Martensopoda transversa Jäger, 2006

Sankaran, Pradeep M., Malamel, Jobi J., Joseph, Mathew M. & Sebastian, Pothalil A., 2015, An updated review of the genus Martensopoda Jäger, 2006 (Araneae: Sparassidae: Heteropodinae), Zootaxa 3937 (3), pp. 577-590 : 586-587

Martensopoda transversa Jäger, 2006

( Figs 7A–D , 8A–B )

Martensopoda transversa Jäger, 2006: 338 , figs 1–12, 26–28 (Description and illustration of male and female).

Material examined. INDIA: Kerala: 1 female (with left leg II missing), Idukki, near Kuyilimalai Hills in Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary, 9o50'46.91''N, 76o56'16.72''E, 825 m, 23 December 2012, M.J. Mathew leg. by hand ( ADSH 920134C).

Diagnosis. Females of M. transversa are similar to those of M. sanctor sp. nov., but can be separated (also from M. minuscula ) by the roundish epigynal field (both M. sanctor sp. nov. and M. minuscula with oval epigynal field), a distinct anterior pit of the median septum (indistinct in both M. sanctor sp. nov. and M. minuscula ) and the anterior 2/3rd of median part of the internal duct, which forms a flattened, longitudinal plate (in both M. sanctor sp. nov. and M. minuscula , it appears as paired tubes).

Redescription. Female: Prosoma uniformly yellowish-brown with dark, faint markings ( Figs 7A–B ). Eye field yellowish-brown, hirsute; eyes with distinct dark patches. Clypeus, chelicerae, maxillae, labium, sternum yellowish-brown. Cheliceral promargin with 3 teeth, retromargin with 4 teeth; promargin provided with a row of long, curved hairs. Fang furrows provided proximally with a few denticles. Maxillae with reduced scopulae. Sternum without markings. Opisthosoma elongated, hirsute; dorsum and laterals blackish-brown, venter yellowishbrown. Leg segments yellowish-brown with inconspicuous dark brown patches; all trochanters notched; metatarsus IV less scopulated; all other metatarsi and all tarsi with well developed scopulae. Spinnerets yellowish-orange. Palpal segments yellowish-brown. Body length 9.47. Prosoma length 4.34, width 4.22. Opisthosoma length 5.13, width 2.65. Eye diameters: AME 0.17. ALE 0.29. PME 0.19. PLE 0.34. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.12. AME–ALE 0.08. AME–PME 0.22. ALE–PLE 0.29. PME–PME 0.27. PME–PLE 0.33. Clypeus height at AME 0.23, at ALE 0.21. Chelicera length 1.75. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 5.28 [1.51, 0.97, 1.09, 1.71], I 13.03 [3.93, 1.86, 3.20, 2.94, 1.10], II (right leg) 15.16 [4.46, 2.12, 3.81, 3.56, 1.21], III 12.66 [3.95, 1.70, 3.06, 2.96, 0.99], IV 13.57 [4.08, 1.54, 3.23, 3.52, 1.20]. Leg formula 2413. Copulatory organ ( Figs 8A–B ): Epigynal field roundish ( Figs 7C , 8A ). Median septum narrower distally, with a triangular posterior pit ( Figs 7C , 8A ). Rims around copulatory openings forming a small circle ( Figs 7C , 8A ). Lateral loops of internal duct system extending posteriorly not to receptacula ( Figs 7D , 8B ). Anterior 2/3rd of median part of the internal duct system fused to become a broad, longitudinal plate ( Figs 7D , 8B ).

Natural history. Female of M. transversa was collected from leaf litter in a moist-deciduous forest floor.

Distribution. Known only from southern India (Kerala) ( Fig 9 ).

Figures

FIGURE 9. Map showing distributional records of Martensopoda species. ■, ● record from literature.

FIGURES 7 A – D. Martensopoda transversa Jäger, 2006. A – B Female habitus (A dorsal, B ventral); C Epigyne, ventral view; D Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURES 8 A – B. Martensopoda transversa Jäger, 2006. A Epigyne, ventral view; B Same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: AP pit anterior to septum, FD fertilization duct, LL lateral loops of internal duct system, MS median septum, PP pit posterior to septum, R spiral rim of copulatory opening. Scale bars: A – B, 0.01 mm.