Pseudopoda deformis Gong & Zhong sp. nov.

(变形拟遁蛛) Figs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Type material.

Holotype #m: China: Hubei Province: Shennongjia Forestry District, Muyu Town, Guanmenshan Scenic Area (31.45°N, 110.40°E, 1200 m a.s.l.), 10.XII.2021, leg. Y. Zhong (HUST-SPA-22-001). Paratypes: China: Hubei Province: Same locality, 1#f (HUST-SPA-22-002), 1#f (HUST-SPA-22-003), 1#f (HUST-SPA-22-004), 3#m, 4#f.

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the Latin word deformis, - a, - um, meaning distorted, referring to the shape of the internal ducts of the female vulva.

Diagnosis.

Males of Pseudopoda deformis Gong & Zhong, sp. nov. are similar to those of P. jiangi Zhang, Jäger & Liu, 2023 (Zhang et al. 2023: figs 130, 131), P. lushanensis (Wang, 1990) (Quan et al. 2014: figs 4A-C, 5A-C) and P. shuqiangi Jäger & Vedel, 2007 (Jäger and Vedel 2007: figs 73-75) in having a long, filiform embolus. They can be distinguished from the two congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) Embolus arising from tegulum at 1:00- o’clock position, then curving downward (8:30- o’clock position, upward in P. lushanensis and P. shuqiangi); (2) The basal part of embolus is oval (circular in P. jiangi); (3) The tip of the conductor is straight and extends to approximately the tip of the cymbium in ventral view (not in P. lushanensis and P. shuqiangi); and (4) RTA arising medially from tibia (subdistally in P. lushanensis; basally in P. shuqiangi) (Fig. 1A-C). The females of this species can be separated from other Pseudopoda species by their unique internal ducts of the vulva, which are curved longitudinally, forming a narrow triangle or trapezoidal shape (Fig. 2D-I).

Description.

Male. PL 4.9, PW 3.4, AW 2.3, OL 4.6, OW 3.4. Eyes: AME 0.24, ALE 0.26, PME 0.27, PLE 0.33, AME-AME 0.21, AME-ALE 0.12, PME-PME 0.23, PME-PLE 0.16, AME-PME 0.29, ALE-PLE 0.18, CHAME 0.27, CHALE 0.33. Setation: Palp: 131, 101, 2101; Fe: I-III 323, IV 321; Pa: I-IV 101; Ti: I-II 2228, III-IV 2126; Mt: I-II 2024, III 2026, IV 3036. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 7.4 (2.1, 0.9, 1.3, -, 3.1), I 27.0 (7.1, 1.5, 8.2, 7.8, 2.4), II 29.6 (7.8, 1.5, 8.8, 8.9, 2.6), III 21.6 (6.0, 1.3, 6.1, 6.3, 1.9), IV 24.5 (6.5, 1.3, 6.9, 7.6, 2.2). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Chelicerae with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth, and with ~51 denticles (Fig. 1E). Carapace yellowish brown dorsally, margin with black patches, with shallow fovea and radial furrows. Chelicerae deep reddish brown. Sternum yellow with lots of random black spots. Endites and labium pale yellowish brown. Legs brown, with dark dots randomly distributed and covered by short spines and seta. Opisthosoma black-brown dorsally, without spots. Opisthosoma uniformly yellowish brown with some black patches ventrally (Fig. 3A, B).

Cymbium approximately 2 times longer than tibia (Fig. 1A-C). The basal part of conductor is obscured in ventral view (Fig. 1B) by embolus base. Basal part of conductor slightly sclerotized (Fig. 1C). Embolus slender, encircling the tegulum counter-clockwise, ventrally pointed (Fig. 1B). RTA distally bifurcate, pincer-shaped in ventral view, dRTA moderately pointed at tip (Fig. 1B, D).

Female. PL 5.0, PW 4.8, AW 2.8, OL 6.7, OW 4.7. Eyes: AME 0.25, ALE 0.34, PME 0.26, PLE 0.38, AME-AME 0.18, AME-ALE 0.08, PME-PME 0.24, PME-PLE 0.18, AME-PME 0.29, ALE-PLE 0.17, CHAME 0.35, CHALE 0.45. Setation: Palp: 131, 101, 2121, 1014; Fe: I-III 323, IV 321; Pa: I-IV 000; Ti: I-II 222(10), III-IV 2126; Mt: I-II 2024, III-IV 2026. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 6.4 (2.1, 0.7, 1.0, -, 2.6), I 19.3 (5.5, 1.3, 5.6, 5.1, 1.8), II 20.5 (5.9, 1.3, 6.1, 5.4, 1.8), III 15.4 (4.6, 1.1, 4.5, 3.7, 1.5), IV 17.0 (5.0, 1.1, 4.5, 4.6, 1.8). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Chelicerae with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth, and with ~46 denticles (Fig. 1F).

Epigynal field almost as wide as long, the anterior margins of lateral lobes forming a V-shape, median margin of lateral lobes united, internal duct systems not visible through cuticle, fertilisation ducts arising postero-laterally. In the dorsal view, internal duct systems differ extremely, and there is no regularity in the direction and structure of internal pipeline (Fig. 2).

Colouration as in males, opisthosoma brown dorsally (Fig. 3C-H).

Habitat.

The specimens were collected on leaves at night with bare hands (Fig. 4A, B).

Distribution.

Known only from Hubei Province, China (Fig. 4C).

Remarks.

The monophyly of Pseudopoda deformis Gong & Zhong, sp. nov. is highly supported by molecular phylogenetic results based mainly on Chinese Pseudopoda species (Fig. 5).