Martensopoda transversa, Jäger, Peter, 2006

Jäger, Peter, 2006, Martensopoda gen. nov. from southern Indian mountain ranges, the first genus of huntsman spiders with a cymbial spur (Araneae: Sparassidae: Heteropodinae), Zootaxa 1325, pp. 335-345 : 338-341

Martensopoda transversa sp. nov.

Figs 1–12 , 26–28

Type material. Holotype male (PJ 1771) with label: 18. India: Kerala: Cardamon Hills, entre Pambanar et Peermade, 950 m, tamisages en forêt, près d'une rivière; 9.XI.1972; leg. C. Besuchet + I. Löbl. 2 female paratypes (PJ 1772–1773) with label: 49. India: Kerala: Cardamon Hills, Valara Fall; à 46 km au sud­ouest de Munnar, 450–500 m; tamisages dans la forêt près de la rivière; 25.XI.1972; leg. C. Besuchet et I. Löbl. (All material MHNG). 1 female paratype (PJ 1775) with same data as holotype. ( SMF). [GPS Peermade: 9° 34' 0 0 N, 76° 58' 60 E; GPS Munnar: 10° 05' 60 N, 77° 04' 0 0 E]

Further material examined. 1 juvenile (PJ 1774) with label: 49. India: Kerala: Cardamon Hills, Valara Fall; à 46 km au sud­ouest de Munnar, 450–500 m; tamisages dans la forêt près de la rivière; 25.XI.1972; leg. C. Besuchet et I. Löbl ( MHNG).

Diagnosis. Females with median septum being broader than in M. minuscula comb. nov., having an additional distinct pit at the anterior end of median septum, rims around copulatory openings building a small circle ( Figs 9, 11 ), lateral loops of internal duct system extending posteriorly not to receptacula ( Figs 10, 12 ). From the present material colour pattern of M. transversa sp. nov. seems to be less distinct than in M. minuscula comb. nov. ( Figs 27–28 ).

Note. Characters of the male palp are not included as no male of M. minuscula comb. nov. is yet known. Characters are therefore listed in the genus description.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the organisation of the embolus, which is –unique within Heteropodinae– oriented transversally to the plane of the alveolus, i.e., running in a ventral loop (not in a prolateral loop as in other Heteropodinae genera); Latin: transversus – transverse; adjective.

Description. Male holotype. Dorsal shield of prosoma length 2.1, width 2.6, anterior width 1.4, height 1.2. Opisthosoma length 2.6, width 1.7. Leg formula: 2413; leg and palp measurements: Palp 4.4 (1.3, 0.7, 0.8, ­, 1.6), I 10.9 (3.2, 1.3, 2.9, 2.5, 1.0), II 12.7 (3.7, 1.4, 3.6, 2.9, 1.1), III 10.4 (3.2, 1.2, 2.7, 2.4, 0.9), IV 11.5 (3.3, 1.1, 3.0, 3.0, 1.1). Spination: palp 131, 101, 2111, 200; femur I–III 323, IV 322; patella 001; tibia I–III 2026, IV 2126; metatarsus I–II 0 0 0 4, III 2024 [+1 distal, median small spine], IV 3036. Eye diameters: AME 0.14, ALE 0.24, PME 0.16, PLE 0.25; eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PME 0.21, PME–PLE 0.28, AME–PME 0.28, ALE–PLE 0.26; clypeus AME 0.21, clypeus ALE 0.14. Left cheliceral furrow with 4 instead of the usual 3 anterior teeth, both posterior furrows with 4 teeth. Generally light coloured to pale spiders. Colour pattern as in Figs 27–28 .

Female paratypes. Dorsal shield of prosoma length 2.8–3.4, width 2.6–3.2, anterior width 1.4–1.8, height 0.9–1.2; opisthosoma length 3.1–3.3, width 2.1–2.2. Leg formula: 2413; leg and palp measurements: Palp 3.8–4.6 (1.1–1.3, 0.6–0.8, 0.9–1.0, ­, 1.2–1.5), I 8.5–10.6 (2.3–3.1, 1.2–1.5, 2.3–2.8, 1.9–2.4, 0.8), II 9.7–12.5 (2.9–3.7, 1.3–1.7, 2.6–3.3, 2.1–2.8, 0.8–1.0), III 8.0–10.0 (2.5–3.0, 1.1–1.3, 1.9–2.5, 1.8–2.3, 0.7–0.9), IV 9.1–11.1 (2.7–3.3, 1.0–1.2, 2.2–2.8, 2.3–2.7, 0.9–1.1). Spination: palp 131, 101, 2121, 1014; femur I–II 323, III 322, IV 321; patella I–II 001(0), III–IV 001; tibia I 1 (2)026, II 2 (1)026, III 2026, IV 2025 (6)[retrolateral basal spine reduced]; metatarsus I–II 0 0 0 4, III 2014 [+1 distal, median spine], IV 3036[+1 distal, median spine]. Eye diameters: AME 0.14–0.16, ALE 0.24–0.30, PME 0.16–0.18, PLE 0.28–0.30; eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.11–0.15, AME–ALE 0.04–0.06, PME–PME 0.22–0.27, PME–PLE 0.25–0.31, AME –PME 0.28–0.33, ALE–PLE 0.23–0.32; clypeus AME 0.18–0.22, clypeus ALE 0.13–0.17. Right cheliceral furrow of one female (PJ 1775) with 4 instead of the usual 3 anterior teeth, both posterior furrows with 4 teeth. Palpal claw with 6–8 teeth. Colour pattern as in male ( Figs 27–28 ).

Distribution. South India (Kerala State: Cardamon Hills).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Martensopoda transversa gen. nov., sp. nov., ♂ holotype from Cardamon Hills, India (PJ 1771). 1 – 5 Left male pedipalp (1 prolateral, 2, 5 ventral, 3 retrolateral, 4 dorsal); 6 Tip of embolus, prolateral; 7 Trilobate membrane of left leg IV, dorsal; 8 Dorsal shield of prosoma, dorsal. C conductor, E embolus, EA embolic apophysis, PB prolateral bulge, SP spur of cymbium.

FIGURES 9 – 12. Martensopoda transversa gen. nov., sp. nov., ΨΨ paratypes from Cardamon Hills, Kerala, India (9 – 10, 12 PJ 1772, 11 PJ 1775). 9, 11 Epigyne, ventral; 10 Internal duct system, dorsal; 12 Schematic course of internal duct system, dorsal. LL lateral loops of internal duct system, MS median septum, PA pit anterior to septum, PP pit posterior to septum, R spiral rim of copulatory opening.

FIGURES 22 – 26. 22 – 25 Martensopoda minuscula (Reimoser 1934) comb. nov., ΨΨ from Palni Hills, Tamil Nadu, India (22 – 23 PJ 1776, 24 – 25 PJ 1778). 26 Martensopoda transversa gen. nov., sp. nov., Ψ paratype from Cardamon Hills, Kerala, India (PJ 1772). 22 Claw of right pedipalpus, retrolateral; 23 Prolateral claw of right leg I, prolateral; 24, 26 Dorsal shield of prosoma, dorsal; 25 Sternum, ventral.

FIGURES 27 – 30. 27 – 28 Martensopoda transversa gen. nov., sp. nov., ♂ holotype, ΨΨ paratypes from Cardamon Hills, Kerala, India. 29 – 30 Martensopoda minuscula (Reimoser 1934) comb. nov., ΨΨ from Palni Hills, Tamil Nadu, India (27, 29 dorsal aspect; 28, 30 ventral aspect). See illustrations for identification (PJ) number.