Pseudopoda lushanensis ( Wang, 1990 )

Quan, Dan, Zhong, Yang & Liu, Jie, 2014, Four Pseudopoda species (Araneae: Sparassidae) from southern China, Zootaxa 3754 (5), pp. 555-571 : 559-562

Pseudopoda lushanensis ( Wang, 1990)

Figs 4 – 5 , 13

Heteropoda lushanensis Wang 1990: 8 , figs 11 – 12 (male holotype from Mt. Lushan, Jiangxi Province, China, 15 June 1987); Song et al. 1999: 468, fig 268P (male).

Pseudopoda lushanensis (Wang) . Jäger 2000: 63 (transferred from Heteropoda ); Jäger 2001: 89, figs 47m – n (male).

Material examined. CHINA: Jiangxi Province: 2 males, 3 females, Mt. Lushan (29°30'46.07''N, 115°53'44.15''E), 27 May, 2012, Jie Liu & Fengxiang Liu (HBU); 5 males, 7 females, same locality, 20 May, 2013, Jie Liu & Yang Zhong (HBU).

Diagnosis. Small sized Heteropodinae. This species can be distinguished from other Pseudopoda species by the simple finger-shaped RTA without additional apophysis, the long filiform embolus with broad base in male ( Figs 4A – C , 5A – C ), by the long tube-shaped copulatory ducts and spermathecae, and the long dorsal part of lateral lobes which is extremely extending into anterior part of epigyne in female ( Figs 4E , 5E ).

Description. Male: Measurements (in mm): PL 3.47, PW 3.16, AW 1.49, PH 0.98, OL 4.09, OW 2.44. Eyes: AME 0.15, ALE 0.20, PME 0.18, PLE 0.23, AME–AME 0.18, AME–ALE 0.10, PME–PME 0.23, PME–PLE 0.30, AME–PME 0.30, ALE–PLE 0.30, CH AME 0.30, CH ALE 0.25. Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Spination: Pp 131, 201, 1211; 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 5.47 (1.87, 0.85, 0.93, -, 1.82), I 19.92 (5.38, 1.62, 5.75, 5.27, 1.90), II 21.43 (5.73, 1.80, 6.18, 5.70, 2.02), III 15.58 (4.37, 1.36, 4.28, 4.02, 1 55), IV 18.24 (5.14, 1.34, 4.67, 5.34, 1.75). Chelicerae yellow-brown, with 2 short brown longitudinal grains, cheliceral claw brown, cheliceral furrow with 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, and with ca. 33 denticles. Carapace yellow, median furrow and radical furrow very distinct, thoracic region pale yellow. Labium yellow, endite yellow-brown. Legs yellow, with brown spots on them. Dorsal opistosoma yellow-brown, with 3 pairs of dark brown dots, behind which is a brown transverse striation ( Fig. 5F ).

Palp as in diagnosis. Embolus arising from 8-o’ clock position on the tegulum, basally broad, with long and filiform distal tip forming a semicircle. Sperm duct not distinctly visible on the tegulum in ventral view. RTA simple, finger-shaped without apophysis, arising subdistally from Ti ( Figs 4A – C , 5A – C ).

Female: Measurements (in mm): PL 4.0, PW 3.8, AW 2.1, PH 1.2, OL 4.9, OW 3.5. Eyes: AME 0.15, ALE 0.23, PME 0.20, PLE 0.28, AME–AME 0.20, AME–ALE 0.13, PME–PME 0.28, PME–PLE 0.38, AME–PME 0.33, ALE–PLE 0.30, CH AME 0.40, CH ALE 0.33. Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Spination: Pp 131, 101, 2121, 1014; Fe I–III 323, IV 321; Pa I–II 101, III–IV 001; Ti I–IV 2126; Mt I–II 2024, III–IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs: Pp 5.3 (1.5, 0.8, 1.2, -, 1.8), I 16.0 (4.3, 1.8, 4.3, 4.0, 1.6), II 17.0 (5.0, 1.9, 4.5, 4.1, 1.5), III 12.9 (4.0, 1.5, 3.1, 3.0, 1 3), IV 15.4 (4.6, 1.5, 3.7, 4.1, 1.5). Cheliceral furrow with 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, and with ca. 45 denticles. Colour pattern is the same as the male ( Fig. 5G ).

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis. Epigynal field wider than long, without anterior bands. Anterior margins of the lateral lobes U-shaped ( Figs 4D – F , 5D – E ).

Remarks. Though we didn’t examine the holotype, the unique simple finger-shaped RTA, the long filiform embolus and the distribution of this species indicate that these specimens should be P. lushanensis . Comparing with the original drawings of the holotype, there may be some variation in the conductor shape of the male palp.

Distribution. China (Jiangxi) ( Fig. 13 ).

Figures

FIGURE 13. Collection localities of Pseudopoda species in southern China.

FIGURES 4 A – F. Pseudopoda lushanensis (Wang, 1990). A – C Left male palp (A prolateral, B ventral, C retrolateral); D Epigyne, ventral; E Vulva, dorsal; F Schematic course of internal duct system, dorsal. Abbreviations: C—conductor; COcopulatory opening; E—embolus; EA—embolic apophysis; FD—fertilization duct; FW—first winding; LL—lateral lobes; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; ST—subtegulum; T—tegulum. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 5 A – G. Pseudopoda lushanensis (Wang, 1990). A – C Left male palp (A prolateral, B ventral, C retrolateral); D Epigyne, ventral; E Vulva, dorsal; F Male habitus, dorsal; G Female habitus, dorsal. Abbreviations: C—conductor; COcopulatory opening; E—embolus; EA—embolic apophysis; FD—fertilization duct; FW—first winding; LL—lateral lobes; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; ST—subtegulum; T—tegulum. Scale bars: A – C, D – E = 0.2 mm, F – G = 1 mm.