Pseudopoda contentio, Jäger, Peter & Vedel, Vincent, 2007

Jäger, Peter & Vedel, Vincent, 2007, Sparassidae of China 4. The genus Pseudopoda (Araneae: Sparassidae) in Yunnan Province, Zootaxa 1623, pp. 1-38 : 10-12

Pseudopoda contentio sp. n.

Figs 24–31 , 137

Type material: Holotype: male (PJ 2034), Nujiang Prefecture, Gaoligong Shan, Nujiang State Nature Reserve, Qiqi He ( Fig. 136), 9.9 air km W of Gongshan, 2000 m [27.715°N, 98.565°E, Yunnan Province, China], 9–14 July 2000, H.M. Yan, D. Kavanaugh, C.E. Griswold, H.B. Liang, D. Ubick & D.Z. Dong ( HNU).

Paratypes: 15 males (PJ 2035–2049), 15 females (PJ 1942–1943, PJ 2050–2062),same data as holotype (7 males, 7 females HNU; 7 males, 7 females CAS; 1 male, 1 female SMF). 2 males (PJ 1997–1998), 1 female (PJ 1999), Nujiang Prefecture, Gaoligong Shan, Nujiang State Nature Reserve, No. 12, Bridge Camp area, 16.3 air km W of Gongshan, 2775 m [27.715°N, 98.502°E, Yunnan Province, China], 15–19 July 2000, H.– M. Yan, D. Kavanaugh, C.E. Griswold, H.B. Liang, D. Ubick, & D.Z. Dong (1 male, 1 female HNU; 1 male CAS). 19 males (PJ 1944–1960), 2 females (PJ 1961–1962), Nujiang Prefecture, Gaoligong Shan, Gongshan County, Danzhu He drainage, 13.5 air km SSW of Gongshan, 2700 m [27.631°N, 98.621°E, Yunnan Province, China], 30 June – 5 July 2000, D. Kavanaugh, C. Griswold, H.B. Liang, D. Ubick, H.M. Yan & D.Z. Dong (9 males, 1 female HNU; 9 males, 1 female CAS, 1 male SMF). 2 males (PJ 1931–1932), Nujiang Prefecture, Gaoligong Shan, Gongshan County, Danzhu He drainage, 15.7–16.0 air km SW of Gongshan, 2900–3100 m [27.627°N, 98.592E ° to 27.622°N, 98.587°E, Yunnan Province, China], 30 June – 5 July 2000, H.M. Yan, D. Kavanaugh, C.E. Griswold, H.B. Liang, D. Ubick & D.Z. Dong (1 male HNU; 1 male CAS).

Etymology. The specific name reflects the efforts during an expedition needed to get such a large series of conspecific individuals, derived from the Latin word ‘contentio’ meaning ‘exertion, effort’; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Small-sized Heteropodinae. Males ( Figs 24–28 ) — May be recognised by the following combination of characters: 1. Embolus sickle-shaped, bent in a semicircle, with subapical tooth, 2. Dorsal part of RTA extremely thin and distinctly curved. Females ( Figs 29–30 ) — With similar copulatory organ as Pseudopoda saetosa sp. n. (compare also diagnosis of that species), but differs in the following characters – 1. Anterior margins of lateral lobes slightly bent, running more diagonal, 2. Internal duct system visible through cuticle in ventral view as large slightly elongated patches, 3. Posterior end of first winding of internal duct system freely visible, 4. Margin of first winding wide.

Description. Male (measurements of holotype first, those for paratypes in parentheses): PL 4.1 (3.0– 4.3), PH 1.4 (1.2–2.0), PW 3.4 (2.7–3.5), AW 2.0 (1.5–2.9), OL 4.3 (3.3–6.0), OW 2.8 (1.8–3.0). Eyes: AME 0.16 (0.16–0.19), ALE 0.32 (0.26–0.30), PME 0.24 (0.18–0.25), PLE 0.30 (0.26–0.31), AME–AME 0.15 (0.11–0.16), AME–ALE 0.07 (0.04–0.06), PME–PME 0.25 (0.18–0.26), PME–PLE 0.31 (0.25–0.30), AME– PME 0.29 (0.20–0.29), ALE–PLE 0.25 (0.21–0.27), CH –AME 0.43 (0.24–0.41), CH –ALE 0.37 (0.22–0.35).

Leg formula: 2413. Spination: PP 131, 101, 2101; FE I–II 323, III 322(3), IV 331; PA 0 0 1 (III–IV 000); TI I–II 2026, III–IV 20(1)26; MT I–II 2024, III 3024, IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs: PP 5.5 (4.7– 5.4) [1.7, 0.9, 1.0, 1.9], I 16.8 (14.2–16.6) [4.5, 1.8, 4.6, 4.4, 1.8], II 18.2 (15.4–18.3) [5.0, 1.9, 5.0, 4.8, 1.5], III 15.4 (13.1–15.2) [4.2, 1.7, 4.3, 3.9, 1.3], IV 16.9 (14.5–16.8) [4.6, 1.7, 4.4, 4.6, 1.6].

