Pseudopoda falcata Zhang, Jäger & Liu, 2023

Zhang, He, Zhu, Yang, Zhong, Yang, Jäger, Peter & Liu, Jie, 2023, A taxonomic revision of the spider genus Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000 (Araneae: Sparassidae) from East, South and Southeast Asia, Megataxa 9 (1), pp. 1-304 : 115-120

Pseudopoda falcata Zhang, Jäger & Liu , spec. nov. Figs 106–107 , Map 6

Type material. CHINA, Hunan Province: Holotype male from Zhangjiajie City, Sangzhi County, Tianpingshan Forest Farm , Davidia involucrata Garden , 29.78°N, 110.09°E, 1401 m, 20 June 2017, Y. Zhong & Y. Zhu leg. ( CBEE, LJ05082 ) . Paratypes: 3 males, with same data as for holotype ( CBEE, LJ05067 , LJ05084 , LJ05087 ) .

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin adjective falcatus -a, - um, meaning “sickle-shaped”, referring to the shape of E in ventral view; adjective.

Diagnosis. The male of P. falcata Zhang, Jäger & Liu , spec. nov. is similar to that of P. acuminata Zhang et al., 2013 ( Zhang et al. 2013b) by E sickle-shaped and bent in a semicircle, RTA finger-shaped, but can be recognised by EP absent (smaller EP present in P. acuminata ).

MALE (LJ05082): Measurements: Medium sized.

Body length 10.8–11.4, DS length 5.4, width 4.6, OS length 5.8, width 4.6. Eyes: AME 0.17, ALE 0.28, PME 0.20, PLE 0.24,AME–AME 0.15,AME–ALE 0.08, PME– PME 0.24, PME–PLE 0.39, AME–PME 0.34, ALE–PLE 0.29, CH AME 0.40, CH ALE 0.35. Spination: Pp 131, 101, 2121; Fe I–II 323, III 322, IV 331; Pa I–III 101, IV 001; Ti I–II 2226, III–IV 2126; Mt I–II 2024, III 2026, IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs: Pp 7.2 (2.1, 0.9, 1.5, –, 2.7); I 21.4 (6.1, 2.3, 5.9, 5.2, 1.9); II 25.8 (7.0, 2.6, 7.6, 6.4, 2.2); III 18.0 (5.4, 2.0, 4.9, 4.0, 1.7); IV 22.1 (6.6, 1.7, 5.7, 6.1, 2.0). Leg formula: II-IV-I-III. Cheliceral furrow with ca. 27 denticles.

Palp ( Figs 106A–C ): As in diagnosis. C arising from T at 12:00 o’clock position. E arising from T at 9:00–10:00 o’clock position. Long RTA with broad base arising proximally to medially from Ti. dRTA long and thin, slightly curved. vRTA short and thick, with blunt tip.

Colouration ( Figs 107A–B ): DS yellow with dark spots, two indistinct lateral bands, margin with thin dash line. Fovea distinctly, striae slightly marked. OS dorsally reddish-brown with yellow dots, ventrally with reddish brown marks, irregularly arranged.

FEMALE: Unknown.

Distribution. China (Hunan Province).

Figures

MAP 6. Distribution of Pseudopoda species in Central and Southeast China: 3. P. aliena spec. nov.; 4. P. allantoides spec. nov.; 35. P. daiyunensis spec. nov.; 42. P. drepanoides spec. nov.; 44. P. exiguoides; 45. P. explanata spec. nov.; 46. P. falcata spec. nov.; 49. P. foliiculiaris spec. nov.; 50. P. gracilenta spec. nov.; 53. P. huangensis spec. nov.; 55. P. hupingensis spec. nov.; 56. P. imparilis spec. nov.; 58. P. jiugongensis spec. nov.; 66. P. longtanensis spec. nov.; 67. P. longxiensis spec. nov.; 77. P. nankunensis spec. nov.; 78. P. nanlingensis spec. nov.; 84. P. pantianensis spec. nov.; 85. P. papilionacea spec. nov.; 93. P. sangzhiensis spec. nov.; 95. P. shimenensis spec. nov.; 100. P. strombuliformis spec. nov.; 102. P. subtilis spec. nov.; 105. P. taoyuanensis spec. nov.; 106. P. tianpingensis spec. nov.; 115. P. yangmingensis spec. nov.; 116. P. yangtaiensis spec. nov.; 117. P. yilanensis spec. nov.

FIGURE 106. Pseudopoda falcata Zhang, Jäger & Liu, spec. nov., holotype, male: A–C Left male palp (A. prolateral; B. ventral; C. retrolateral). Scale bars: A–C: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 107. Pseudopoda falcata Zhang, Jäger & Liu, spec. nov., A–B Male habitus (A. dorsal; B. ventral). Scale bars: A–B: 2 mm.