Pseudopoda taibaischana Jaeger , 2001

Gong, Li-Jun & Zhong, Yang, 2020, Redescription of Pseudopoda taibaischana (Araneae, Sparassidae), with the first description of the female, ZooKeys 991, pp. 111-119 : 111

Pseudopoda taibaischana Jaeger, 2001 Figures 1 , 2 , 3 , 4

Pseudopoda taibaischana Jäger, 2001: 86, figs 47a-e (holotype male from Taibaishan National Forest Park of Shaanxi Province, deposited in SMF PJ1056)

Material examined.

2♂, 10♀ (HUST 0001), Shaanxi Province, Baoji City, Taibaishan National Forest Park; 34.05°N, 107.87°E; alt. 1438 m; 20.VII. 2019, Y. Zhong leg.

Diagnosis.

This species resembles Pseudopoda cangshana Jäger & Vedel, 2007 ( Jäger and Vedel 2007: figs 66-68, 70-72) in having the embolus strongly S-shaped, proximal part of embolus visible, and lateral loops of internal duct system extending laterally beyond its first winding, but can be distinguished from the latter by the following characters: 1, male palp with laminar and rounded embolic projection (absent in P. cangshana ); 2, tip of RTA with distinct triangular extension dorsally (absent in P. cangshana ); 3, female epigyne with converging part of anterior margins of lateral lobes T-shaped (Y-shaped in P. cangshana ); 4, female vulva with loops of internal duct system distinctly curved in ventral view (not curved in P. cangshana ) (Figs 1 , 2 ).

Description.

Male. PL 3.7, PW 2.8, AW 2.0, OL 4.0, OW 3.2. Eyes and interdistances: AME 0.20, ALE 0.25, PME 0.21, PLE 0.27, AME-AME 0.18, AME-ALE 0.07, PME-PME 0.24, PME-PLE 0.30, AME-PME 0.32, ALE-PLE 0.27, CHAME 0.30, CHALE 0.28. Spination: Palp: 131, 101, 2101; Fe: I-III 323, IV 331; Pa: I-IV 001; Ti: I-II 2026, III-IV 2126; Mt: I-II 2024, III 3024, IV 3036. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 6.3 (2.0, 1.1, 1.2, -, 2.0), I 17.9 (4.7, 2.0, 5.4, 4.2, 1.6), II 19.4 (5.4, 2.1, 5.8, 4.3, 1.8), III 14.9 (4.4, 1.6, 4.2, 3.3, 1.4), IV 18.2 (5.2, 1.7, 4.7, 4.9, 1.7). Leg formula: 2-4-1-3. Cheliceral furrow with three anterior and four posterior teeth, each tooth with 22 denticles (Fig. 1D ). Carapace yellowish brown, with fovea slightly darker and bearing more spots. Chelicerae deep reddish brown. Sternum pale yellow, with small and irregular spots. Legs yellowish brown, with medium-sized spots and slightly larger spine patches. Abdomen yellowish brown dorsally, with three pairs of dark patches laterally and an irregular pattern in posterior half; ventrally yellowish brown with small and irregular patches (Fig. 3A, B ).

Palp as in diagnosis. Cymbium longer than tibia. Embolus arising from tegulum at 8 o’clock position, embolic projection making the tip of embolus look somewhat incised. Conductor curved, arising from an 11 o’clock position. Spermophor visible and slightly curved in retrolateral view. RTA arising medially from tibia, with only one apex, broad in retrolateral view (Figs 1 , 2A, B ).

Female. PL 3.6, PW 3.2, AW 2.3, OL 4.7, OW 3.4. Eyes and interdistances: AME 0.17, ALE 0.23, PME 0.20, PLE 0.26, AME-AME 0.16, AME-ALE 0.10, PME-PME 0.23, PME-PLE 0.30, AME-PME 0.33, ALE-PLE 0.28, CHAME 0.35, CHALE 0.31. Spination: Palp: 131, 101, 1014, 2121; Fe: I-III 323, IV 331; Pa: I-IV 001; Ti: I 2026, III-IV 2126; Mt: I-II 2024, III 3025, IV 3036. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 4.9 (1.6, 0.7, 1.0, -, 1.6), I 12.8 (3.8, 1.7, 3.3, 2.8, 1.2), II 14.0 (4.3, 1.3, 3.7, 3.4, 1.3), III 11.6 (3.5, 1.4, 2.8, 2.9, 1.0), IV 13.3 (4.0, 1.3, 3.3, 3.5, 1.2). Leg formula: 2-4-1-3. Cheliceral furrow with three anterior and four posterior teeth, each tooth with 32 denticles (Fig. 1E ).

Epigynal field only slightly wider than long, with very short anterior bands or without such bands. Anterior margins of lateral lobes bent anteriorly at their lateral ends. Posterior incision of lateral lobe distinct, near the posterior meeting point of lateral lobes. Base of internal duct system distinctly extending laterally beyond first winding (Fig. 2C-G ).

Coloration in ethanol: as in male, but generally darker, abdomen with more spots ventrally (Fig. 3C, D ).

Distribution.

China (Shaanxi Province) (Fig. 4 ).

Figures

Figure 1. Pseudopoda taibaischana Jaeger, 2001 A-C left male palp (A prolateral view B ventral view C retrolateral view) D, E cheliceral dentition, ventral view (D male E female) F schematic course of internal duct system. Abbreviations: C-conductor, E-embolus, EP-embolic projection, RTA-retrolateral tibial apophysis, T-tegulum. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 2. Pseudopoda taibaischana Jaeger, 2001 A, B Left male palpal tibia (A ventral view B retrolateral view) C epigyne, intact D epigyne, cleared E vulva, cleared F epigyne, cleared and embedded in Arabic gum G vulva, cleared and embedded in Arabic gum (C, D, F ventral view E, G dorsal view). Abbreviations: CO-copulatory opening, FD-fertilization duct, FW-first winding, LL-lateral lobes, PI-posterior incision of LL, S-spermathecae. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 3. Pseudopoda taibaischana Jaeger, 2001 A, B male habitus (A dorsal view B ventral view) C, D female habitus (C dorsal view D ventral view). Scale bars: 2 mm.

Figure 4. Collection localities of Pseudopoda taibaischana in Shaanxi Province, China.