Sinopoda taa, 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 : 46

Sinopoda taa spec. nov.

Figs 27-29, 39-40, 81

Type material: Holotype: female, LAOS: Luang Prabang Province: Tham Nguen , N 19°52'37.4'', E 102°10'6.7'' [500 m altitude], cave in limestone, by hand, 26 December 2010, H. Steiner leg., field number 053/04 LP 26-1 ( SMF, PJ 3381 ) .

Diagnosis. Medium-sized Heteropodinae , body length of female: 18.3. Females (Figs 27-29) similar to those of S. fornicata Liu et al., 2008 in having lateral lobes appearing as large triangle and internal duct system with anterior part (copulatory ducts) appearing as separated swelling, but are distinguished from this and other Sinopoda spp . by 1. Margins of epigynal pockets concave and slightly undulating, 2. Anterior part of internal duct system (without glandular appendages) wider than posterior part (without bent spermathecae).

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Lao word “taa” meaning “eye” and referring to the fact that all eight eyes are developed; term in apposition.

Description. Female (holotype): Prosoma length 8.3, prosoma width 7.2, anterior width of prosoma 4.1, opisthosoma length 10.0, opisthosoma width 5.8. AME 0.31, ALE 0.58, PME 0.38, PLE 0.62, AME-AME 0.18, AME-ALE 0.06, PME-PME 0.24, PME-PLE 0.50, AME-PME 0.53, ALE-PLE 0.42, clypeus AME 0.58, clypeus ALE 0.49. Spination: Palp: 131, 101, 2121, 1014; legs: femur I 323, II-III 333, IV 331; patella I-III 001, IV 000; tibia I-II 2026, III-IV 2126; metatarsus I-II 1014, III 2014, 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 14.3 (4.5, 2.0, 3.2, -, 4.6), leg I 44.7 (12.2, 4.6, 13.4, 11.4, 3.1), leg II 48.2 (13.5, 5.0, 14.5, 12.1, 3.1), leg III 41.9 (12.2., 4.3, 12.3, 10.1, 3.0), leg IV 45.1 (12.6, 4.1, 12.9, 12.3, 3.2). Cheliceral furrow with 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, and with ca. 30-35 denticles in slightly elongated 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, otherwise with shorter setae.

Copulatory organ in diagnosis (Figs 27-29). Epigynal field wider than long, with two short anterior bands (partly fused with field) and one slit sensillum on each side close to the field. Lateral lobes partly fused, posteriorly with almost transversally straight margin and slight median incision. Epigynal pockets running from posterior-lateral to medio-anterior, where copulatory openings are situated. Lateral furrows situated close to lateral ends of pockets, transversally oriented, indistinct. Lobal septum moderately wide. Glandular appendages extending posteriorly in posterior half of internal duct system. Spermathecae bulging laterally, fertilisation ducts arising posterio-laterally, long and leaf-shaped laminar. Sclerotised spheres present at entire median junction of lateral lobes.

Colouration in ethanol (Figs 39-40): Yellowish-brown without pattern. Dorsal prosoma yellowish-brown with fovea and cuticular radial pattern reddish-brown. Sternum and ventral coxae pale yellowish-brown, gnathocoxae deep yellowish-brown, labium reddish-brown. Chelicerae deep reddish-brown. Legs yellowish-brown. Opisthosoma including spinnerets greyish- to yellowish-brown.

Male. Unknown.

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