Pseudopoda obtusa, 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 : 25-26

Pseudopoda obtusa sp. n.

Figs 91–96 , 137

Type material. Holotype: male (PJ 2093), Baoshan Prefecture, pass over Gaoligongshan at 2003m, 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 ( HNU).

Paratypes: 1 male (PJ 2094), 4 females (PJ 2095–2098), same data as holotype (2 females HNU; 1 male, 1 female CAS; 1 female SMF).

Etymology. The specific name refers to the blunt distal tip of RTA, derived from the Latin word ‘obtusus’, meaning ‘blunt’; adjective.

Diagnosis. Small sized Heteropodinae. The species may be recognised by the following combination of characters: Males ( Figs 91–93 ) — 1. Embolus with 2 tooth-like projections, one subdistally, another on prolateral part, 2. RTA similar to that of Pseudopoda amelia sp. n., but with small hump on basal ventral margin (ventral view). Females ( Figs 95–96 ) — 1. Anterior margins of lateral lobes distinctly bent, lateral parts undulated and pointing 45° anteriolaterally, 2. Internal ducts appearing as transversal ovoid patches in ventral view, 3. Interspace between fertilisation ducts and first winding about the same distance as that between fertilisation ducts.

Description. Male (measurements of holotype first, those for paratype in parentheses): PL 3.2 (3.1), PH 1.6 (1.7), PW 2.8 (2.6), AW 1.7 (1.6), OL 3.1 (3.3), OW 2.1 (2.1). Eyes: AME 0.13 (0.13), ALE 0.31 (0.25), PME 0.20 (0.19), PLE 0.29 (0.30), AME–AME 0.12 (0.14), AME–ALE 0.04 (0.04), PME–PME 0.21 (0.20), PME–PLE 0.28 (0.26), AME–PME 0.28 (0.24), ALE–PLE 0.25 (0.22), CH –AME 0.25 (0.24), CH – ALE 0.21 (0.19).

Leg formula: 2413. Spination: PP 131, 101, 2101; FE I–II 323, III 322, IV 331; PA 001; TI 2026; MT I 1004 (2024), II 2024, III 3024, IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs: PP 4.4 (4.3) [1.4, 0.7, 0.8, 1.5], I 10.8 (10.7) [3.0, 1.4, 2.8, 2.6, 1.0], II 11.6 (11.2) [3.2, 1.5, 3.0, 2.9, 1.0], III 10.2 (9.9) [3.0, 1.3, 2.5, 2.5, 0.9], IV 11.0 (10.9) [3.1, 1.1, 2.8, 3.0, 1.0].

Palp as in diagnosis. Embolus arising from 9-o’clock-position on tegulum, widened at its median part; curved distal part narrow, pointing prolaterally. Only parts of sperm duct visible. RTA arising basally from TI, without distal projection, shorter than P. a m e l i a sp. n., not reaching base of cymbium; its distal tip with 2 indistinct humps ( Figs 91–93 ).

Colour: DS yellowish-brown with distinct pattern: margins with dark longitudinal bands, these divided by distinct thin discontinuous bright line ( Fig. 94 ). ST with irregular patches. CC same colour as DS. OS brown with same pattern as in P. contentio sp. n., but less distinct: anterior part of dorsal OS with bright patch and a reddish-brown heart patch inside. Appendages yellowish-brown with brown spine patches.

Female (measurements of paratypes): PL 3.4–3.5, PH 1.6–1.9, PW 2.8–2.9, AW 1.8–1.9, OL 3.9–4.1, OW 2.1–3.2. Eyes: AME 0.13–0.18, ALE 0.27–0.29, PME 0.20–0.22, PLE 0.28–0.30, AME–AME 0.15– 0.17, AME–ALE 0.05, PME–PME 0.21–0.24, PME–PLE 0.29–0.30, AME–PME 0.24–0.28, ALE–PLE 0.25– 0.27, CH –AME 0.23–0.28, CH –ALE 0.18–0.21.

Leg formula: 2413. Spination: PP 131, 101, 2121, 1014; FE I–II 323, III 322, IV 331; PA I–III 0 0 1, IV 0 0 0 (001); TI 2026; MT I–II 2024, III 3024, IV 3036. Measurement of palps and legs: PP 4.3–4.4 [1.2, 0.7, 1.0, 1.5], I 9.2–9.6 [2.7, 1.4, 2.6, 2.2, 0.7], II 9.6–10.1 [3.1, 1.4, 2.5, 2.3, 0.8], III 8.7–9.0 [2.7, 1.2, 2.3, 2.0, 0.8], IV 9.7–10.0 [3.0, 1.2, 2.4, 2.5, 0.9].

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis. Epigynal field wider than long, anterior margin indistinct and hardly recognisable. Lateral lobes narrower than in other Pseudopoda spp. ( Fig. 95 ). Posterior part of first winding of internal duct system covered by lateral lobes (dorsal view, Fig. 96 ).

Colour: As in male, but slightly darker and with more distinct pattern.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality (9 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 91 – 96. Pseudopoda obtusa sp. n. from Gaoligongshan, Luoshuidong (91 – 94 holotype male, PJ 2093; 95 – 96 paratype female, PJ 2095). 91 – 93 Left male palp (91 prolateral; 92 ventral; 39 retrolateral); 94 Prosoma, dorsal; 95 Epigyne, ventral; 96 Vulva, dorsal.