Pseudopoda rivicola, 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 : 27-29

Pseudopoda rivicola sp. n.

Figs 97–104 , 137

Type material. Holotype: male (PJ 1905), Dali, Cangshan, riverside of stream, leaf litter (Fig. 192), 2200– 2400 m [25°40'22''N, 100°08'08''E, Yunnan Province, China], 6 April 1999, P. Jäger, ( SMF).

Paratypes: 1 female (PJ 1904), same data as holotype ( SMF). 1 male (PJ 1906), Dali, Cangshan, riverside of stream, gravel stones, 2200–2400 m [25°40'22''N, 100°08'08''E, Yunnan Province, China], 6 April 1999, P. Jäger (IOZ). 2 males (PJ 1920–1921), 1 female (PJ 1919), Dali, Cangshan, margin of pine forest close to damp meadow ( Fig. 133), pine needle litter, 2600 m [25°43'22''N, 100°06'19''E, Yunnan Province, China], 8 April 1999, P. Jäger ( SMF). 1 male (PJ 2529), Dali-Bai Nat. Aut. Pref., Diancang Shan, 4 km W Dali old town, 2900–3000 m, E slope, former stone pit, in overgrown gravel, soil, plant roots [25°41.4'N, 100°06.7'E, N-Yunnan, China], 31 August 2003 D.W. Wrase, [20] ( SMF). 1 male (PJ 2530), Dali-Bai Nat. Aut. Pref., Diancang Shan, 3 km W Dali old town, 2650–2750m, pine forest at “Cloud Road”, right upper chairlift station, needle and leaf litter [25°41.1'N, 100°06.8'E, N-Yunnan, China], 1 September 2003, D.W. Wrase, [19c] ( SMF). 1 female (PJ 1897), Dali, Cangshan, 2700–2900 m [Yunnan Province, China], 14 April 1999, W. Schawaller (IOZ). 1 female (PJ 1918), Dali, Cangshan, above monastery, pine needle litter, 2800 m [25°41'37"N, 100°06'07''E, Yunnan Province, China], 8 April 1999, P. Jäger ( SMF).

Other material examined. CHINA: Yunnan Province: 1 subadult male (PJ 2238), Dali, riverside of stream, leaf litter and gravel, 2200 m, 5 April 1999 [25°40'22''N, 100°08'08''E], palp ‘moulted’ posthum, P. Jäger ( SMF). 1 subadult male (PJ 2239), same data as before, palp ‘moulted’ posthum ( SMF). 4 subadult males (PJ 2240–2243), 1 juvenile (PJ 2244), same data as before ( SMF). 1 subadult male (PJ 2245), 1 juvenile male (2246), 2 juveniles (PJ 2247–2248), same data as holotype. 1 juvenile female (PJ 2249), Dali, Cangshan, margin of pine forest close to damp meadow, pine needle litter, 2600 m, 8 April 1999 [25°41'37"N, 100°06'07''E], P. Jäger ( SMF). 1 subadult male, 1 subadult female, Dali-Bai Nat. Aut. Pref., Diancang Shan, 4 km W Dali old town, 2900–3000 m, E slope, former stone pit, in overgrown gravel, soil, plant roots, 25°41.4'N, 100°06.7'E, 31 August 2003, D.W. Wrase, [20] ( SMF). 1 subadult male (PJ 2531), 1 subadult female (PJ 2532), 1 juvenile, Dali-Bai Nat. Aut. Pref., Diancang Shan, 3 km W Dali old town, 2650–2750 m, creek valley at “Cloud Road”, right upper chairlift station, bamboo, moss leaf litter, 25°41.1'N, 100°06.8'E, 29 August 2003, D.W. Wrase, [19] ( SMF). Sichuan Province: 1 male (PJ 1811), Emei, Emei Shan, river below cableway valley station to Wannian temple, under stones, 750 m, 22 March 1999 [29°34'43"N, 103°24'58"E], P. Jäger ( SMF). (note: structures of male and female copulatory openings in subadult specimens were recognisable after removing the penultimate moult. These structures and colouration point clearly to conspecifity with the holotype).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin words ‘rivus’, meaning ‘stream, little river’, and ‘colere’, meaning, among others, ‘to inhabit, to live in’. The name refers to the apparent preference of this species for damp sites close to streams or other moist places; adjective.

Diagnosis. Small-sized Heteropodinae. The species can be recognised by the following combination of characters. Males ( Figs 97–99 ) — 1. Cymbium somewhat compressed in longitudinal direction, 2. Embolus short and of irregular shape, 3. Dorsal RTA with conical projection, pointing distoretrolaterally (ventral view). Females ( Figs 100–102 ) — 1. Lateral lobes diagonally oriented, 2. Lateral loops of internal duct system extending laterally distinctly beyond its first winding.

