Sinopoda scurion
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| Hunter , 2012 |
Sinopoda scurion is an eyeless spider species from the family of giant crab spiders (Sparassidae). It was discovered in a cave in the Laotian province of Khammuan by Peter Jäger from the Arachnology Sectionat the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt am Main and described in 2012.
features
So far, single adult female specimens and several juvenile and sub-adult female and male specimens have been found. The animals were collected between 2003 and 2012. Sinopoda scurion is a medium-sized giant crab spider. The body length of the females is 10.9 to 13.6 mm. The front body of the holotype , an adult female, is 5.1 mm long, the abdomen 6.3 mm long. The species was described by characterizing the copulatory organs, and the absence of eyes and lenses was also used for the description. The color of the specimens is pale brown-yellow in ethanol .
distribution and habitat
The site is located in the Lao province of Khammuan , 9.5 km northeast of the city of Thakek . The specimens were found there in a limestone cave in the lightless zone of a large crevice. There are no other locations so far. Heteropoda tetrica and Heteropoda maxima were identified as additional giant crab spiders in the entrance area of this cave .
Way of life
Almost nothing is known about the biology of the species. The spiders either hunt by waiting or move slowly forward, but can run away quickly if disturbed.
Web links
Sinopoda scurion in the World Spider Catalog
- In a first, spider without eyes discovered in Laos cave
- The first giant crab spider without eyes in Laos: "Sinopoda scurion" lives in a cave without daylight
- Giant crab spider spotted without eyes
- The world's first giant, eyeless crab spider discovered
Individual evidence
- ↑ Let there be light! The world's first giant, eyeless crab spider discovered
- ↑ Jäger, P. (2012) Revision of the genus Sinopoda Jäger 1999 in Laos with discovery of the first eyeless huntsman spider species (Sparassidae: Heteropodinae) . - Zootaxa 3415: 37-57 (2012, PDF )