Heteropoda curvata, 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 : 279-281

Heteropoda curvata sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

Figs 1, 4

Diagnosis

The male of Heteropoda curvata sp. nov. is similar to that of H. duo Jäger, 2014 , in having a similarly undulating spermophor, a sub-distally arising RTA with a curved dRTA, and a distinct vRTA in retrolateral view, the embolus arising at 7:30-o’clock-position from tegulum ( Fig. 1A–C; Jäger 2014: figs 69–72), but can be distinguished from the latter species by 1. spermophor with only slightly bulging retrolaterad part; 2. conductor arising at 9:30-o’clock position from tegulum, not extending retrolaterally beyond cymbial margin in ventral view, its tip disto-retrolaterad; 3. vRTA flat, broadly rounded in retrolateral view; and 4. cymbium length/cymbium tip depth (in lateral view) = 4.72 (vs spermophor with distinctly bulging retro-proximad part, conductor arising from 11:00-o’clock position, extending beyond cymbial margin, its tip retrolaterad, vRTA distinctly bulging, and cymbium length/cymbium tip depth [in lateral view] = 6.67 in H. duo ). Females are unknown.

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the Latin perfect passive participle of ‘ curvare, curvatus ’, meaning ‘curved’, and refers to the dRTA in retrolateral view.

Type material

Holotype

MALAYSIA • ♂; Sabah State, Interior Division, Mount Trusmadi ; [ 5°15ʹ56ʺ N, 116°16ʹ23ʺ E]; [ 524 m a.s.l.]; 5 Oct. 2015; L.Y. Wang and G.Q. Huang leg.; CBEE.

Paratypes

CHINA • 3 ♂♂; same data as for holotype; CBEE .

Description

Male ( holotype)

MEASUREMENTS. BL 12.4; PL 6.4, PW 6.0; AW 2.4; OL 6.0, OW 2.8. Eyes: AME 0.29, ALE 0.42, PME 0.32, PLE 0.46, AME–AME 0.21, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.28, PME–PLE 0.41, AME–PME 0.35, ALE–PLE 0.32, CH AME 0.31, CH ALE 0.26. Spination: palp 131, 101, 2121; Fe I–III 323, IV 331; Pa I–IV 101; Ti I–II, IV 2026, III 2126; Mt I–II 1014, III 2014, IV 3036. Measurements of palp and legs: palp 13.3 (3.9, 1.4, 3.6, –, 4.4); I 31.3 (8.3, 3.0, 8.2, 9.1, 2.7); II 34.2 (8.6, 3.4, 9.2, 9.9, 2.6); III 25.5 (7.2, 2.4, 6.9, 7.0, 2.0); IV 28.4 (7.6, 2.4, 7.4, 8.7, 2.3). 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 distally to sub-distally from tibia. dRTA slender and pointed, vRTA with distinct hump in retrolateral view. Cymbium retro-proximally only slightly bulging. Tegulum elongated, alveolus visible between tegulum and conductor in ventral view, spermophor distally retrolaterad to dorsad in ventral view. Embolus almost running straight in visible part, totally slightly semi-circular ( Fig. 1A–C).

COLOURATION IN ETHANOL. Dorsal shield of prosoma yellowish brown to light reddish-brown, with bright transversal crescent postero-submarginally, and longitudinal stripes covered by setae around fovea. Chelicerae light reddish-brown. Opisthosoma dorsally yellowish-brown, with large dark patches located just before posterior part, these covered by darker setae ( Fig. 1D).

Distribution

Malaysia ( Sabah State) ( Fig. 4).