Pseudopoda digitata, 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 : 29-30

Pseudopoda digitata sp. n.

Figs 105–113 , 137

Type material. Holotype: male (PJ 2099), Nujiang Prefecture, native forest in Gaoligongshan at 9.5 road 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: 5 males (PJ 2100–2104), 5 females (PJ 2105–2109), same data as holotype (2 males, 2 females HNU; 2 males, 2 females CAS; 1 male, 1 female SMF).

Etymology. The specific name refers to the finger-like dorsal RTA, derived from the Latin word ‘digitus’, meaning ‘finger’; adjective.

Diagnosis. Small sized Heteropodinae. The species may be recognised by the following combination of characters: Males ( Figs 105–107 ) — 1. Embolus with large projection on prolateral margin, 2. RTA with well developed finger-like dorsal RTA; ventral RTA as small hump (retrolateral view). Females ( Figs 108–113 ) — 1. Anterior margins of lateral lobes regularly curved (not straight or distinctly bent as in P. o b t u s a sp. n.), 2. Fertilisation ducts forming a wide triangle, i.e. fertilisation ducts oriented slightly transversally.

Description. Male (measurements of holotype first, those for paratypes in parentheses): PL 3.5 (3.1– 3.4), PH 1.7 (1.7), PW 3.0 (2.5–2.9), AW 1.7 (1.6), OL 3.8 (3.3–3.5), OW 2.8 (2.2–2.4). Eyes: AME 0.15 (0.16–0.17), ALE 0.30 (0.25–0.26), PME 0.21 (0.19–0.20), PLE 0.29 (0.26), AME–AME 0.16 (0.13–0.14), AME–ALE 0.04 (0.04), PME–PME 0.21 (0.20–0.21), PME–PLE 0.31 (0.28–0.32), AME–PME 0.25 (0.23– 0.26), ALE–PLE 0.23 (0.22–0.23), CH –AME 0.22 (0.21–0.23), CH –ALE 0.19 (0.17–0.19).

Leg formula: 2413. Spination: PP 131, 101, 2101; FE I–II 323, III 322 (323), IV 331; PA I–III 0 0 1, IV 000; TI I–II 2026, III–IV 20(1)26; MT I–II 1014 (2024–3036), III–IV 3036 (3024–3036). Measurements of palps and legs: PP 4.7 (4.3) [1.3, 0.7, 0.9, 1.8], I 12.0 (11.0–11.1) [3.3, 1.6, 3.1, 3.0, 1.0], II 12.6 (11.5–11.6) [3.5, 1.6, 3.4, 3.1, 1.0], III 11.2 (10.3–10.5) [3.4, 1.4, 2.8, 2.6, 1.0], IV 12.5 (11.2–11.5) [3.5, 1.4, 3.1, 3.4, 1.1]. Palp as described as in diagnosis. Embolus arising from 9-o’clock-position on tegulum, its median part widest, distal part oriented at a right angle to median part, pointing prolaterodistally, with small subapical tooth. Sperm duct running submarginally along retrolateral tegulum. RTA arising basally to medially, ventral part with small blunt projection (ventral view), dorsal part bent at ca. 120°, pointing distally ( Figs 106–107 ).

Colour: DS yellowish-brown, with broad dark lateral bands and longitudinal marking at fovea. Lateral bands with bright narrow and interrupted line. ST yellowish-brown, brighter than DS, with some irregular brown spots. CC with same colour as DS. OS dark brown, with brighter patch in anterior half and dark longitudinal band inside. Appendages yellowish-brown with irregular brown spots.

Female (measurements of paratypes): PL 3.3–3.6, PH 1.5–1.7, PW 2.7–3.1, AW 1.8–2.0, OL 3.4–4.2, OW 2.7– 3.0. Eyes: AME 0.15–0.17, ALE 0.24– 0.28, PME 0.19–0.21, PLE 0.27–0.28, AME–AME 0.15– 0.16, AME–ALE 0.05, PME–PME 0.23–0.26, PME–PLE 0.29–0.33, AME–PME 0.25–0.30, ALE–PLE 0.27– 0.30, CH –AME 0.24–0.29, CH –ALE 0.17–0.20.

Leg formula: 2413. Spination: PP 131, 101, 2121, 1014; FE I–II 323, III 322, IV 331; PA I–II 0 0 1 (000), II–IV 000; TI I 2026 (1026), II 2026, III–IV 2026; MT I 2024 (1014), II 2024, III 3024, IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs: PP 4.2–4.8 [1.5, 0.7, 1.1, 1.5], I 9.6–10.3 [3.0, 1.5, 2.6, 2.4, 0.8], II 10.3–11.2 [3.2, 1.5, 2.9, 2.6, 1.0], III 9.1–9.6 [2.8, 1.2, 2.4, 2.3, 0.8], IV 10.0–10.7 [3.0, 1.2, 2.7, 2.6, 1.0].

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis. Epigynal field distinctly wider than long, anterior margin trilobate. Lateral lobes narrow, with anterior and posterior margins laterally close to each other ( Figs 108, 110–113 ). Internal duct system visible as diagonally oriented irregular patches, posterior parts of first winding of internal duct system hidden behind lateral lobes ( Fig. 109 ). DS with two bristles in front of fovea.

Colour: As in male, but slightly darker.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality (7 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 105 – 113. Pseudopoda digitata sp. n. from Gaoligongshan, Pianma (105 – 107 holotype male, PJ 2099; 108 – 113 paratype females, PJ 2105 – 2109). 105 – 107 Left male palp (105 prolateral; 106 ventral; 107 retrolateral); 108, 110 – 113 Epigyne, ventral; 109 Vulva, dorsal.