–62).

Colouration. As in male ( Fig. 116).

Variation of copulatory organs. Anterior bands of epigyne varying in length ( Fig. 64, 65–66, 68–69). Lateral margins of median septum in some cases almost straight (n=6, Figs 64, 66), sometimes curved with septum appearing clearly convex (n=6, Figs 65, 68). In one specimen septum strikingly narrow ( Fig. 69). In a few individuals in posterior view median septum extending only slightly beyond lateral lobes ( Fig. 67). Posterior part of internal duct system transversely oval (n=6, Fig. 71), elongated-oval (n=4, Fig. 72) or more or less round (n=2, Fig. 61). The helical sections of internal duct system differing slightly in shape ( Figs 61, 70–72).