Pseudopoda signata Jäger, 2001

Jäger, Peter, Li, Shuqiang & Krehenwinkel, Henrik, 2015, Morphological and molecular taxonomic analysis of Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000 (Araneae: Sparassidae: Heteropodinae) in Sichuan Province, China, Zootaxa 3999 (3), pp. 363-392 : 375-380

Pseudopoda signata Jäger, 2001

Figs 55–90 , 93–106 , 130

Pseudopoda signata Jäger, 2001: 50 , figs 29h–j (Description of female; holotype female and 1 female paratype from China, Sichuan, Kangding environments, 3000–3100 m, Heinz leg. 21–23 July 1994, SMF; examined).

Additional material examined (18 males, 17 females). China: Sichuan: 1 female (PJ 3513, SD 93), north of Muge Cuo Lake, 30°11'1.89"N, 101°52'14.93"E, 3432 m, forest and pasture along road, Xiang Xu leg., by hand, 14 July 2004 ( SMF); 9 males (PJ 2148–2150, 2166 [SD 94], 2168–2172), Kangding town, walls along road, 30°2'56"N, 101°57'28"E, 2580 m, P. Jäger leg., by hand, 15–16 July 2004 ( SMF); 1 male (PJ 2167, SD 85), 3 females (PJ 2152 [SD 87], 3493 [SD 86], 3495 [SD 24]), valley of Paomashan S of Kangding (1), 29°59'49"N, 101°57'0.1"E, 2770 m, P. Jäger leg., 13 July 2004; 3 males (PJ 2162 [SD 89], 2164–2165 [SD 88]), 5 females (PJ 3496–3499, 3501 [SD 90]), valley of Paomashan S of Kangding (2), 29°56'48"N, 101°57'40"E, 3055 m, X. Xu & S. Li leg., 13 July 2004 ( SMF); 1 male (PJ 2163), 4 females (PJ 3492, 3494 [SD 91], 3502–3503), valley of Paomashan S of Kangding (3), ascent to pass, 29°55'39"N, 101°58'45.89"E, 3533 m, transition between pasture and shrubs, P. Jäger, Z. Li & X. Xu leg., by hand, partly as subadult, 13 July 2004 ( SMF); 2 males (PJ 3506–3507), 2 females (PJ 3504 [SD 104], 3505 [SD 103]), Luding District, Moxi town, Gonggashan valley (2), 29°49'34.36"N, 102° 3'8.26"E, 2963 m, under dead wood, P. Jäger & Xiang Xu leg., by hand, 20 July 2004 (1 male, 1 female: IZCAS, 1 male, 1 female: SMF); 1 male (PJ 3509), 2 females (PJ 3510–3511), Luding District, Xinxing town, Gongga Shan, Yan Zi Gou Resort, 3800 m, Yangong Xu leg., 15 June 1983 ( IZCAS #118; PJ 3511: SMF); 1 male (PJ 3516), Luding, Gongga Shan, east slopes, 2350m, Yangong Xu leg., 5 June 1983 ( IZCAS #141).

Diagnosis (modified from Jäger 2001). Small to medium-sized Heteropodinae with body length of males 6.8– 9.9, of females 8.0–11.4. Males and females most similar to P. yunnanensis ( Yang & Hu, 2001) , males also to P. yinae Jäger & Vedel, 2007 in having a very similar shape of the embolus as well as of the RTA. Males can be distinguished by 1) Presence of subdistal tooth at distal embolus ( Figs 59 , 67, 71 ; absent in P. yi na e and P. yunnanensis ), 2) Convex prolateral margin of the dorsal RTA (concave in P. yunnanensis and P. yi na e), 3) (only from P. yinae ) More or less blunt embolus tip (more distinctly pointed in P. yinae ) and 4) (only from P. y i na e) Rounded ventral RTA in retrolateral view (right-angled in P. yi na e) ( Figs 55–60 , 63–71 ). Females may be distinguished from those of P. yunnanensis by 1) Anterior margins of LL forming an angle larger than 90° resulting in a broader “U” or “V” (angle smaller than 90° in P. yunnanensis ), 2) Ventral windings extending not or only rarely in anterior epigyne, i.e. in the area lateral of the “U” or “V” ( Figs 72–89 ).

Description. Male (PJ 2148): DS length 4.8, width 4.1, AW 2.5, OS length 5.1, width 3.0. Eyes: AME 0.22, ALE 0.32, PME 0.25, PLE 0.30, AME–AME 0.19, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.31, PME–PLE 0.35, AME– PME 0.33, ALE–PLE 0.30, clypeus height at AME 0.30, at ALE 0.30. Spination: palp: 131, 101, 2101; legs: femur I–II 323, III 322, IV 331; patella I–II 0 0 1, III–IV 000; tibia I–III 2026, IV 2023; metatarsus I–II 2024, III 3025, IV 3037. Metatarsus IV ventrally with numerous bristles along entire length, metatarsus III with some bristles, most of them in proximal half. Leg formula: 2143. Measurements of palp and legs: palp 6.7 (2.1, 1.0, 1.4, -, 2.2), leg I 19.5 (4.6, 2.2, 4.8, 4.3, 1.6), leg II 20.9 (5.3, 2.3, 5.1, 4.6, 1.6), leg III 15.0 (4.6, 2.0, 4.2, 3.8, 1.4), leg IV 17.4 (5.0, 1.8, 4.3, 4.6, 1.7). Cheliceral furrow with ca. 25 denticles in small patch at median anterior tooth. Promargin of chelicerae with 3 teeth, retromargin with 4 teeth.

