Establishing a new species group of Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000 with the description of two new species (Araneae, Sparassidae).

The huntsman spider genus Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000 contains 140 species worldwide, of which 61 have been described from China. In this paper, this knowledge is increased by the description of two new species from Yunnan Province in China. These new species, P. physematosa sp. nov. (♀) and P. semilunata sp. nov. (♂♀), are treated with five previously described ones, P. bibulba Xu & Yin, 2000 (♂♀), P. signata Jäger, 2001 (♂♀), P. wu Jäger, Li & Krehenwinkel, 2015 (♂♀), P. yinae Jäger & Vedel, 2007 (♂), and P. yunnanensis Yang & Hu, 2001 (♂♀), as the newly defined Pseudopoda signata species group. The P. signata group can be distinguished from other groups within Pseudopoda by the male palps with long, slightly broad, S-shaped embolus, small but distinct tegular apophysis, pronounced dRTA and reduced vRTA, and by the female with V-shaped or W-shaped anterior margins of lateral lobes, membranous and wide first winding, long and strongly curved SIDS (sclerotised internal duct system), the latter mostly covered by the first winding. The monophyly of this group is also supported by molecular phylogenetic results mainly based on Chinese Pseudopoda species. In addition, photographs of P. bibulba (♂♀), P. signata (♂♀), and P. yunnanensis (♂♀) are provided. P. bibulba is newly recorded from Guizhou Province and P. signata is newly recorded from Yunnan Province. He Zhang, Peter Jäger, Jie Liu.

Introduction

Jäger (2000) proposed the huntsman spider genus by re-describing (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1885) from Pakistan and India. Since then, no fewer than 140 species have been assigned to this genus, which is now known to occur in areas from South, East and Southeast Asia. Of this diversity, 61 species have been recorded from China (World Spider Catalog 2019). Known species are mainly collected in the leaf litter, underneath tree bark, under stones and on plants (Jäger and Vedel 2007).

Jäger (2001) established six species groups within the genus according to morphological evidences based on species mostly collected from Himalayas and nearby mountain ranges: group, group, group, group, group, and group. Nevertheless, the monophyly of these groups has never been tested by any phylogenetical analysis. Cao et al. (2016) published a molecular phylogeny on Chinese species based on COI and ITS2 genes data, focusing on DNA barcoding of this genus, without discussing species groups. Zhang et al. (2017) established the seventh group ( group including five species from Yunnan Province, China) based on morphological and molecular data which are mostly cited from Cao et al. (2016). So far, only 47 (33.57%) species were assigned to species groups, since it is challenging to group species exclusively according to morphological data of a limited set of species. Jäger (2001) described but did not assign it to any species group considering the female a transitional form between the prompta group and the martensi group. Here, we expand the baseline data for such decision by evaluating molecular (Fig. 1, edited from Zhang et al. 2017: fig. 1) as well as morphological evidence (see taxonomy), and establish the group, to which we assign seven species, two of which new to science, from Guizhou, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces in China.

Figure 1.

Bayesian tree based on the COI + ITS2 dataset including 144 individuals belonging to 44 species. Numbers on nodes are posterior probabilities; bootstrap support from ML analyses is indicated as solid stars for values > 95%, open stars > 50–95%. Red clade indicates the group, blue clade indicates the outgroups. Phylogenetic tree cited from Zhang et al. (2017).

Material and methods

All specimens were preserved in 75% ethanol and examined with an Olympus SZX16 stereomicroscope; details were further investigated with an Olympus BX51 compound microscope. Male and female copulatory organs were examined and illustrated after dissection from the spider bodies, vulvae were cleared with Proteinase K. Habitus photos were obtained using a Leica 205C digital microscope.

Leg measurements are shown as: total length (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). The numbers of spines are listed for each segment in the following order: prolateral, dorsal, retrolateral, ventral (in femora and patellae, ventral spines are absent, and the fourth digit is omitted in the spination formula). The body size classes and illustration of schematic course of internal duct system follow Jäger (2001). The terminology used in the text and figure legends follows Quan et al. (2014). All measurements are in millimetres.

We evaluated the most recent phylogenetic evidence for relationships among various species (Fig. 1, edited from Zhang et al. 2017: fig. 1). For detailed phylogenetic methods and abbreviations see Cao et al. (2016) and Zhang et al. (2017).

Abbreviations used throughout the text are given below.

Somatic morphology:

anterior lateral eyes;

anterior median eyes;

clypeus height;

copulatory opening;

dorsal part/branch of RTA;

dorsal shield of prosoma;

embolus;

femur;

fertilisation duct;

first winding;

metatarsus;

opisthosoma;

patella;

posterior lateral eyes;

posterior median eyes;

palp;

retrolateral tibial apophysis;

sclerotised internal duct system;

subtegulum;

tegulum;

tibia;

I, II, III, IV – legs I to IV;

ventral part/branch of RTA.

