Pseudopoda sinapophysis, 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 : 3-5

Pseudopoda sinapophysis sp. n.

Figs 1–6 , 137

Type material: Holotype: male (PJ 2073), Nujiang Prefecture, native forest in Gaoligongshan at 9.5 km ESE Pianma, 2500 m [25°59’N, 98°40’E; Yunnan Province, China], 15–18 October 1998, C. Griswold, D. Kavanaugh, C.-L. Long ( HNU).

Paratypes: 3 males (PJ 2072, 2074–2075), 5 females (PJ 2076–2080), same data as holotype (2 males, 2 females HNU; 1 male, 2 females CAS; 1 female SMF). 2 male paratypes (PJ 2086–2087), 2 female paratypes (PJ 2261–2262), Baoshan Prefecture, pass over Gaoligongshan at 2003 m, Luoshuidong, 28 air km E Teng Chong, native forest [24°57'N, 98°45'E, Yunnan Province, China] 26–31 October 1998, C. Griswold, D. Kavanaugh, C.-L. Long (1 male, 1 female HNU; 1 male, 1 female CAS). 6 females (PJ 2065–2070, 2084– 2085), same data as series before (3 females HNU; 2 females CAS; 1 female SMF). 2 females (PJ 2081, 2083), Baoshan Prefecture, pass over Gaoligongshan at 2100 m, 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 (1 female HNU; 1 female CAS).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the (convergent) similarity of the RTA in retrolateral view in comparison to Sinopoda spp.; compound noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Small- to medium-sized Heteropodinae. The species may be recognised by the following combination of characters: Males ( Figs 1–3 ) — 1. Cymbium elongated in comparison to other Pseudopoda spp., 2. Embolus short and almost straight, RTA with long and thin finger-like dorsal part. Females ( Figs 4–6 ) — 1. Lateral lobes extending only slightly beyond epigastric furrow, 2. V-shaped part of median epigynal septum visible in ventral view, 3. Internal duct system with a medium atrium and ovoid lateral parts. TI in both sexes with 4 pairs of ventral spines (other Pseudopoda spp. with 3 pairs).

Description. Male (measurements of holotype first, those of paratypes in parentheses): PL 4.3 (4.1– 5.3), PH 1.9 (1.7–2.2), PW 3.8 (3.5–4.8), AW 2.0 (2.1–2.5), OL 5.0 (4.6–6.0), OW 3.2 (2.8–3.7). Eyes: AME 0.18 (0.21–0.26), ALE 0.28 (0.31–0.36), PME 0.23 (0.23–0.31), PLE 0.30 (0.30–0.34), AME–AME 0.21 (0.16–0.21), AME–ALE 0.07 (0.07–0.08), PME–PME 0.26 (0.24–0.36), PME–PLE 0.34 (0.33–0.39), AME– PME 0.30 (0.27–0.31), ALE–PLE 0.27 (0.28–0.33), CH –AME 0.31 (0.34–0.39), CH –ALE 0.23 (0.22–0.29).

Leg formula: 2143. Spination: PP 131, 101, 2101; FE I-II 323, III 322, IV 331; PA 001; TI I-II 2228, III- IV 2226; MT I-II 3034, III-IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs: PP 7.3 (6.7–8.4) [2.3, 1.2, 1.4, 2.4], I 25.0 (25.2–27.3) [6.0, 2.2, 7.1, 7.6, 2.1], II 26.3 (25.7–29.2) [6.7, 2.3, 7.6, 7.6, 2.1], III 18.6 (17.9–20.1) [5.3, 2.0, 4.7, 5.0, 1.6], IV 20.5 (19.6–22.7) [5.7, 1.8, 5.3, 5.9, 1.8].

Palp as in diagnosis. Embolus arising from 8.30-o’clock-position on the tegulum. Narrow sperm-duct running submarginally along retrolateral margin of the tegulum. RTA arising medially from TI ( Fig. 2 ).

Colour: Yellowish brown with brown markings on appendages. CC deep red-brown to black. Slight darkbrown mark on fovea. DS without distinct pattern, but with small and irregular spots. ST pale yellow without pattern. Leg bases pale, distal segments brown. Dorsal OS with two dark anterior patches in the brighter anterior half, colour becoming darker to posterior end. Ventral OS with a series of spots delimiting a median longitudinal band and accumulating in a triangle in front of spinnerets.

Female (measurements of paratypes): PL 5.6–3.5, PH 2.2–1.5, PW 4.6–3.2, AW 3.1–2.0, OL 6.9–4.7, OW 4.7–3.2. Eyes: AME 0.28–0.18, ALE 0.40–0.32, PME 0.31–0.25, PLE 0.36–0.31, AME–AME 0.27– 0.21, AME–ALE 0.07–0.09, PME–PME 0.35–0.30, PME–PLE 0.49–0.39, AME–PME 0.40–0.31, ALE–PLE 0.39–0.31, CH –AME 0.48–0.36, CH –ALE 0.38–0.25.

Leg formula: 2143. 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 3034, III–IV 3036. Measurement of palps and legs: PP 7.7–6.4 [2.2– 1.8, 1.6–1.1, 1.8–1.5, 2.5–2.0], I 19.0–15.8 [5.1–4.0, 2.5–2.1, 5.2–4.4, 4.7–3.8, 1.6–1.3], II 20.2–16.7 [5.6– 4.9, 2.5–2.0, 5.6–4.5, 4.9–4.0, 1.6–1.4], III 16.2–13.1 [4.7–3.8, 2.2–1.7, 4.3–3.4, 3.8–3.0, 1.5–1.2], IV 17.0– 14.5 [5.0–4.4, 2.0–1.6, 4.3–3.6, 4.4–3.6, 1.6–1.4].

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis. Epigynal field wider than long, with distinct anterior bands. Epigyne with two lobes touching each other in one point at the median line. Anterior margins of the lobes slightly bent laterally ( Fig. 4 ). Internal duct system running from shared atrium in a twisted anterior loop. Dorsal part of lateral lobes extending only in posterior half of vulva ( Fig. 5 ).

Colour: As in male, but generally darker and more distinct. ST with few slight patches. Ventral OS with median band slightly darker and more spots.

Variation. A bright transverse oval patch in the posterior half of dorsal OS was present in some males and females.

Distribution. Known from three localities in Nujiang and Baoshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China (localities 7, 9, 10 in Fig. 137 ).

Relationships. Females of P. sinapophysis sp. n. point to affinity of this species with the basal diversipunctata -group (cf. Jäger 2001: 25), especially with P. diversipunctata Jäger, 2001 . Males of P. sinapophysis sp. n. are characterised by their simple embolus conformation, which could be considered plesiomorphic in comparison to those of the martensi - or latembola -groups. However, the elongated cymbium points to a possible cave-dwelling habit as in other cave-dwelling Sparassidae ( Heteropoda maxima Jäger, 2001 ; Sinopoda sp., unpubl.). As no detailed habitat data is noticed on the labels, no definite statements can be drawn.

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 1 – 9. 1 – 6 Pseudopoda sinapophysis sp. n. from Gaoligongshan, Pianma (1 – 3 holotype male, PJ 2073, 4 – 6 paratype female, PJ 2076). 7 – 9 Pseudopoda interposita sp. n. from Nujiang Zhou (holotype male, PJ 2161). 1 – 3, 7 – 9 Left male palp (1 prolateral; 2, 7 ventral; 3, 8 retrolateral; 9 dorsal); 4 Epigyne, ventral; 5 Vulva, dorsal; 6 Schematic course of internal duct system, dorsal.