Pseudopoda amelia Jäger & Vedel, 2007, sp. n.
Creators: name: Jäger, Peter
name: Vedel, Vincent
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2007
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Sparassidae
Pseudopoda
Pseudopoda amelia

description: Pseudopoda amelia sp. n.
Figs 32–37, 137
Type material. Holotype: male holotype (PJ 2071), Nujiang Prefecture, native forest in Gaoligongshan at 9.5 road km ESE Pianma, 2500 m [25°59’N, 98°40’E, Yunnan Province, China], elevation 15–18 October 1998, C. Griswold, D. Kavanaugh, C.L. Long (HNU).
Etymology. The specific name refers to the main role in the movie ‘Le fabuleux destin de Amelie Poulain’, in hope for a better world; noun (latinised name) in apposition.
Diagnosis. Medium sized Heteropodinae. 1. Embolus sickle-shaped, becoming progressively narrower distally, pointing prolatero-distally (Fig. 33). 2. RTA without long projections, not reaching basal part of cymbium (Fig. 34).
Description. Male (holotype): PL 5.1, PH 2.0, PW 4.4, AW 2.7, OL 5.5, OW 3.2. Eyes: AME 0.28, ALE 0.41, PME 0.29, PLE 0.40, AME–AME 0.20, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.30, PME–PLE 0.36, AME– PME 0.37, ALE–PLE 0.37, CH –AME 0.53, CH –ALE 0.42.
Leg formula: 2143. Spination: PP 131, 101, 2101; FE I–II 323, III 322, IV 331; PA 001; TI I–II 2228, III– IV 2226; MT I–II 3034, III–IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs: PP 8.7 [3.0,1.3,1.4,3.0], I 23.5 [6.3, 2.3, 6.6, 6.1, 2.2], II 28.1[7.7, 2.7, 7.6, 7.6, 2.5], III 23.0 [6.3, 2.3, 6.4, 6.1, 1.9], IV 25.6 [7.0, 2.4, 6.4, 7.4, 2.4].
Palp as in diagnosis. Retrolateral margin of cymbium with additional small bulge (distal to small spine). Embolus originating from 10-o’clock-position on the tegulum, tapering to its tip, running in semi-circle, pointing prolaterodistally. Sperm duct following retrolateral margin of tegulum closely, partly hidden in ventral view (Fig. 33), bent in small angle at the tegular bulge (prolateral view, Fig. 32). RTA arising basally to medially from TI (Fig. 33), with ventral bulge (retrolateral view, Fig. 34). Distal tip with small humps.
Colour: Yellowish-brown with brown to contrasting dark-brown pattern. DS with two slightly marked dark lateral longitudinal bands; bright median band with indistinct pattern and darkly marked fovea; lateral and posterior DS with dark margin and thin submarginal bright band. ST yellowish, a bit brighter than DS, with darker margin, with larger patches marginally and smaller spots (Fig. 35). CC slightly darker than DS. Legs yellowish-brown with dark brown patches and small indistinct spots; mesial femoral spine patches fused (Fig. 37). Dorsal OS with distinct pattern, i.e. two spots around muscle sigillae and trapezoid patch, behind the latter thin dark transversal lines and another roughly rectangled patch; lateral OS with irregular pattern; ventral OS with two dark patches laterally, these fusing in front of spinnerets; median band delimited by single spots (Fig. 36).
Female: unknown.
Distribution. Only known from the type locality (7 in Fig. 137).
Relationships. General embolus conformation of Pseudopoda amelia sp. n. is similar to the species mentioned previously (P. platembola, P. saetosa sp. n., P. contentio sp. n.). The strength of the bend of the embolus is similar to that in P. contentio sp. n. (i.e. about 180°), but differs in the distinctly narrower embolus. Additionally the dorsal RTA is strongly reduced. A species also related to P. a m e l i a sp. n., but having a longer and more strongly bent embolus is P. biapicata Jäger, 2001 (open square in Fig. 137). According to the findings with the species described in this paper the biapicata -group as proposed by Jäger (2001) has to be reconsidered.
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 12-14, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.179225