Institutes:

Centre for Behavioural Ecology and Evolution, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China;

School of Nuclear Technology and Chemistry & Biology, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei, China;

College of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.

Taxonomy

Family Bertkau, 1872

Subfamily Thorell, 1873

Genus Jäger, 2000

group

Definition. This group can be recognised by the combination of the following characters:

1. Embolus distinctly longer than tegulum, slightly S-shaped, arising from tegulum between 7- AND 9-o’clock-position (Fig. 2A);

Figure 2.

Xu & Yin, 2000 A left male palp, ventral B epigyne, ventral C schematic course of internal duct system in right part, dorsal D vulva, dorsal. Black arrow pointing to anterior margin of lateral lobe, blue arrow to tegular outgrowth. Abbreviations: C–conductor; dRTA–dorsal retrolateral tibial apophysis; E–embolus; vRTA–ventral retrolateral tibial apophysis; T–tegulum; CO–copulatory opening; LL–lateral lobes; FD–fertilisation duct; FW–first winding; SIDS–sclerotised internal duct system. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

2. Tegulum with distinctly short tegular outgrowth (Fig. 2A);

3. dRTA pronounced, vRTA short, dRTA two times longer than vRTA (Fig. 2A);

4. Anterior margins of lateral lobes bent medially, roughly “U” or “V”-shaped (Fig. 2B);

5. First winding membranous and wide, covering large part of the sclerotised internal duct system (Fig. 2D);

6. Sclerotised part of internal duct system long, strongly curved, tube-shaped (Fig. 2D).

Composition. Xu & Yin, 2000, sp. nov., sp. nov., Jäger, 2001, Jäger, Li & Krehenwinkel, 2015, Jäger & Vedel, 2007, Yang & Hu, 2001.

Distribution. China (Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan provinces) (Fig. 18).

Figure 18.

Locality records of group from China: 12 sp. nov. 3 sp. nov. 4567.

Xu & Yin, 2000

0AB1B836-070B-5225-AE3B-7EA23BE9252A

Figs 2 , 3 , 4 , 18

Figure 3.

Xu & Yin, 2000 A left male palp, prolateral B same, retrolateral. Abbreviation: ST–subtegulum. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 4.

Xu & Yin, 2000 A, B male habitus (A dorsal B ventral) C, D female habitus (C dorsal D ventral). Scale bars: 2 mm.

Xu & Yin, 2000: 37, figs 1–3 (description of female).

: Jäger & Yin, 2001: 126 (transfer from

Material examined.

CHINA, : 3 females, Liupanshui City, Zhongshan District, Xianshui slope martyr cemetery, , 1966 m, 11 April 2016, Yang Zhong, Yang Zhu & He Zhang leg. (CBEE, LJ02358-LJ02360); : 19 males, 14 females, Kunming City, Xishan Scenic Area, , 1975 m, 14 May 2014, Yang Zhong & Xiaowei Cao leg. (CBEE, LJ02361-LJ02393); 1 female, Kunming City, Xishan Scenic Area, , 2204 m, 13 October 2016, Guiqiang Huang, Xiangbo Guo and Yanchao Wang leg. (CBEE, LJ02394); 19 males, 14 females, Chuxiong City, Zixishan Scenic Area, , 2527 m, 15 May 2014, Yang Zhong & Xiaowei Cao leg. (CBEE, LJ02395-LJ02427); 5 males, 3 females, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Lanping Bai Nationality Autonomous Prefecture, Mt. Erwu, , 2377 m, 28 May 2014, Yang Zhong & Xiaowei Cao leg. (CBEE, LJ02428-LJ02435); 6 males, 5 females, Wei Xi Lisu Autonomous County, Pagoda of Cultural Prosperity, , 2294 m, 26 May 2014, Yang Zhong & Xiaowei Cao leg. (CBEE, LJ02436-LJ02446).

Diagnosis and Description.

See Jäger and Vedel (2007).

Distribution.

China (Guizhou, new province record; Yunnan) (Fig. 18).

sp. nov.

A9624771-823A-515F-B49F-732E8C90AF98

http://zoobank.org/8AD4A005-5F68-438F-997A-32F410F14B7A

Figs 5 , 6 , 7 , 18

Figure 5.

sp. nov. A epigyne, ventral B schematic course of internal duct system, dorsal C vulva, dorsal. Abbreviations: CO–copulatory opening; FD–fertilisation duct; FW–first winding; LL–lateral lobes; SIDS–sclerotised internal duct system. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 6.

sp. nov. A epigyne, ventral B vulva, dorsal. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 7.

sp. nov. Female habitus (A dorsal B ventral). Scale bars: 2 mm.

Type material.

