Borniella, Grall & Jäger, 2022

Grall, Elena & Jäger, Peter, 2022, Four new genera of Heteropodinae Thorell, 1873 from Malaysia, Brunei and Papua New Guinea (Araneae: Sparassidae), Zootaxa 5169 (1), pp. 1-25 : 2-3

Borniella gen. nov.

Figs 1–16 , 82–85 , 98

Type species. Borniella parva spec. nov.

Etymology. The generic name is derived from the name of the island Borneo, where the type species was recorded. The gender is feminine.

Diagnosis. Males can be distinguished from other genera of the Heteropodinae by the RTA proximally arising from palpal tibia in combination with the presence of three tegular apophyses and the absence of an embolic apophysis (present in most Sinopoda species) ( Figs 1–3 ). Females are similar to those of Sinopoda and Menarik gen. nov. in having a medially fused internal duct system with anteriorly situated glandular appendages ( Figs 4–7 ) but can be distinguished from Menarik gen. nov. by lobal septum present with two separate copulatory openings (septum absent and with copulatory atrium in Menarik gen. nov., Figs 23–26 ); from Sinopoda by 1. Copulatory openings distinctly separated from epigynal pockets, those latter developed as shallow pockets only in anterior half, but as rims only in posterior half, and 2. Connecting ducts between anterior and posterior part of internal duct system not freely visible in dorsal view, but running ventrally and hidden behind internal structures (copulatory openings always connected directly or indirectly with epigynal pockets or connecting rims and connecting part of internal duct system distinctly visible in dorsal view, i.e. such internal structures absent in Sinopoda species).

Notes. Within the genus Sinopoda there is a huge range of variation in the female copulatory organ (for example in S. chiangmaiensis Grall & Jäger, 2020 or S. scurion Jäger, 2012 ). In contrast, the male palps show only little variation of the ground pattern. In males of all Sinopoda species described so far, the RTA arises from tibia distally and it is divided into a dorsal and ventral branch (exceptions are few species of the okinawana -group). This is true even for species with uncommon female copulatory organs like S. arboricola Grall & Jäger, 2020 or S. scurion Jäger, 2012 . Additionally, the embolus possesses a distinct apophysis in almost all Sinopoda spp. In those species of the okinawana -group with emboli without such an apophysis, the RTA arises distally from the tibia, and the embolus arises from tegulum in a much more proximal position, and the tegulum lacks any additional apophysis. Females are in fact superficially similar to those of the genus Sinopoda , but functional epigynal pockets are situated in this new genus exclusively in the anterior half. In Sinopoda spp. , in contrast, functional epigynal pockets are longer, running from postero-lateral to antero-medial (in most of the species). In any case the copulatory opening is situated in the pockets and not visible in ventral view as in the new genus.

Description. See description of type species.

Distribution. Northern Borneo ( Malaysia: Sarawak; Brunei) ( Fig. 98 : green circles).

Species included. Only the type species.

Figures

FIGURE 98. Distribution of the new genera and species in Malaysia, Brunei and Papua New Guinea.

FIGURES 1–3. Borniella parva gen. & spec. nov. holotype male from Sarawak, left male palp (1 prolateral, 2 ventral, 3 retrolateral). C—conductor, dTA— distal tegular apophysis, E—embolus, mTA—median tegular apophysis, pTA—proximal tegular apophysis, RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis, S—spermophor, ST—subtegulum.

FIGURES 4–7. Borniella parva gen. & spec. nov., female paratype from Sarawak. 4, 6 Epigyne, ventral; 5 Vulva, dorsal (internal duct system and rim of copulatory opening in red, epigynal pocket and parts of the inner rims in green); 7 Schematic course of internal duct system, ventral. CO—copulatory opening, CP—copulatory plug, EF—epigynal field, EP—epigynal pocket, FD—fertilization duct, GA—glandular appendages, LS—lobal septum, MSu—membranous sac (unexpanded), SP— spermatheca.

FIGURES 8–16. Borniella parva gen. & spec. nov., holotype male (8, 10, 13, 15) and female paratype (9, 11–12, 14, 16) from Sarawak. 8–9 Eyes, dorsal. 10–12 Claws (10 right leg II, prolateral claw, prolateral; 11 right palp, prolateral; 12 right leg II, retrolateral claw, retrolateral). 13–14 Left chelicera, ventral. 15–16 Trilobate membrane, distal metatarsus, dorsal (15 right leg III, 16 right leg I). LP—lateral projections, MH—median hook.

FIGURES 82–97. Heteropodinae gen. & spp. nov., habitus (dorsal and ventral, respectively). 82–85 Borniella parva gen. & spec. nov.; 86–89 Menarik kecil gen. & spec. nov.; 90–93 Micropoda davisae gen. & spec. nov.; 94–97 Tiomaniella ladam gen. & spec. nov. (82–83, 86–87, 90–91, 94–95 holotype male, 84–85, 88–89, 92–93, 96–97 female paratype).

FIGURES 23–27. Menarik kecil gen. & spec. nov. female paratypes (23–26) and male paratype (27) from Sarawak. 23–24 Epigyne, ventral; 25 Vulva, dorsal; 26 Schematic course of internal duct system, ventral; 27 Trilobate membrane, distal metatarsus of right leg II, dorsal.At—atrium, EF—epigynal field, FB—“fusion bubbles”, FD—fertilization duct, FW—first winding of internal duct system, GA—glandular appendages, MA—muscle attachment point, Sc—scar, SP—spermatheca.