Palp as in diagnosis ( Figs 55–60 , 63–71 ). RTA arising proximally to medially from tibia, with distinct ventral hump in retrolateral view and two short apices. Cymbium roughly twice as long as tibia, with strong retrolateral bulge. Tegulum with proximal bulge which varies in shape. Spermophor wide retrolaterally, narrow within E and intermediate proximo-prolaterally. E arising in 9- to 10-o’clock-position from tegulum, E tip prolaterad. C arising in 11.30- to 12-o’clock-position from tegulum.

Colouration ( Figs 61–62 , 94–96 , 100–101 ): Yellowish brown with reddish-brown markings. DS with 2 lateral bands consisting of radial striae and submarginally with irregular dots, fovea marked with two small dots and 4 bristles in front. Sternum with 8 dots and striae close to coxae. Coxae pale yellowish, without pattern. Chelicerae reddish brown, frontally dotted. Legs pale yellowish brown with tibia to tarsus distinctly darker; femora dotted and with spine patches, patella and parts of tibia with patches proximally and lines dorsally. OS dorsally with heart patch and broader converging dark patch behind, followed by light area with distinct boundary. OS laterally irregularly spotted, ventrally with 2 parallel patches in front of epigastric furrow, otherwise pale yellowish brown with dots and V-shaped pattern in front of spinnerets. Anterior spinnerets dark, posterior spinnerets light. For colouration of living spider see Fig. 93 .

Redescription. Female (PJ 3492): DS length 3.5, width 3.2, AW 1.9, OS length 4.5, width 2.8. Eyes: AME 0.16, ALE 0.24, PME 0.19, PLE 0.23, AME–AME 0.16, AME–ALE 0.07, PME–PME 0.29, PME–PLE 0.30, AME–PME 0.28, ALE–PLE 0.29, clypeus height at AME 0.25, at ALE 0.20. Spination: palp: 131, 101, 2121, 1014; legs: femur I–II 323, III 322, IV 331; patella 000; tibia I 1026, II–III 2026, IV 2125; metatarsus I–II 1024 [prolateral proximal spine absent], III 2025, IV 3037. Metatarsus IV ventrally with numerous bristles along entire length, metatarsus III with 12–15 bristles in proximal half. Leg formula: 2413. Measurements of palp and legs: palp 4.6 (1.2, 0.8, 1.1, -, 1.5), leg I 10.7 (3.0, 1.5, 2.8, 2.4, 1.0), leg II 11.5 (3.3, 1.6, 3.0, 2.6, 1.0), leg III 10.3 (2.9, 1.3, 2.5, 2.7, 0.9), leg IV 10.9 (3.3, 1.2, 2.6, 2.7, 1.1). Cheliceral furrow with ca. 18 denticles in slightly elongated patch at distal anterior tooth. Promargin of chelicerae with 3 teeth, retromargin with 4 teeth. Palpal claw with 7 teeth.

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis ( Figs 72–89 ). Epigynal field wider than long, with bilobate to trilobate anterior margin and short, sometimes indistinct or reduced anterior bands. LL with bands of muscle sigilla in their lateral parts. First winding wide, converging slightly posteriorly. Fertilisation duct moderately long, narrow, laterad in ventral view.

Colouration ( Figs 97–99 , 102–104 ): As in male. DS with dark lateral margin in thoracic part. Sternum with additional dots sub-centrally in anterior half. Leg pattern more distinct than in males, and increasingly in posterior pair of legs, especially banded pattern in metatarsi. OS dorsally dark with 2 light patches lateral to heart patch, in posterior half with light transversal line with lateral ends widened. OS ventrally with dark median part bordered by light longitudinal lines. For colouration of living spiders see Figs 105–106 .

