Pseudopoda baimai Jäger & Liu, 2024

Wu, Yanrong, Zhong, Rui, Zhu, Yang, Jäger, Peter, Liu, Jie & Zhang, He, 2024, Description of three new species of the spider genus Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000 (Araneae, Sparassidae) from China, Laos and Thailand, and the female of P. kavanaughi Zhang, Jäger & Liu, 2023, ZooKeys 1202, pp. 287-301 : 287-301

Pseudopoda baimai Jäger & Liu sp. nov.

Figs 1 , 2 , 9

Type material.

Holotype female: Laos, Vientiane Province: Vang Vieng, W of Nam Song, Tham Nam Or Kjem , in cave, 18 ° 55 ' 46.86 " N, 102 ° 20 ' 56.82 " E, 324 m, 28 July 2016, by hand, by day. P. Jäger leg. ( SMF, LAO 0008 ) . Paratype: 1 female, with same data as for holotype ( SMF, LAO 0008 ) .

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the Laos word baimai (ໃບໄມ ້), meaning foliage and referring to the fact that the holotype female was collected on foliage of a secondary forest; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

The female of P. baimai Jäger & Liu , sp. nov. resembles P. gongschana Jäger & Vedel, 2007 ( Jäger and Vedel 2007) by: 1) IDS visible through cuticle in ventral view as large circular patches in centre of LL; and 2) posterior margins of LL with median indentation. It can be recognised by: 1) S largely covered by LL in dorsal view; and 2) anterior margins of LL straight, almost “ V ” - shaped in ventral view, their lateral ends with a bend, laterad (covered by FW, anterior margins distinctly convex, their lateral ends latero-posteriad in P. gongschana ).

Female ( LAO 0008): Measurements: Medium sized. Body length 11.3, DS length 4.6, width 4.0, OS length 6.7, width 3.8. Eyes: AME 0.12, ALE 0.26, PME 0.22, PLE 0.24, AME – AME 0.16, AME – ALE 0.08, PME – PME 0.28, PME – PLE 0.35, AME – PME 0.33, ALE – PLE 0.30, CH AME 0.40, CH ALE 0.34. Spination: Pp 131, 101, 2121, 1014; Fe I – III 323, IV 331; Pa I – III 001, IV 000; Ti I – II 2226, III – IV 2026; Mt I – II 2024, III 3024, IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs: Pp 7.1 (2.0, 1.0, 1.6, –, 2.5); I 25.9 (7.7, 2.1, 7.4, 7.0, 1.7); II 28.7 (8.2, 2.5, 8.4, 7.4, 2.2); III 22.2 (6.3, 1.9, 6.8, 5.9, 1.3); IV 24.4 (7.9, 1.2, 7.0, 7.3, 2.0). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Promargin of chelicerae with three teeth, retromargin with four teeth, cheliceral furrow with c. 33 denticles.

Epigyne (Fig. 1 A – C ): As in diagnosis. EF wider than long, without AB. Posterior margins of LL irregularly rounded. S oval-shaped, occupying most part of LL in ventral view. Most parts of FW covered by LL in dorsal view.

Colouration (Fig. 2 A, B ): DS yellow with dark spots. Fovea distinct. Margin with dark marks. OS dorsally yellowish brown with two light yellow regions at posterior part, ventrally light yellow, with several brown marks, irregularly arranged.

Male: Unknown.

Variation.

Female (N = 1): body length 12.7, DS length 5.3, OS length 7.4.

Remarks.

This species might potentially be conspecific with P. caudata Zhang, Jäger & Liu, 2023 ( Zhang et al. 2023), given that the two habitats are only about 100 kilometres apart. However, there are subtle differences in coloration and patterns on the dorsal side of the females compared to the males of P. caudata , indicating a possible distinction between the two species. Further research and future findings are needed to conclusively resolve this ambiguity.

Distribution.

Laos (Vientiane Province) (Fig. 9 ).

Figures

Figure 1. Pseudopoda baimai Jäger & Liu, sp. nov., holotype, female A epigyne, ventral B schematic course of IDS, dorsal C vulva, dorsal. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 2. Pseudopoda baimai Jäger & Liu, sp. nov., female habitus (A dorsal B ventral). Scale bars: 2 mm.

Figure 9. Distribution map of the four species from the genus Pseudopoda. The numbers represent the different species. 1 P. baimai Jäger & Liu, sp. nov. 2 P. fengtongzhaiensis Jäger & Liu, sp. nov. 3 P. inthanonensis Jäger & Liu, sp. nov. 4 P. kavanaughi Zhang, Jäger & Liu, 2023.