Description. Male (measurements of holotype first, those for paratypes in parentheses): PL 3.2 (2.9– 3.0), PH 1.1 (1.2–1.4), PW 2.8 (2.7–2.8), AW 1.4 (1.5–1.6), OL 3.1 (3.5), OW 2.0 (2.2–2.4). Eyes: AME 0.17 (0.16–0.17), ALE 0.29 (0.26–0.30), PME 0.22 (0.20–0.22), PLE 0.32 (0.26–0.29), AME–AME 0.17 (0.12– 0.16), AME–ALE 0.07 (0.05–0.08), PME–PME 0.23 (0.19–0.23), PME–PLE 0.31 (0.23–0.30), AME–PME 0.21 (0.21–0.28), ALE–PLE 0.26 (0.20–0.25), CH –AME 0.34 (0.27–0.36), CH –ALE 0.26 (0.20–0.28).

Leg formula: 2413. Spination: PP 131, 1(0)01, 2101; FE I–III 323, IV 331; PA 001; TI I 2 (1)026, II 2026, III 21(0)26, IV 2126; MT I–II 2024, III 3(2)024, IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs: PP 4.2 (4.3–4.5) [1.2, 0.7, 0.8, 1.5], I 11.1 (11.4–12.0) [3.1, 1.3, 3.1, 2.6, 1.0], II 12.7 (12.4–12.6) [3.6, 1.6, 3.5, 2.9, 1.1], III 10.7 (10.2–10.6) [3.0, 1.3, 2.9, 2.6, 0.9], IV 12.5 (12.1–12.2) [3.6, 1.4, 3.1, 3.3, 1.1].

Palp as in diagnosis. Embolus arising from 9-o’clock-position on tegulum, with additional rim along its whole length; its tip pointing dorsally. Sperm duct running submarginally along retrolateral tegulum, s-shaped part visible in ventral view. RTA arising basally, with small projection close to its base, dorsal part larger than ventral part ( Figs 98–99 ).

Colour: Yellowish-brown with dark-brown markings. DS with bright median band, this with one pair of spots in front of fovea and another spot close to head region. Lateral dark bands interrupted by thin indistinct bright bands and with radial stripes consisting of spots (cf. Fig. 103 ). Sternum (cf. Fig. 104 ) and ventral CX with distinct patches, GC and LA without pattern. CC with frontal patches. Legs with spine patches, spots being slightly smaller than spine patches and patches proximally at prolatero-dorsal TI. Dorsal OS with dark heart patch and bright lateral parts in anterior half; posterior half dark with transverse white line. Lateral OS with irregular pattern. Ventral OS bright with median band of irregular patches, this is more distinct in posterior half.

Female (measurements of paratypes): PL 3.3–3.6, PH 1.3–2.1, PW 2.9–3.2, AW 1.8–2.0, OL 4.2–5.4, OW 3.0–5.4. Eyes: AME 0.16–0.19, ALE 0.29–0.33, PME 0.17–0.23, PLE 0.27–0.32, AME–AME 0.12– 0.19, AME–ALE 0.03–0.08, PME–PME 0.21–0.27, PME–PLE 0.25–0.32, AME–PME 0.20–0.33, ALE–PLE 0.20–0.31, CH –AME 0.36–0.43, CH –ALE 0.30–0.34.

Leg formula: 2413. Spination: PP 131, 101, 2121, 1014(2); FE I–II 323, III 322(3), IV 331; PA 001(0); TI I 2 (1)026, II–III– 2026, IV 21 (0)26; MT I–II 2 (1)02(1)4, III 3024, IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs: PP 3.8–4.6 [1.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.2], I 9.5–10.4 [2.6, 1.4, 2.6, 2.3, 1.0], II 10.4–11.3 [2.9, 1.5, 2.7, 2.3, 1.0], III 8.7– 9.4 [2.6, 1.2, 2.2, 2.1, 0.9], IV 10.1–10.8 [3.1, 1.1, 2.4, 2.7, 1.0].

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis. Epigynal field distinctly wider than long, with median part of anterior margin indistinct ( Fig. 100 ). First winding of internal duct system undulated ( Fig. 101 ).

Colour: As in male.

Variation. Colouration is darker and more distinct in some specimens, dorsal OS may be dark also in its anterior half, ventral OS may be darker, especially in its posterior half.

Distribution. Known from Mt. Cangshan (Yunnan) and from Mt. Emeishan (Sichuan). Both localities are about 540 air kilometres apart (12 and filled square 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 97 – 104. Pseudopoda rivicola sp. n. from Cangshan, Dali (97 – 99 holotype male, PJ 1905; 100 – 104 paratype female, PJ 1904). 97 – 99 Left male palp (97 prolateral; 98 ventral; 99 retrolateral); 100 Epigyne, ventral; 101 Vulva, dorsal; 102 Schematic course of internal duct system, dorsal; 103 Prosoma, dorsal; 104 Sternum, ventral.