Pseudopoda contraria, 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 : 31-32

Pseudopoda contraria sp. n.

Figs 114–119 , 137

Type material. Holotype: male (PJ 2111), Baoshan Prefecture, pass over Gaoligongshan at 2100m, Nankang, 36 air km SE Teng Chong, native forest [24°50'N, 98°47'E, Yunnan Province, China], 4–7 October 1998, C. Griswold, D. Kavanaugh, C.-L. Long ( HNU).

Paratypes: 1 male (PJ 2112), 5 females (PJ 2113–2117), same data as holotype (2 females HNU; 1 male, 2 females CAS; 1 female SMF).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin word ‘contrarius, -a, -um’, meaning ‘contrary’, and refers to the two distal parts of the embolus, which are very different in size and shape; adjective.

Diagnosis. Medium-sized Heteropodinae. The species may be recognised by the following combination of characters: Males ( Figs 114–116 ) — 1. Embolus with huge projection prolaterally, distal tip of embolus very thin, 2. Ventral RTA distally with straight margin. Females ( Figs 117–119 ) — 1. Anterior margins of lateral lobes distinctly curved, their lateral ends pointing anteriolaterally, 2. Median margins extending in anterior half of epigyne.

Description. Male (measurements of holotype first, those for paratype in parentheses): PL 4.4 (4.9), PH 2.1 (2.4), PW 4.0 (4.2), AW 2.3 (2.4), OL 5.5 (5.6), OW 3.2 (3.5). Eyes: AME 0.21 (0.22), ALE 0.36 (0.37), PME 0.27 (0.30), PLE 0.36 (0.36), AME–AME 0.22 (0.21), AME–ALE 0.06 (0.06), PME–PME 0.30 (0.30), PME–PLE 0.40 (0.41), AME–PME 0.42 (0.42), ALE–PLE 0.29 (0.36), CH –AME 0.53 (0.50), CH – ALE 0.41 (0.38).

Leg formula: 2413. Spination: PP 131, 101, 2101; FE I–II 323, III 322, IV 331; PA 101; TI 2026; MT I–II 1014, III 3024, IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs: PP 7.5 (7.2) [2.3, 1.1, 1.4, 2.7], I 21.1 (20.8) [5.5, 2.5, 5.9, 5.4, 1.8], II 22.7 (23.0) [6.1, 2.5, 6.3, 5.8, 2.0], III 18.2 (18.4) [5.0, 2.1, 4.9, 4.5, 1.7], IV 21.8 (21.6) [6.2, 2.2, 5.5, 5.9, 2.0].

Palp as in diagnosis. Cymbium slightly elongated, retrolateral bulge not that distinct as in other Pseudopoda spp. Embolus arising from 10-o’clock-position on tegulum, strongly broadened in its middle part. Thin distal part of embolus pointing prolaterodistally. Sperm duct running submarginally on retrolateral tegulum, becoming narrower at basal tegulum. RTA arising medially to basally from TI, dorsal part finger-like ( Figs 115–116 ).

Colour: DS yellowish-brown, darker than most other Pseudopoda species described here. DS and ST without distinct pattern. Fovea a bit darker. CC brown, slightly darker than DS. OS brown, brighter in anterior half, without distinct pattern. Legs yellowish-brown with FE brighter, getting darker towards distal segments (especially TA). Appendages with some irregular dark patches.

Female (measurements of paratypes): PL 4.31–6.0, PH 2.0–2.6, PW 3.8–4.7, AW 2.4–3.0, OL 4.7–8.5, OW 3.1–6.3. Eyes: AME 0.18–0.22, ALE 0.32–0.41, PME 0.29–0.35, PLE 0.26–0.29, AME–AME 0.21– 0.25, AME–ALE 0.07–0.09, PME–PME 0.33–0.35, PME–PLE 0.41–0.52, AME–PME 0.43–0.44, ALE–PLE 0.41–0.43, CH –AME 0.54–0.60, CH –ALE 0.44–0.46.

Leg formula: 2413. Spination: PP 131, 101, 2121, 1014; FE I–II 323, III 322, IV 331; PA 001; TI 2026; MT I–II 1014, III 3024, IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs: PP 6.8–7.6 [1.8, 1.2, 1.5, 2.3], I 17.1–18.1 [4.7, 2.1, 4.6, 4.1, 1.6], II 18.4–19.2 [5.2, 2.5, 4.9, 4.3, 1.5], III 15.0–15.9 [4.5, 2.0, 4.0, 3.7, 1.3], IV 17.2–18.6 [5.3, 1.8, 4.2, 4.4, 1.5].

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis. Epigynal field twice as wide as long, with short anterior bands. Lateral lobes much wider than long. Internal duct system visible as distinctly round patches close to median margins of lateral lobes in ventral view ( Fig. 117 ). First winding of internal duct system with almost straight margins in dorsal view. Dorsal part of lateral lobes long, extending distinctly into anterior part of epigyne ( Fig. 118 ).

Colour: As in male, but generally darker.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality (10 in Fig. 137 ).

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 114 – 119. Pseudopoda contraria sp. n. from Gaoligongshan, Nankang (114 – 116 holotype male, PJ 2111; 117 – 119 paratype female, PJ 2113). 114 – 116 Left male palp (114 prolateral; 115 ventral; 116 retrolateral); 117 Epigyne, ventral; 118 Vulva, dorsal; 119 Schematic course of internal duct system, dorsal.