Pseudopoda byssina 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 : 50

Pseudopoda byssina Zhang, Jäger & Liu , spec. nov. Figs 35–37 , Map 2

Type material. THAILAND, Chiang Mai Province: Holotype male from Doi Phahom Pok [20.04°N, 99.14°E], 1000 m, 15 December 2002, P. Dankittipakul leg. ( MHNG, MHNG0019 ) . Paratypes: 2 females, with same data as for holotype ( MHNG, MHNG0020 – MHNG0021 ) .

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin adjective byssinus, - a, - um, meaning “filamentous”, referring to the thin and long E; adjective.

Diagnosis. The male of P. byssina Zhang, Jäger & Liu , spec. nov. is similar to that of P. dao Jäger, 2001 (Jäger 2001) by having an extremely elongated E, a strong retrolateral cymbial bulge and a proximally arising RTA sticking out at a right angle from palpal tibia, but can be distinguished by: 1) E with a projection at its basal part; 2) T elongated resulting in a straight part of the spermophor in longitudinal axis; (E without such projection, T suboval with spermophor rounded in P. dao ). The female of P. byssina Zhang, Jäger & Liu , spec. nov. similar to that of P. parvipunctata Jäger, 2001 (Jäger 2001) in having a very similar course of IDS, but can be easily distinguished by the LL with prominent postero-laterad extensions, unseen in the entire genus, and LL not touching each other medially (LL rounded and touching each other in P. parvipunctata ).

MALE (MHNG0019): Measurements: Medium sized. Body length 11.0, DS length 5.3, width 4.6, OS length 5.7, width 3.2. Eyes: AME 0.21, ALE 0.32, PME 0.25, PLE 0.36, AME–AME 0.21, AME–ALE 0.13, PME–PME 0.27, PME–PLE 0.46, AME–PME 0.37, ALE–PLE 0.32, CH AME 0.47, CH ALE 0.40. Spination: Pp 131, 101, 2111; Fe I–II 323, III 322, IV 321; Pa I–IV 101; Ti I–II 2226, III–IV 2126; Mt I–III 2024, IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs: Pp 8.8 (2.5, 1.2, 1.5, –, 3.6); I 21.5 (6.1, 2.1, 5.9, 5.5, 1.9); II 24.5 (6.6, 2.7, 7.4, 6.1, 2.1); III 17.7 (5.3, 1.7, 4.9, 4.4, 1.4); IV 20.8 (6.3, 1.4, 5.3, 5.8, 2.0). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Cheliceral furrow with ca. 27 denticles.

Palp ( Figs 35A–C ): As in diagnosis. C arising from T at 12:00 o’clock position, broadly fanned apically. E arising from T at 6:30 o’clock position, long, running in three loops, tip situated close to conductor. Spermophor S-shaped. Both, vRTA and dRTA flattened and blunt in ventral view, RTA concave apically in retrolateral view.

Colouration ( Figs 37A–B ): DS reddish brown with dark spots. Fovea distinctly marked with elongated “X”, striae marked with rows of dots. OS dorsally reddishbrown interspersed with yellow dots, becoming darker posteriorly, until a transverse yellow patch in posterior part. OS ventrally with reddish brown marks, irregularly arranged, becoming more denser in front of spinnerets.

FEMALE (MHNG0020): Measurements: Medium sized. Body length 12.8–13.1, DS length 5.7, width 5.1, OS length 7.4, width 5.2. Eyes: AME 0.21, ALE 0.35, PME 0.26, PLE 0.33, AME–AME 0.21, AME–ALE 0.13, PME–PME 0.28, PME–PLE 0.47, AME–PME 0.41, ALE–PLE 0.32, CH AME 0.51, CH ALE 0.46. Spination: Pp 131, 101, 2121, 1014; Fe I–II 323, III 322, IV 321; Pa I–II 001, III–IV 101; Ti I 1016, II–IV 2026; Mt I–II 1014, III 3024, IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs: Pp 7.1 (1.9, 1.0, 1.6, –, 2.6); I 18.0 (5.0, 2.3, 4.8, 4.3, 1.6); II 21.4 (5.8, 2.6, 6.2, 5.0, 1.8); III 15.4 (4.7, 1.9, 3.9, 3.5, 1.4); IV 17.2 (5.5, 1.4, 4.1, 4.5, 1.7). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Cheliceral furrow with ca. 25 denticles.

Epigyne ( Figs 36A–C ): As in diagnosis. EF wider than long, with tiny AB situated in anterior concavity. Anterior margins of LL forming an open V-shaped structure. LL forming wide cones, these bluntly tapering apically. Parts of IDS seen laterally from FW in dorsal view, other parts are hidden by FW and LL.

Colouration ( Figs 37C–D ): As in male.

Distribution. Thailand (Chiang Mai Province).

Figures

FIGURE 35. Pseudopoda byssina 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 36. Pseudopoda byssina Zhang, Jäger & Liu, spec. nov., paratype, female: A. Epigyne, ventral; B. Schematic course of IDS, dorsal; C. Vulva, dorsal. Scale bars: A–C: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 37. Pseudopoda byssina Zhang, Jäger & Liu, spec. nov., A–B Male habitus (A. dorsal; B. ventral); C–D Female habitus (C. dorsal; D. ventral). Scale bars: A–D: 2 mm.