Micropoda Grall & Jäger 2022, gen. nov.

Micropoda gen. nov.

Figs 47–65, 90–93, 98

Type species. Micropoda daviesae spec. nov.

Etymology. The generic name is a combination of the prefix “ micro ” (Greek, means “small/little”) and the second part of the genus name Heteropoda. It was chosen in reference to the small body size of the only known species of the new genus. The gender is feminine.

Diagnosis. Small Sparassidae with TL <7.0 (Figs 90–93). Micropoda gen. nov. may be recognised by the following combination of characters: Males (Figs 47–52): 1. Tegulum with a narrow, but distinct ridge, running a semi-circle from proximal to distal, 2. Alveolus proximally with indistinct pocket in which embolus base is partly hidden, 3. Conductor (homologue) reduced to indistinct bulge at distal tegulum and 4. Embolus with apophysis. Other Heteropodinae with an embolic apophysis, such as most Sinopoda, few Heteropoda or all Yiinthi species (sub “flagellum”: Davies 1994) possess a well-developed conductor and lack the alveolus pocket as well as the tegular ridge. Females (Figs 53–57): 1. First winding dorsad, both sides fused, running a distinct semi-circle, leaving a window between outer cuticle and internal duct, 2. Lateral lobes ear-shaped and with narrow and long epigynal pockets, situated laterally and 3. Internal duct system with only short glandular appendages anteriorly (but functionally after the first winding) and distinctly convoluted ducts in the posterior part. Few Sinopoda spp. exhibit a similar window between outer cuticle and duct system (e.g., S. derivata Jäger & Ono, 2002 or S. ogatai Jäger & Ono, 2002), but it is formed by the part functionally behind the glandular appendages. Moreover, epigynal pockets in Sinopoda are never exclusively situated laterally, and the internal duct system is much simpler and shows no coils.

Description. See description of type species.

Distribution. Papua New Guinea (New Britain) (Fig. 98: orange squares).

Species included. Only the type species.