Pseudopoda robusta, Zhang, Feng, Zhang, Bao-Shi & Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, 2013

Zhang, Feng, Zhang, Bao-Shi & Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, 2013, New species of Pseudopoda Jaeger, 2000 from Southern China (Araneae, Sparassidae), ZooKeys 361, pp. 37-60 : 47-50

Pseudopoda robusta sp. n. Figs 50-65

Type material.

Holotype ♂ ( SP–CQ–08– 26), from CHINA: Chongqing Municipality, Jinyun Mountain, native forest, (29°49'N, 106°21'E, 1600 m), 26.IV.2008, Z.S. Zhang leg. (hand collecting), deposited in SWUC.Paratype: 1♂ ( SP–CQ–08– 27), 4♀♀ ( SP–CQ–08–28– 31), same data as holotype.

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the Latin word 'robustus, -a, - um’, meaning ‘strong’, referring to the robust retrolateral tibial apophysis; adjective.

Diagnosis.

Males of Pseudopoda robusta sp. n. resemble those of Pseudopoda sinapophysis Jäger & Vedel, 2007 by the simple embolus conformation, but can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: embolus large and long, flagelliform (Figs 52-53, 59-60); RTA massive in ventral view, with blunt tip (Figs 53-54, 60-61). Females of Pseudopoda robusta sp. n. resemble those of Pseudopoda diversipunctata group by: lateral lobes of epigyne touching each other only at posterior part; anterior edges of lateral lobes constrict, but can be distinguished from other species of thisgroup by: median field of epigyne wider than long, distinctly U-shaped (Figs 57, 62); anterior margin of the LLs pointing anteriorly (Figs 57, 62); internal duct system with visible lateral loops in dorsal view (Figs 58, 63-64), the first winding wide, its length twice its width (Figs 58, 63-64).

Description.

Male. Holotype ( SP–CQ–08– 26): total length 6.90; prosoma 3.21 long, 3.02 wide; opisthosoma 3.73 long, 2.12 wide. Fovea long, longitudinal. Coloration: Dorsal shield of prosoma yellow, margin with reddish brown patches. Radial furrows and fovea reddish brown, fovea surrounded with reddish brown patch. Ocular area brown. Chelicerae, labium, gnathocoxae and sternum yellow. Sternum with dark spots and setae. Legs yellow, with dark dots randomly distributed, and especially on the setae and spine bases of coxa, femur, patella and tibia. Dorsal opisthosoma yellow, anterior part with many smallwhite patches, cardiac pattern yellowish brown, muscle impressions dark brown, followed by two longitudinal black patches and a black transverse bar, and with some dark brown patches laterally (Fig. 50); venter yellow, with small black patches and a black patch before spinnerets (Fig. 51). Both eye rows slightly recurved. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.29, PME 0.18, PLE 0.26; AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PME 0.18, PME–PLE 0.29. MOA 0.62 long, anterior width 0.39, posterior width 0.57. Clypeus height 0.23. Chelicerae with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth, with eleven denticles between them. Leg measurements: I 14.14 (5.01, 1.40, 3.22, 2.82, 1.69), II 15.07 (5.23, 1.43, 3.18, 2.86, 1.75), III 13.30 (4.73, 1.26, 2.89, 2.72, 1.70), IV 13.99 (4.98, 1.37, 3.22, 2.72, 1.70). Leg formula: 2143. Leg spination: palps 131, 101, 2121; femur I–III 323, IV 331; patella I–III 001, IV 000; tibia I 2026, II–IV 2126; metatarsus I–II 2024, III 2026, IV 3036. Male palp. Tegulum almost oval (Figs 53, 60); embolus wide, flagelliform, arising from 9- o’clock-position on tegulum, its tip pointing retrolaterally (Figs 52-53, 59-60); sperm duct inverted C-shaped, running along retrolateral margin of tegulum (Figs 53, 60); RTA strong, rod-like, arising medially from tibia, with blunt tip (Figs 53-54, 60-61).

Females. Paratype ( SP–CQ–08– 28): total length 7.40; prosoma 3.61 long, 3.22 wide; opisthosoma 3.82 long, 2.72 wide. Color and markings of body lighter than in male (Figs 55-56). Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.18, ALE 0.31, PME 0.23, PLE 0.30; AME–AME 0.16, AME–ALE 0.05, PME–PME 0.23, PME–PLE 0.34. MOA 0.68 long, anterior width 0.51, posterior width 0.73. Clypeus height 0.23. Leg measurements: I 12.08 (3.72, 1.23, 2.81, 3.09, 1.23), II 12.28 (3.76, 1.23, 2.98, 3.03, 1.28), III 11.53 (3.65, 1.21, 2.62, 2.85, 1.20), IV 11.85 (3.68, 1.23, 2.75, 2.99, 1.20). Leg formula: 2143. Leg spination: palps 131, 101, 2121, 2112; femur I–II 323, III 322, IV 331; patella I–III 001, IV 000; tibia I–II 2026, III–IV 2126; metatarsus I–II 2024, III 2026, IV 3036. Epigyne. Median field of epigyne distinctly U-shaped, anterior margin distinct, without longitudinal bands (Figs 57, 62); width of LLs equal to length, touching each other only slightly, posterior margins of LLs with distinct posterior incisions (Figs 57, 62); posterior end of first winding of internal duct system freely visible, spermathecae situated ventrally, space between fertilization duct and first winding smaller than width of first winding (Figs 58, 63).

Variation.

Male total body length from 6.90-6.96, and female from 7.32-7.40. Femur length of male: I from 5.01-5.04, II from 5.23-5.24, III from 4.73-4.75, IV from 4.98-4.99. Femur length of female: I from 3.70-3.72, II from 3.75-3.76, III from 3.64-3.65, IV from 3.66-3.768.

Distribution.

Jinyun Mountain, Chongqing Municipality, China, type locality.

Comments.

Females of Pseudopoda robusta sp. n. could be included in the Pseudopoda diversipunctata -group by: lateral lobes of epigyne touching each other only at posterior part. On the other hand, males of Pseudopoda robusta have simple embolus conformation, which could be considered really different and not similar to any group.