Heteropoda flamma, Korai & Jäger, 2025

Korai, Shakal Khan & Jäger, Peter, 2025, Descriptions of three new Heteropoda spiders from tropical Asia (Araneae: Sparassidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 1022, pp. 277-287 : 281-283

Heteropoda flamma sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

Figs 2, 4

Diagnosis

The male of Heteropoda flamma sp. nov. is similar to that of H. obe Jäger, 2014 in having a sub-distally arising RTA with a distally widened dRTA and a dorsal outgrowth, a similar course of the spermophor in ventral view, and a conductor as long as the tegulum ( Fig. 2A–C; Jäger 2014: figs 145–150), but can be distinguished from the latter species by: 1. conductor strongly bent and with tip narrowly pointed (vs slightly bent and continuously tapering in H. obe ); 2. embolus arising in a 5-o’clock-position (vs 6-o’clock position in H. obe ); 3. dRTA with long pointed ventrad tip and vRTA rounded, but tapering (vs dRTA with broadly rounded ventrad tip and vRTA broadly rounded in H. obe ). The male of H. flamma is also similar to that of H. tetrica Thorell, 1897 in having a similar conductor with a flamelike shape and a narrowly pointed tip as well as a similar course of the spermophor in ventral view, and the embolus arising from tegulum at approximately 5-o’clock-position (Jäger 2001: fig. 16a–c), but can be distinguished from the latter species by 1. dRTA with widened tip and dorsal outgrowth (vs simple and narrow in H. tetrica ); 2. conductor very broad and abruptly narrowing apically (vs narrow and continuously narrowing apically in H. tetrica ). Females are unknown.

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the Latin noun ‘ flamma ’, meaning ‘flame’, referring to the flameshaped conductor; noun in apposition.

Type material

Holotype

CHINA • ♂; Hainan Province, Haikou City, Meilan District, Yanfeng Town , Dongzhaigang Mangrove Nature Reserve ; [ 19°56ʹ56ʺ N, 110°34ʹ47ʺ E]; [ 1 m a.s.l.]; 13 Apr. 2013; Y. Zhong and J. Liu leg.; CBEE.

Paratype

CHINA • 1 ♂; same data as for holotype; CBEE .

Description

Male ( holotype)

MEASUREMENTS. BL 11.4; PL 5.5, PW 5.0; AW 2.9; OL 5.9, OW 3.8. Eyes: AME 0.28, ALE 0.41, PME 0.33, PLE 0.48, AME–AME 0.22, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.29, PME–PLE 0.43, AME–PME 0.37, ALE–PLE 0.31, CH AME 0.30, CH ALE 0.28. Spination: palp 131, 101, 2121; Fe I–III 323, IV 331; Pa I–IV 101; Ti I–II 1018, III 2226, IV 2126; Mt I–II 1014, III 1014, IV 3036. Measurements of palp and legs: palp 10.7 (3.5, 1.2, 2.6, –, 3.4); I 32.2 (8.8, 3.2, 8.6, 9.3, 2.9); II 35.5 (8.9, 3.6, 9.5, 10.6, 2.8); III 26.5 (7.3, 2.6, 7.0, 7.2, 2.2); IV 29.2 (7.7, 2.5, 7.6, 8.8, 2.5). Leg formula: II–I–IV–III. Cheliceral furrow with 3 anterior, 4 posterior teeth and ca 26 intermarginal denticles.

PALP. As in diagnosis. RTA arising sub-distally from tibia. Cymbium roughly two times as long as tegulum, with distinct retrolateral bulge. Tegulum slightly elongated. Embolus arising from tegulum at 5-o’clock-position, running a semi-circle. Spermophor only very slightly S-shaped and bent at a right angle distally before running further dorsally of the conductor. vRTA with distinct ventrad hump ( Fig. 2A–C).

COLOURATION IN ETHANOL. Dorsal shield of prosoma pale-yellowish to yellowish-brown, with bright transversal crescent postero-submarginally, and longitudinal stripes covered by setae around fovea (some setae rubbed off). Chelicerae light reddish-brown. Labium, sternum, and gnathocoxae pale-yellowish to yellowish-brown. Opisthosoma dorsally yellowish-brown, with light-brown pairwise patches, these covered by darker setae; ventrally yellowish-brown, and a dark-brown marking located at posterior part, covered by setae ( Fig. 2D–E).

Distribution

China ( Hainan Province) ( Fig. 4).