Pseudopoda deformis Gong & Zhong, 2023

Gong, Li-jun, Zeng, Meng-yun, Zhong, Yang & Yu, Hui-liang, 2023, A new species of Pseudopoda (Araneae, Sparassidae) from China, with the description of different and distinctive internal ducts of the female vulva, ZooKeys 1159, pp. 189-199 : 189

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1159.97463
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8070673D-B3F3-4686-88F3-EA264DA18F48
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1F62E2C1-3556-4B86-AE30-D907B4F204CB
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:1F62E2C1-3556-4B86-AE30-D907B4F204CB
treatment provided by	ZooKeys by Pensoft
scientific name	Pseudopoda deformis Gong & Zhong
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Pseudopoda deformis Gong & Zhong sp. nov.

(变形拟遁蛛) Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 3 View Figure 3 , 4 View Figure 4 , 5 View Figure 5

Type material.

Holotype #m: China: Hubei Province: Shennongjia Forestry District, Muyu Town, Guanmenshan Scenic Area (31.45°N, 110.40°E, 1200 m a.s.l.), 10.XII.2021, leg. Y. Zhong (HUST-SPA-22-001). Paratypes: China: Hubei Province: Same locality, 1#f (HUST-SPA-22-002), 1#f (HUST-SPA-22-003), 1#f (HUST-SPA-22-004), 3#m, 4#f.

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the Latin word deformis, - a, - um, meaning distorted, referring to the shape of the internal ducts of the female vulva.

Diagnosis.

Males of Pseudopoda deformis Gong & Zhong, sp. nov. are similar to those of P. jiangi Zhang, Jäger & Liu, 2023 ( Zhang et al. 2023: figs 130, 131), P. lushanensis (Wang, 1990) ( Quan et al. 2014: figs 4A-C, 5A-C) and P. shuqiangi Jäger & Vedel, 2007 (Jäger and Vedel 2007: figs 73-75) in having a long, filiform embolus. They can be distinguished from the two congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) Embolus arising from tegulum at 1:00- o’clock position, then curving downward (8:30- o’clock position, upward in P. lushanensis and P. shuqiangi ); (2) The basal part of embolus is oval (circular in P. jiangi ); (3) The tip of the conductor is straight and extends to approximately the tip of the cymbium in ventral view (not in P. lushanensis and P. shuqiangi ); and (4) RTA arising medially from tibia (subdistally in P. lushanensis ; basally in P. shuqiangi ) (Fig. 1A-C View Figure 1 ). The females of this species can be separated from other Pseudopoda species by their unique internal ducts of the vulva, which are curved longitudinally, forming a narrow triangle or trapezoidal shape (Fig. 2D-I View Figure 2 ).

Description.

Male. PL 4.9, PW 3.4, AW 2.3, OL 4.6, OW 3.4. Eyes: AME 0.24, ALE 0.26, PME 0.27, PLE 0.33, AME-AME 0.21, AME-ALE 0.12, PME-PME 0.23, PME-PLE 0.16, AME-PME 0.29, ALE-PLE 0.18, CHAME 0.27, CHALE 0.33. Setation: Palp: 131, 101, 2101; Fe: I-III 323, IV 321; Pa: I-IV 101; Ti: I-II 2228, III-IV 2126; Mt: I-II 2024, III 2026, IV 3036. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 7.4 (2.1, 0.9, 1.3, -, 3.1), I 27.0 (7.1, 1.5, 8.2, 7.8, 2.4), II 29.6 (7.8, 1.5, 8.8, 8.9, 2.6), III 21.6 (6.0, 1.3, 6.1, 6.3, 1.9), IV 24.5 (6.5, 1.3, 6.9, 7.6, 2.2). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Chelicerae with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth, and with ~51 denticles (Fig. 1E View Figure 1 ). Carapace yellowish brown dorsally, margin with black patches, with shallow fovea and radial furrows. Chelicerae deep reddish brown. Sternum yellow with lots of random black spots. Endites and labium pale yellowish brown. Legs brown, with dark dots randomly distributed and covered by short spines and seta. Opisthosoma black-brown dorsally, without spots. Opisthosoma uniformly yellowish brown with some black patches ventrally (Fig. 3A, B View Figure 3 ).

Cymbium approximately 2 times longer than tibia (Fig. 1A-C View Figure 1 ). The basal part of conductor is obscured in ventral view (Fig. 1B View Figure 1 ) by embolus base. Basal part of conductor slightly sclerotized (Fig. 1C View Figure 1 ). Embolus slender, encircling the tegulum counter-clockwise, ventrally pointed (Fig. 1B View Figure 1 ). RTA distally bifurcate, pincer-shaped in ventral view, dRTA moderately pointed at tip (Fig. 1B, D View Figure 1 ).

Female. PL 5.0, PW 4.8, AW 2.8, OL 6.7, OW 4.7. Eyes: AME 0.25, ALE 0.34, PME 0.26, PLE 0.38, AME-AME 0.18, AME-ALE 0.08, PME-PME 0.24, PME-PLE 0.18, AME-PME 0.29, ALE-PLE 0.17, CHAME 0.35, CHALE 0.45. Setation: Palp: 131, 101, 2121, 1014; Fe: I-III 323, IV 321; Pa: I-IV 000; Ti: I-II 222(10), III-IV 2126; Mt: I-II 2024, III-IV 2026. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 6.4 (2.1, 0.7, 1.0, -, 2.6), I 19.3 (5.5, 1.3, 5.6, 5.1, 1.8), II 20.5 (5.9, 1.3, 6.1, 5.4, 1.8), III 15.4 (4.6, 1.1, 4.5, 3.7, 1.5), IV 17.0 (5.0, 1.1, 4.5, 4.6, 1.8). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Chelicerae with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth, and with ~46 denticles (Fig. 1F View Figure 1 ).

Epigynal field almost as wide as long, the anterior margins of lateral lobes forming a V-shape, median margin of lateral lobes united, internal duct systems not visible through cuticle, fertilisation ducts arising postero-laterally. In the dorsal view, internal duct systems differ extremely, and there is no regularity in the direction and structure of internal pipeline (Fig. 2 View Figure 2 ).

Colouration as in males, opisthosoma brown dorsally (Fig. 3C-H View Figure 3 ).

Habitat.

The specimens were collected on leaves at night with bare hands (Fig. 4A, B View Figure 4 ).

Distribution.

Known only from Hubei Province, China (Fig. 4C View Figure 4 ).

Remarks.

The monophyly of Pseudopoda deformis Gong & Zhong, sp. nov. is highly supported by molecular phylogenetic results based mainly on Chinese Pseudopoda species (Fig. 5 View Figure 5 ).