Pseudopoda spiculata Wang 1990
Creators: name: Jäger, Peter
name: Vedel, Vincent
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2007
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Sparassidae
Pseudopoda
Pseudopoda spiculata

description: Pseudopoda spiculata (Wang, 1990)
Figs 120–127, 137
Heteropoda spiculata Wang, 1990: 8, figs 13–14 (male holotype from Mt. Xishan, 24°29'N, 102°02' E [see note below], Yunnan Province, China, 24 October 1978, Wang, HNU, Sparassidae # 42, examined). — Song, Zhu and Chen 1999: 468, fig. 268Q.
Pseudopoda spiculata. —Jäger 2001b: 100, figs 57c–d (transfer from Heteropoda).
Other material examined. CHINA: Yunnan Province: 3 females (PJ 1922–1924), 1 subadult female (PJ 2256), 2 juveniles (PJ 2257–2258), Kunming, Mt. Xishan Forest Park, moist valley, leaf and pine needle litter, 24°58'32.18''N, 102°37'31.86''E, 19 April 1999, P. Jäger (2 females, 1 subadult female, 2 juveniles SMF; 1 female IOZ).
Note. Although no male was found together with the females examined, both sexes can be recognised as conspecific due to their colour pattern and their occurrence in the same locality. GPS data listed in the original description for the type locality seem to be wrong, as the given coordinates are located about 80 kilometres SW of Mt. Xishan. There is no other Xishan known in the surrounding area than that close to Kunming (Li, pers. comm.).
Diagnosis. Small-sized Heteropodinae. The species may be recognised by the following combination of characters: Males (Figs 120–122) — 1. Very short and hook-shaped embolus, 2. Long dorsal RTA in combination with the claw-shaped ventral RTA. Females (Figs 123–125) — 1. Lateral lobes extending only very slightly beyond epigastric furrow, 2. Internal duct system different from other Pseudopoda spp., i.e. running roughly longitudinal from anterior situated openings in three loops to posterior.
Description. Female: PL 3.4–3.6, PH 1.3–1.5, PW 3.1–3.3, AW 1.7–1.8, OL 3.9–4.1, OW 2.1–2.9. Eyes: AME 0.19–0.20, ALE 0.26–0.29, PME 0.21–0.24, PLE 0.27, AME–AME 0.17–0.18, AME–ALE 0.05, PME–PME 0.25–0.28, PME–PLE 0.29–0.31, AME–PME 0.26, ALE–PLE 0.22–0.23, CH –AME 0.29–0.36, CH –ALE 0.23–0.31.
Leg formula: 2143. Spination: PP 131, 0 0 1, 2121, 1004; FE I–III 323(2), IV 331; PA 001; TI I 2126, II 2(3)12(3)6, III–IV 2126; MT I–II 2024, III 3024, IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs (in brackets PJ 1922): PP 4.6–4.8 [1.4, 0.8, 1.0, 1.6], I 12.6–12.7 [3.6, 1.5, 3.5, 3.0, 1.1], II 13.7–13.9 [4.0, 1.7, 3.7, 3.2, 1.3], III 10.7–11.1 [3.3, 1.5, 2.9, 2.5, 0.9], IV 12.4–12.6 [3.8, 1.3, 3.0, 3.3, 1.2].
Copulatory organ as in diagnosis. Epigynal field slightly longer than wide, anterior margin rounded, without anterior bands. Median margins of lateral lobes slightly curved touching each other in posterior half (Fig. 123). Internal ducts forming wide tubes, clearly visible in dorsal view, i.e. not hidden by lateral lobes in their posterior part (Fig. 124).
Colour: Yellowish- to reddish-brown with distinct and vivid pattern. DS with radial markings consisting of single dots; anterior half with marble-like pattern; submarginal bright band in posterior half. CC, ST (Fig. 126), CX and GC pale yellowish-brown with brown patches, these larger and more distinct on frontal CC. Appendages with brown spine patches and numerous spots (Fig. 127), in contrast to other species also distinctly in TI and MT. Dorsal OS variable in colouration: one female almost entirely dark only with slightly recognisable chevron-like lines in posterior half (PJ 1923), another female with bright parts in anterior half (PJ 1922), the third female with bright anterior half and large bright patch in dark posterior half (PJ 1924); lateral OS with irregular pattern; ventral OS bright with irregular brown patches, these larger along two converging lines.
Distribution. Only known from the type locality (13 in Fig. 137).
Relationships. Copulatory organs in both sexes are unique for the genus. No statements on their systematic position can be drawn presently.
description: Published as part of Jäger, Peter & Vedel, Vincent, 2007, Sparassidae of China 4. The genus Pseudopoda (Araneae: Sparassidae) in Yunnan Province, pp. 1-38 in Zootaxa 1623 on pages 32-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.179225