Pseudopoda sicyoidea, Liu, 2017

Liu, Jie, 2017, One new Pseudopoda species group (Araneae: Sparassidae) from Yunnan Province, China, with description of three new species, Zootaxa 4318 (2), pp. 271-294 : 274-289

Pseudopoda sicyoidea sp. nov.

Figs 12A–D , 13A–B , 14A –D, 15A–D, 19

Type material. Holotype male: CHINA: Yunnan Province: Dali City, Weishan County Weibaoshan National Forest Park, 25.1773°N, 100.3511°E, 2445 m, 15 November 2015, Yang Zhong & Yang Zhu ( CBEE). Paratype: 2 males and 2 females, with same data as holotype.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin adjective sicyoideus, -a, -um, meaning “gourdshaped”, referring to the shape of spermathecae in dorsal view ( Fig. 12D ); adjective.

Diagnosis. The species is similar to P. daliensis in having similar palpal structures and gourd-shaped spermathecae, but can be distinguished from the latter by the following characters: 1. Embolus tip slightly curved towards embolic base in P. daliensis , but significantly curved in P. sicyoidea sp. nov.; 2. Margin of ventral RTA smooth in P. daliensis , but curved in P. sicyoidea sp. nov.; 3. Margin between vRTA and dRTA U-shaped in P. daliensis , but V-shaped in P. sicyoidea sp. nov.; 4. Posterior part of lateral lobes with large lateral projections in P. daliensis , but with small lateral projections in P. sicyoidea sp. nov.; 5. Anterior margins of lateral lobes almost horizontal in P. daliensis , but curved laterally in P. sicyoidea sp. nov.; 6. Posterior margin of FW visible in P. daliensis , but not so in P. sicyoidea sp. nov. ( Figs 12A–D , 13A–B , 14A –D).

Description. Male (holotype): Measurements: Small-sized Heteropodinae. Body length 7.8–8.9. DS length 4.0, width 3.7, OS length 4.4, width 2.7. Eyes: AME 0.20, ALE 0.26, PME 0.18, PLE 0.23, AME–AME 0.20, AME–ALE 0.10, PME–PME 0.34, PME–PLE 0.39, AME–PME 0.35, ALE–PLE 0.32, CH AME 0.34, CH ALE 0.30. Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Spination: Pp 131, 101, 2101; Fe I–II 323, III 322, IV 331; Pa I–III 0 0 1, IV 000; Ti I–II 2128, III–IV 2126; Mt I–II 2024, III 3034, IV 3036. Measurement of palps and legs: Pp 5.5 (1.6, 0.7, 1.0, –, 2.2); I 18.7 (5.4, 1.7, 5.1, 4.7, 1.8); II 20.3 (6.0, 1.6, 5.9, 5.1, 1.7); III 16.0 (4.9, 1.6, 4.1, 3.8, 1.6); IV 17.0 (5.0, 1.5, 4.6, 4.7, 1.2). Promargin of chelicerae with three teeth, retromargin with four teeth, cheliceral furrow with ca. 28 denticles.

Palp as in diagnosis. Cymbium with large retrolateral bulge. Tegulum occupying entire alveolus. Embolus arising from 10.30-o’clock-position on tegulum, with tip prolaterad. RTA arising proximally from Ti, its broad ventral part with two distinct margins that looks like mountains ( Figs 12A , 13A–B , 14A–B ).

Colouration in ethanol: Chelicerae with irregular spots. Legs light yellow with black hairs and reddish-brown irregular markings. DS light yellow with irregular pattern consisting of dark spots and small patches of dark hairs, fovea and radial furrows distinctly marked. OS dorsally with yellowish- and reddish-brown patches, laterally spotted. OS ventrally lighter with reddish-brown marks arranged symmetrically ( Figs 15A–B ).

Female: Measurements: Small-sized Heteropodinae. Body length 8–9.5. DS length 4.0, width 3.6, OS length 4.6, width 2.8. Eyes: AME 0.15, ALE 0.20, PME 0.16, PLE 0.20, AME–AME 0.27, AME–ALE 0.13, PME–PME 0.33, PME–PLE 0.41, AME–PME 0.35, ALE–PLE 0.32, CH AME 0.31, CH ALE 0.29. Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Spination: Pp 131, 101, 2121, 1014; Fe I–II 323, III 322, IV 331; Pa I–III 0 0 1, IV 000; Ti I–II 2228, III–IV 2126; Mt I–II 2024, III 3034, IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs: Pp 5.0 (1.5, 0.8, 0.9, –, 1.8); I 13.0 (4.2, 1.0, 3.4, 3.0, 1.4); II 13.8 (4.4, 1.5, 3.5, 2.9, 1.5); III 11.4 (3.6, 1.3, 2.8, 2.3, 1.4); IV 12.5 (3.7, 1.3, 2.9, 3.2, 1.4). Cheliceral furrow with three anterior and four posterior teeth, and with ca. 23 denticles.

Epigynal field wider than long. FW covering middle loops of spermathecae, posterior part of lateral lobes with indistinct lateral projection, anterior margins of lateral lobes bowl-like ( Figs 12B–D , 14 C–D).

Colouration in ethanol: Generally as in male but DS reddish-yellow ( Figs 15C–D ).

Distribution. China (Yunnan) ( Fig. 19 ).

Figures

FIGURES 12 A – D. Pseudopoda sicyoidea sp. nov. A Left male palp, ventral; B Epigyne, ventral; C Schematic course of internal duct system in right part, dorsal; D Vulva, dorsal. Abbreviations: E—embolus; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; Ttegulum; CO—copulatory opening; LL—lateral lobes; FD—fertilization duct; FW—first winding; LL—lateral lobes; Sspermathecae. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 13 A – B. Pseudopoda sicyoidea sp. nov. Left male palp (A prolateral, B retrolateral). Abbreviations: C—conductor; ST—subtegulum. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 14 A – B. Pseudopoda sicyoidea sp. nov. A – B Left male palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C Epigyne, ventral; D Vulva, dorsal. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 15 A – D. Pseudopoda sicyoidea sp. nov. A – B Male habitus (A dorsal, B ventral); C – D Female habitus (C dorsal, D ventral). Scale bars: 2 mm.

FIGURE 19 Collection localities of five Pseudopoda species from Yunnan Province, China.