Pseudopoda bicruris, Quan, Dan, Zhong, Yang & Liu, Jie, 2014

Quan, Dan, Zhong, Yang & Liu, Jie, 2014, Four Pseudopoda species (Araneae: Sparassidae) from southern China, Zootaxa 3754 (5), pp. 555-571 : 556-559

Pseudopoda bicruris sp. nov.

Figs 1 – 3 , 13

Type material: Holotype: male, Mt. Wuzhishan [18°53.835'N, 109°41.889'E, 750m, Hainan Island, China], 8 April 2009, Fengxiang Liu (HBU). Paratype: 1 female (HBU), the same data as holotype.

Entymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin adjective bicruris , -e, meaning “biforked”, referring to the bifurcate embolus; adjective.

Diagnosis. Median sized Heteropodinae. The male of this new species is similar to Pseudopoda contraria Jäger & Vedel, 2007 in having a bifurcate embolus, a thin embolic tip, U-shaped sperm ducts in ventral view, but can be distinguished by the following characters: — 1. The embolic apophysis long and slightly wide (significantly stouter in P. contraria ), the retrolateral branch of embolus long (short in P. contraria ); 2. RTA arising distally from Ti (medially from Ti in P. contraria ) ( Figs 1A – C , 2A – C ). The female of this new species is similar to Pseudopoda cangschana Jäger & Vedel, 2007 , Pseudopoda bibulba (Xu & Yin, 2000) , Pseudopoda confusa Jäger, Pathoumthong & Vedel, 2006 , Pseudopoda daliensis Jäger & Vedel, 2007 , Pseudopoda parvipunctata Jäger, 2001 , Pseudopoda rivicola Jäger & Vedel, 2007 , Pseudopoda serrata Jäger & Ono, 2001 , Pseudopoda thorelli Jäger, 2001 , Pseudopoda wang Jäger & Praxaysombath, 2009 in having the developed lateral loops of internal duct system, but can be distinguished from them by the following characters: — 1. The lateral loops of internal duct system is arm-shaped in this new species, but not in other species; 2. The lateral loops of internal duct system are strongly extending laterally, covering parts of first windings in this new species, but covered by first windings in other species ( Figs 1E , 3C ).

Description. Male (holotype): Measurements (in mm): PL 4.8, PW 4.6, AW 2.5, PH 2.0, OL 5.5, OW 3.3. Eyes: AME 0.25, ALE 0.30, PME 0.25, PLE 0.25, AME–AME 0.15, AME–ALE 0.10, PME–PME 0.30, PME– PLE 0.35, AME–PME 0.40, ALE–PLE 0.35, CH AME 0.45, CH ALE 0.40. Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Spination: Pp 131, 101, 2101; Fe I–III 323, IV 322; Pa I–IV 101; Ti I–IV 2126; Mt I 1014, II–IV 2024. Measurement of palps and legs: Pp 8.3 (2.8, 1.2, 1.6, -, 2.7), I 33.0 (8.5, 2.5, 9.5, 9.0, 3.5), II 33.5 (9.5, 2.5, 9.5, 9.0, 3.0), III 24.0 (7.0, 2.0, 6.5, 6.5, 2.0), IV 28.5 (8.5, 2.0, 7.5, 8.0, 2.5). Chelicerae yellow-brown, with 3 short brown longitudinal grains, cheliceral claw reddish brown, cheliceral furrow with 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, and with ca. 35 denticles. Carapace yellow-brown, median furrow very distinct. Endite yellow to yellow-brown from basal to the outer margin. Dorsal opisthosoma with pale yellow cardiac mark and reddish-brown pattern on both sides ( Fig. 2D ).

Palp as in diagnosis. Embolus arising from 9-o’ clock-position on tegulum, with the basal part broadest. Embolus distally bifurcate, with embolic apophysis wider, the retrolateral one hook-shaped, and filiform. Sperm duct U-shaped in ventral view. RTA arising distally from Ti, dorsal RTA dagger-shaped, ventral RTA wide ( Figs 1A – C , 2A – C ).

Female (paratype): Measurements (in mm): PL 4.6, PW 4.4, AW 2.5, PH 2.0, OL 6.7, OW 4.1. Eyes: AME 0.23, ALE 0.25, PME 0.23, PLE 0.30, AME–AME 0.20, AME–ALE 0.13, PME–PME 0.30, PME–PLE 0.40, AME–PME 0.38, ALE–PLE 0.35, CH AME 0.25, CH ALE 0.20. Leg formula: I–III (Leg II and IV damaged). Spination: Pp 131, 101, 2121, 1014; Fe I–III 323, IV 322; Pa I–IV 101; Ti I–IV 2126; Mt I 1014, II–IV 2024. Measurement of palps and legs: Pp 6.9 (2.0, 0.9, 1.5, -, 2.5), I 23.0 (6.2, 2.0, 6.8, 6.0, 2.0), II damaged, III 17.8 (5.3, 1.7, 4.9, 4.3, 1.6), IV damaged. Cheliceral furrow with 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, and with ca. 24 denticles. Colour pattern is the same as the male ( Fig. 3A ).

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis. Epigynal field wider than long. Anterior margins of lateral lobes forming a “V”. Median margins of lateral lobes touching each other, but separated posteriorly. Fertilization ducts long, situated laterally ( Figs 1D – F , 3B – C ).

Distribution. China (Hainan) ( Fig. 13 ).

Figures

FIGURE 13. Collection localities of Pseudopoda species in southern China.

FIGURES 1 A – F. Pseudopoda bicruris sp. nov. (A – C holotype male, D – F paratype female). A – C Left male palp (A prolateral, B ventral, C retrolateral); D Epigyne, ventral; E Vulva, dorsal; F Schematic course of internal duct system, dorsal. Abbreviations: C—conductor; CO—copulatory opening; E—embolus; EA—embolic apophysis; FD—fertilization duct; FWfirst winding; LL—lateral lobes; RTA— retrolateral tibial apophysis; ST— subtegulum; T—tegulum. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 2 A – D. Pseudopoda bicruris sp. nov., holotype male. A – C Left male palp (A prolateral, B ventral, C retrolateral); D Habitus, dorsal view. Abbreviations: C—conductor; E—embolus; EA—embolic apophysis; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; ST—subtegulum; T—tegulum. Scale bars: A – C = 0.2 mm, D = 1 mm.

FIGURES 3 A – C. Pseudopoda bicruris sp. nov., paratype female. A Female habitus, dorsal view; B Epigyne, ventral view; C Epigyne, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CO—copulatory opening; FD—fertilization duct; FW—first winding; LL—lateral lobes. Scale bars: A = 1 mm, B – C = 0.2 mm.