Pseudopoda tricuspidata, Zhang & Zhang & Zhang, 2023

Zhang, Rui, Zhang, Baoshi & Zhang, Feng, 2023, Two new huntsman spiders from Xiaolong Mountains in Gansu Province, China (Araneae, Sparassidae), Zootaxa 5244 (2), pp. 182-190 : 183-185

Pseudopoda tricuspidata sp. n.

Figs 1–9

Type material. Holotype male (MHBU-ARA-2021-376-1): CHINA: Gansu Province: Hui County, Xiaolongshan National Nature Reserve , 33°40′38″N, 106°19′43″E, 1914 m, 13August 2021, Zhaoyi Li & Rui Zhang leg. Paratypes: 4♀ (MHBU-ARA-2021-376-2 ~ MHBU-ARA-2021-376-5), with same data as holotype ; 1♀ (MHBU-ARA-2021- 376-6), Tianshui City , Jinlong Mountain, 34°23′50″N, 106°27′57″E, 1632 m, 6 August 2021, Zhaoyi Li & Rui Zhang leg. ; 1♁ (MHBU-ARA-2021-376-7), same city, Quxi Forest Park, 34°14′56″N, 106°0′45″E, 1433 m, 9 August 2021, Zhaoyi Li & Rui Zhang leg. ; 1♁ (MHBU-ARA-2021-376-8), Niangniangba Town , Baiyin Village, 34°11′39″N, 105°54′E, 1648 m, 8 August 2021, Zhaoyi Li & Rui Zhang leg. ; 1♀ (MHBU-ARA-2021-376-9), Liangdang County, Yunping Town , 33°38′34″N, 106°26′29″E, 1491 m, 13 August 2021, Zhaoyi Li & Rui Zhang leg.

Etymology. The specific name is a Latin adjective, derived from “tri” and “cuspidatus” (meaning “three” and “pointed”), referring to the shape of RTA in retrolateral view; adjective.

Diagnosis. The male ( Figs 7–9 ) of this new species differs from other Pseudopoda species in having a sickleshaped, prolatero-distad embolus ( Fig. 8 ), except for the similar P. contentio Jäger & Vedel, 2007 ( Jäger & Vedel 2007: 11, figs 24–26) and P. amelia Jäger & Vedel, 2007 ( Jäger & Vedel 2007: 13, figs 32–34). From these species it can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: (1) tip of embolus as wide as the base in ventral view (vs. gradually narrowed in P. contentio and P. amelia ); (2) RTA with three apices (vs. only two in P. contentio and P. amelia ). Females ( Figs 5, 6 ) of this new species can be distinguished from all other congeners by the combination of following epigynum characters: (1) lateral lobes fused along median line in ventral view; (2) anterior internal duct system twisted into heart-shaped loops.

Description. Male (holotype): total length 5.27; prosoma 2.73 long, 1.64 wide; opisthosoma 2.73 long, 2.42 wide. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.21, PME 0.15, PLE 0.17; AME–AME 0.12, AME–ALE 0.05, PME–PME 0.21, PME–PLE 0.17. MOA 0.32 long, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.51. Endite 0.63 long, 0.51 wide. Leg measurements (mm): I 11.30 (3.85, 0.60, 2.70, 3.22, 0.93), II 13.32 (3.92, 0.97, 4.08, 3.34, 1.01), III 10.14 (3.07, 1.02, 2.39, 2.73, 0.93), IV 10.37 (3.62, 0.66, 1.85, 3.17, 1.07). Leg formula: 2143. Spination: Palp: 131, 101, 2021; Fe: I–III 323, IV 331; Pa: I–IV 101; Ti: I–IV 2026; Mt: I–IV 2024. Chelicerae with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth, and with ca. 38 denticles between them.

Coloration in ethanol ( Figs 1, 2 ): carapace yellowish brown, with a pair of brown longitudinal lateral bands and a dark longitudinal band. Cervical groove and radial furrows obvious. Radial furrow and dorsal carapace margins with black hairs. Ocular area brown. Chelicerae yellowish brown. Labium yellow, wider than long. Labium and sternum pale yellow. Legs yellow, with brown spots on them, and especially on the bases of setae and spine of femur. Sternum with dark setae. Opisthosoma color overall brown. Dorsal opisthosoma yellowish to reddish brown; venter yellowish, with black and white patches.

Palp ( Figs 7–9 ) as in diagnosis. Embolus arising from tegulum at 10 to 11-o’clock-position, running in semicircle, pointing prolaterodistally in ventral view ( Fig. 8 ); spermophore extends along the retrolateral margin of the tegulum, partially hidden in the ventral view, bent in a small angle. RTA with a broad base, arising proximally from tibia, vRTA apically rounded, dRTA and mRTA apically sharped.

Female (paratype): total length 6.53; prosoma 2.65 long, 2.62 wide; opisthosoma 3.88 long, 2.55 wide. Endite 0.55 long, 0.36 wide. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.11, ALE 0.19, PME 0.12, PLE 0.14; AME–AME 0.13, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.21, PME–PLE 0.23. MOA 0.31 long, anterior width 0.35, posterior width 0.45. Leg measurements: I 6.77 (2.02, 1.02, 2.01, 1.15, 0.57), II 7.26 (2.36, 1.10, 2.19, 1.28, 0.33), III 6.32 (2.18, 0.76, 1.66, 1.30, 0.42), IV 6.68 (2.04, 0.66, 1.87, 1.76, 0.35). Leg formula: 2143. Spination: Palp: 131, 101, 2021; Fe: I–III 323, IV 331; Pa: I–IV 101; Ti: I–IV 2126; Mt: I–II 2024, III–IV 2026. Chelicerae with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth, and with ca. 33 denticles between them. Shape, color and markings of body as in male ( Figs 3, 4 ).

Epigyne field wider than long ( Fig. 5 ). Anterior margins of lateral lobes C-shaped. Internal duct system with anterior loops extending beyond copulatory opening and lateral loops shaped like longitudinal patches, extending close to posterior margins of lateral lobes in ventral view. Fertilization ducts long, narrow, situated posteriorly, with dorsal tips.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 20 ).

Figures

FIGURE 20. Records of the new Pseudopoda and Sinopoda species in Gansu Province, China.

FIGURES 1–4. Pseudopoda tricuspidata sp. n. 1–2 Male habitus (1 dorsal, 2 ventral); 3–4 Female habitus (3 dorsal, 4 ventral). Scale bars: 3 mm.

FIGURES 5–9. Pseudopoda tricuspidata sp. n. 5–6 Epigyne/vulva (5 ventral, 6 dorsal); 7–9 Left male palp (7 prolateral, 8 ventral, 9 retrolateral). Scale bars: 0.5 mm. C= conductor; CO= copulatory opening; E= embolus; FD= fertilization duct; IDS= internal duct system; LL= lateral lobes; dRTA= dorsal part of RTA; mRTA= middle part of RTA; vRTA= ventral part of RTA; SP= spermophor; T= tegulum.