Palp as in diagnosis. Retrolateral margin of cymbium slightly concave in distal half (ventral view, Fig. 25 ). Embolus short, arising from 10-o’clock-position on tegulum, its tip pointing prolaterally. Rounded apophysis close to base of conductor. Sperm-duct running submarginally along retrolateral margin of tegulum ( Fig. 25 ), bent in an angle at tegular bulge (prolateral view, Fig. 24 ). RTA arising basally from TI ( Fig. 25 ), with indentation on base of ventral margin (retrolateral view, Figs 26–27 ), dorsal part forming a circle-shaped interspace with ventral part. Tip of ventral part slightly curved.

Colour: DS yellowish-brown with brown marks at fovea and striae. ST without distinct pattern. CC yellowish-brown, slightly darker than rest of body. Ventral OS brown, a bit brighter than dorsum. Legs with medium-sized spots and slightly larger spine patches.

Female (measurements of paratypes): PL 3.4–4.4, PH 1.3–2.0, PW 2.9–3.6, AW 1.8–2.3, OL 4.5–6.5, OW 3.1–5.0. Eyes: AME 0.16–0.21, ALE 0.27–0.34, PME 0.19–0.23, PLE 0.27–0.29, AME–AME 0.14– 0.18, AME–ALE 0.04–0.06, PME–PME 0.22–0.29, PME–PLE 0.26–0.32, AME–PME 0.22–0.30, ALE–PLE 0.20–0.28, CH –AME 0.24–0.38, CH –ALE 0.22–0.27.

Leg formula: 2413. Spination: PP 131, 101, 2121, 1014; FE I–II 323, III 322, IV 331; PA I–III 0 0 0 to 0 0 1, IV 000; TI I–II 2026, III 2026 (2126), IV 2126; MT I–II 2024, III 3024, IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs: PP 4.5–5.5 [1.4, 0.7, 1.0, 1.4], I 10.4–13.0 [3.1, 1.6, 2.9, 2.6, 1.0], II 11.8–14.0 [3.4, 1.6, 3.1, 2.7, 1.0], III 10.0–12.1 [3.0, 1.3, 2.6, 2.3, 0.9], IV 11.3–13.3 [3.3,1.2,2.8,2.9,1.1].

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis. Epigynal field clearly wider than long. Epigyne similar to P. s a e t o s a sp. n. Median margins of lateral lobes parallel and almost straight. Posterior margins with slight median indentation ( Fig. 29 ). Space between fertilisation ducts and first winding smaller than width of first winding ( Fig. 30 ). In one specimen, a subadult female, a pre-epigyne was present ( Fig. 31 ). It is illustrated to avoid confusion of mature and immature females.

Colour: As in male, generally darker.

Variation: Variable in PA spination, from 0 0 0 to 0 0 1 in leg I–III.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality and three localities not further than 10 air km away (localities 3-6 in Fig. 137 ).

Relationships. Considering the more strongly bent embolus and the less pronounced dorsal RTA P. contentio sp. n. could be interpreted as a continued transition from P. platembola and P. s a e t o s a sp. n. As there is no strict evidence from other characters or from the geographic distribution, it can only be stated that all three species seem to be closely related according to their similar conformation of male and female copulatory organs.

Figures

FIGURE 137. Localities of Pseudopoda spp. in Yunnan and adjacent regions. 1 — Wengshang, 55 km N Zhongdian (shuqiangi); 2 — Tuguancun, 51 km SSE Zhongdian (yinae), 3 — Qiqi He (contentio), 4 — Bridge Camp (No. 12) (contentio, gongschana), 5 – 6 — Danzhu He (5 — 15.7 – 16.0 air km SW of Gongshan: contentio, saetosa; 6 — 13.5 air km SSW of Gongshan: contentio, gongschana), 7 — Pianma (amelia, digitata, sinapophysis), 8 — Zhon Lushui Xian (interposita), 9 — Luoshuidong (obtusa, sinapophysis), 10 — Nankang (contraria, sinapophysis), 11 — Yangbi (yunnanensis), 12 — Dali (cangschana, daliensis, rivicola), 13 — Xishan (bibulba, roganda, spiculata), 14 — Hsiao Meng Lun (cf. bibulba). Open square — Adung Valley; N Myanmar (platembola, biapicata). Filled square — Emei Shan, Sichuan Province, China (rivicola). Inset: Position of Yunnan Province in China.

FIGURES 24 – 31. Pseudopoda contentio sp. n. from Gaoligongshan, Gongshan (24 – 26 paratype male, PJ 1997; 27 paratype male, PJ 2035; 28 paratype male, PJ 1931; 29 – 30 paratype female, PJ 1999; 31 subadult female). 24 – 27 Left male palp (24 prolateral; 25 ventral; 26 – 27 retrolateral); 28 Embolus, prolateroventral; 29 Epigyne, ventral; 30 Vulva, dorsal; 31 Pre-epigyne, ventral.