Pseudopoda tiantangensis, Quan, Dan, Zhong, Yang & Liu, Jie, 2014

Quan, Dan, Zhong, Yang & Liu, Jie, 2014, Four Pseudopoda species (Araneae: Sparassidae) from southern China, Zootaxa 3754 (5), pp. 555-571 : 569-571

Pseudopoda tiantangensis sp. nov.

Figs 10 – 13

Type material: Holotype: male, Tiantangzhai National Forest Park [30°24′01.37″N, 115°18'19.31″E, Hubei, China], 8 September 2012, Fengxiang Liu, Jie Liu, Dan Quan (HBU).

Paratype: 1 female (HBU), the same data as holotype.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the type locality, adjective.

Diagnosis. Small sized Heteropodinae. This new species is similar to Pseudopoda digitata Jäger and Vedel, 2007 in having a developed finger-like dorsal RTA, biforked embolus in male, trilobate anterior margin of epigynal field, regularly curved anterior margins of lateral lobes in female, but can be distinguished by the following characters: 1. the ventral RTA of P. digitata developed, with small blunt projection, but simple in this new species; 2. the embolic tip thin, with twisted apophysis in this new species, but wide, with large triangular apophysis in P. digitata ; 3. the posterior parts of first windings of internal duct system distinct in P. tiantangensis sp. nov., but hidden behind lateral lobes in P. digitata ( Figs 10 , 11A – C , 12B – C ).

Description. Male (holotype): Measurements (in mm): PL 3.7, PW 3.3, AW 1.6, PH 1.1, OL 3.6, OW 2.2. Eyes: AME 0.19, ALE 0.25, PME 0.20, PLE 0.26, AME–AME 0.13, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.22, PME– PLE 0.28, AME–PME 0.29, ALE–PLE 0.26, CH AME 0.33, CH ALE 0.31. Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Spination: Pp 131, 201, 1021; Fe I–III 323, IV 331; Pa I–II 101, III–IV 001; Ti I–III 2226, IV 2126; Mt I–III 2024, IV 3036. Measurement of palps and legs: Pp 5.2 (1.7, 0.8, 0.9, -, 1.8), I 18.1 (4.7, 1.6, 5.3, 4.6, 1.9), II 20.0 (5.6, 1.6, 5.7, 5.0, 2.1), III 15.3 (4.6, 1.2, 4.2, 3.7, 1.6), IV 17.1 (4.8, 1.2, 4.5, 4.8, 1.8). Median furrow very distinct. Chelicerae yellow, with 2 short brown longitudinal grains, cheliceral claw reddish brown, cheliceral furrow with 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, and with ca. 30 denticles. Endite yellow. Dorsal abdomen with 3 pairs of reddish-brown dots, behind which is a brown transverse striation. Legs with brown spots ( Fig. 11D ).

Palp as in diagnosis. Embolus arising from 7-o’clock-position on tegulum, distal tip thin, with twisted apophysis. Sperm duct running submarginally along retrolateral tegulum, almost U-shape in ventral view. RTA arising basally to medially from Ti, ventral part simple, dorsal part finger-like ( Figs 10A – C , 11A – C ).

Female (paratype): Measurements (in mm): PL 4.3, PW 4.0, AW 2.2, PH 1.9, OL 5.1, OW 3.6. Eyes: AME 0.20, ALE 0.29, PME 0.25, PLE 0.29, AME–AME 0.17, AME–ALE 0.10, PME–PME 0.29, PME–PLE 0.35, AME–PME 0.34, ALE–PLE 0.41, CH AME 0.42, CH ALE 0.38. Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Spination: Pp 131, 101, 2121, 2012; Fe I-III 323, IV 331; Pa I 100, II-III 101, IV 000; Ti I-IV 2126; Mt I-III 2024, IV 3036. Measurement of palps and legs: Pp 5.6 (1.6, 0.8, 1.2, -, 2.0), I 15.1 (4.4, 1.5, 4.1, 3.5, 1.6), II 16.2 (4.9, 1.5, 4.5, 3.7, 1.6), III 12.8 (4.0, 1.5, 3.2, 2.8, 1.3), IV 15.3 (4.6, 1.4, 3.6, 3.9, 1.8). Color pattern is the same as in the male. Ventral abdomen with scattering reddish-brown spots. Cheliceral furrow with 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, and with ca. 32 denticles ( Fig. 12A ).

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis. Epigynal field wider than long, with trilobate anterior margin. Lateral lobes touching each other along a distance at the median line. Anterior margins of lateral lobes regularly curved. Copulatory openings split-shaped, located anteriorlaterally. Lateral loops of internal duct system visible through cuticle and appearing as broad “?” in ventral view. First windings short, with the the posterior parts not hidden behind lateral lobes ( Figs 10D – F , 12B–C ).

Distribution. China (Hubei) ( Fig. 13 ).

Figures

FIGURE 13. Collection localities of Pseudopoda species in southern China.

FIGURES 10 A – F. Pseudopoda tiantangensis sp. nov. (A – C holotype male, D – F paratype female). A – C Left male palp (A prolateral, B ventral, C retrolateral); D Epigyne, ventral; E Vulva, dorsal; F Schematic course of internal duct system, dorsal. Abbreviations: C—conductor; CO—copulatory opening; E—embolus; EA—embolic apophysis; FD—fertilization duct; FWfirst winding; LL—lateral lobes; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; ST—subtegulum; T—tegulum. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 11 A – D. Pseudopoda tiantangensis sp. nov., holotype male. A – C Left male palp (A prolateral, B ventral, C retrolateral); D Habitus, dorsal view. Abbreviations: C—conductor; E—embolus; EA—embolic apophysis; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; ST—subtegulum; T—tegulum. Scale bars: A – C = 0.2 mm, D = 1 mm.

FIGURES 12 A – C. Pseudopoda tiantangensis sp. nov., paratype female. A Habitus, dorsal; B Epigyne, ventral; C Vulva, dorsal. Abbreviations: CO—copulatory opening; FD—fertilization duct; FW—first winding; LL—lateral lobes. Scale bars: A = 1 mm, B – C = 0.2 mm.