Variation. Males (n=16): DS length 3.3–4.5. OS length: 3.2–5.0. Fovea in some males with only two patches in front or with two only indistinct anterior dots or without bristles. Some specimens with weaker contrast between light proximal and darker distal leg segments, some almost without leg pattern. Spination: Palpal patella 1(0)01(0); Femur III 323; Patella II 001(0), Tibia III 2126, IV 2026. Leg formula 2413. Cheliceral furrow with ca. 15–20 denticles in restricted patch at largest anterior tooth. Promargin of chelicerae with 2 teeth. Females (n=12): DS length 3.5–4.4. OS length 4.5–6.3. Spination: Palpal tibia 2021; femur I 3 (2)23, III 323(2), IV 321; tibia I 2026, IV 2016; metatarsus I 2014, II 2024, III 3025, IV 3 (4)037. Leg formula 2143. Palpal claw with 8 teeth. Male palps vary especially in the shape of the RTA, and here in the dRTA ( Figs 58 , 66, 70 ). Moreover, the subdistal embolic tooth may have different shapes and positions ( Figs 59 , 67, 71 ). The embolus tip varies also ( Figs 56 , 64, 68 ), as does the spermophor (straight: Figs 56 , 68 ; slightly undulating: Fig. 64 ). Females have different shapes of their lateral lobes, especially striking at the posterior margins (with distinct incision: Figs 72, 76 ; without: Figs 79 , 87 ), and of their ventral windings of the internal duct system (with longer anterior parts ( Figs 72, 76 , 79 ; with shorter anterior parts: Figs 77 , 87 ).

Distribution. China: Sichuan. The known range of the distribution spans from Muge Cuo Lake over Kangding town to the valleys of Paomashan, Gonggashan and Yanzi ( Fig. 130 ).

Natural history. In Kangding town at 2500 m elevation spiders of P. signata have been recorded between stones in walls along roads. Here, three males were found caught in webs of Achaearanea spiders. In the Paomashan valley south of Kangding in higher altitudes up to 3500 m elevation specimens were recorded in natural habitats under stones, under deadwood and in the leaf litter of shrub-like stocks of Quercus semecarpifolia Smith, 1814 .

Figures

FIGURE 130. Map of Sichuan with records of Pseudopoda spp. (Pseudopoda sp. cf. yunnanensis not mapped). Pseudopoda grahami (Fox, 1936) and P. exigua (Fox, 1938) are included as described from Sichuan although no new records are known and therefore not mentioned in the text.

FIGURES 55 – 60. Pseudopoda signata from Kangding town, male copulatory organ (PJ 2148, 2580 m elevation). 55 – 58 Left male palp (55 prolateral, 56 ventral, 57 retrolateral, 58 dorsal); 59 – 60 Embolus tip (59 prolateral, 60 ventral). dRTA—dorsal retrolateral tibial apophysis; T—subdistal embolic tooth.

FIGURES 61 – 71. Pseudopoda signata from Kangding town (61 – 62: PJ 2148, 2580 m elevation) and Gonggashan valley (63 – 67: PJ 3506, 2963 m elevation; 68 – 71: PJ 3509: 3800 m elevation). 61 Sternum, ventral; 62 Leg II, prolateral; 63 – 65, 68 – 69 Left male palp (63 prolateral, 64, 68 ventral, 65, 69 retrolateral); 66, 70 Palpal tibia, dorsal; 67, 71 Embolus tip, prolateral. vRTA—ventral retrolateral tibial apophysis.

FIGURES 72 – 78. Pseudopoda signata from Paomashan valley (72 – 76: PJ 3492, 3533 m elevation; 77: PJ 3494, 3533 m elevation; 78 PJ 3493: 2770 m elevation). 72 – 73, 77 – 78 Epigyne, ventral (73 uncleared); 74, 76 Vulva (74 dorsal, 76 frontal); 75 Schematic course of internal duct system, dorsal. For angle indicated in Fig. 73 see Material & Methods.

FIGURES 79 – 86. Pseudopoda signata from Muge Cuo (79 – 80: PJ 3513, 3432 m elevation) and Gonggashan valley (81 – 85: PJ 3504; 86: PJ 3505, all 2963 m elevation). 79, 81, 86 Epigyne, ventral; 80, 82, 84 Vulva (80, 82 dorsal, 84 frontal); 83, 85 Schematic course of internal duct system (83 dorsal, 85, frontal).

FIGURES 87 – 92. 87 – 90 Pseudopoda signata from Yanzi Gou (87 – 90: PJ 3510 – 3511, 3800 m elevation). 91 – 92 Pseudopoda sp. from Leng Long Cun (PJ 3512, ca. 3200 m elevation). 87, 89, 91 Epigyne, ventral; 88, 90, 92 Vulva, dorsal.

FIGURES 93 – 99. Pseudopoda signata from Kangding town (93: PJ 2166; 94 – 96 PJ 2150, 2580 m elevation, males) and Paomashan valley (97 – 99: PJ 3492, 3533 m elevation, female). Habitus of live (93) and preserved (94 – 99) spiders (93, 94, 97 dorsal, 95, 98 ventral, 96, 99 frontal).

FIGURES 100 – 106. Pseudopoda signata, from Gonggashan valley (2963 m elevation), male (100 – 101: PJ 3506) and females (102 – 105: PJ 3505; 106: PJ 3504). Habitus of preserved (100 – 104) and live (105 – 106) spiders (100, 102, 105 dorsal, 101, 103 ventral, 104, 106 frontal).