Holotype female: CHINA: : Lijiang City, Yongsheng County, Lingyuan Temple, , 2305 m, 25 August 2013, Yang Zhong & Xiaowei Cao leg. (CBEE, LJ01667); Paratypes: 2 females, with same data as holotype. (CBEE, LJ01668-LJ01669).

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the Latin adjective physematosus, -a, -um, meaning swollen, referring to the shape of SIDS in dorsal view (Fig. 5C); adjective.

Diagnosis.

sp. nov. differs from other species of the group, except , by the SIDS with well developed twisted loops, in ventral view. It can be distinguished from by the following characters: anterior margins of lateral lobes longer than half the width of epigynal field in , but shorter in ; SIDS folded, with swollen tip in , but not in (Fig. 5A).

Description.

Male unknown. Female (holotype): Measurements: small-sized . Body length 8.6–9.9. DS length 4.4, width 3.3, OS length 5.5, width 3.6. Eyes: AME 0.24, ALE 0.31, PME 0.18, PLE 0.22, AME-AME 0.18, AME-ALE 0.11, PME-PME 0.15, PME-PLE 0.24, AME-PME 0.27, ALE-PLE 0.24, CHAME 0.35, CHALE 0.28. Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Spination: Pp 131, 101, 2121, 1014; Fe I–II 323, III 322, IV 322; Pa I–III 101, IV 100; Ti I–II 2228, III–IV 2126; Mt I–II 2024, III 3025, IV 3036. Measurement of palps and legs: Pp 4.5 (1.3, 0.5, 1.0, -, 1.7); I 12.8 (3.8, 1.9, 2.8, 3.1, 1.2); II 13.0 (4.0, 1.3, 3.0, 3.2, 1.5); III 11.1 (3.1, 1.6, 2.7, 2.6, 1.1); IV 11.6 (3.1, 1.7, 3.0, 2.7, 1.1). Promargin of chelicerae with three teeth, retromargin with four teeth, cheliceral furrow with ca. 32 denticles. Epigynal field almost as wide as long, with anterior bands included in the field. Epigyne with lateral lobes touching each other posteriorly. The anterior margins of lateral lobes forming a “V”. FW covering most of SIDS, the latter folded in the middle part (Fig. 5A–C). Colouration in ethanol: DS yellow with irregular radially arranged dark spots and brown patterns. Fovea and radial furrows distinctly marked. OS dorsally with light yellow hairs and large patches of reddish brown spots, ventrally lighter with larger and sparser reddish brown marks (Fig. 7A, B).

China (Yunnan) (Fig. 18).

BF502C6E-3259-5955-A252-FE7C3BF80A8E

http://zoobank.org/42780378-AF52-41DB-8447-C71F62523204

Figs 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 18

Figure 8.

sp. nov. A left male palp, ventral B epigyne, ventral C schematic course of internal duct system in right art, dorsal D vulva, dorsal. Abbreviations: C–conductor; dRTA–dorsal retrolateral tibial apophysis; T–tegulum; vRTA–ventral retrolateral tibial apophysis; CO–copulatory opening; LL–lateral lobes; FD–fertilisation duct; FW–first winding; SIDS–sclerotised internal duct system. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 9.

sp. nov. A left male palp, prolateral B Same, retrolateral. Abbreviations: E-embolus; ST-subtegulum. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 10.

sp. nov. A, B left male palp (A ventral B retrolateral) C epigyne, ventral D vulva, dorsal. Scale bars: 0.5mm.

Figure 11.

sp. nov. A, B male habitus (A dorsal B ventral) C, D female habitus (C dorsal D ventral). Scale bars: 2 mm.

Holotype male: CHINA: : Lijiang City, Black Dragon Pool Park, , 2659 m, 20 May 2014, Yang Zhong & Xiaowei Cao leg. (CBEE, LJ01905); Paratypes: 7 males, 8 females, with same data as holotype. (CBEE, LJ01906-LJ01920); 2 males, 2 females, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Deqin County, Fei Lai Temple scenic area, , 3458m, 25 May 2014, Yang Zhong & Xiaowei Cao leg. (CBEE, LJ01921-LJ01924).

The specific name is derived from the Latin adjective semilunatus, -a, -um, meaning lunate, referring to the shape of anterior margins of lateral lobes (Fig. 8B–D); adjective.

sp. nov. differs from other members in this group by the following characters: dRTA with distinct sub-apical cavity, anterior margins of lateral lobes not strongly curved as in other species but together forming a semicircle. Males of this species are similar to those of in having a twisted embolus tip but can be distinguished by embolic tip forming a semicircle and conductor present (embolic tip forming a full circle, conductor entirely reduced in ) (Figs 8A–D, 9A, B).

Male (holotype): Measurements: small-sized . Body length 7.0–9.5. DS length 4.1, width 3.5, OS length 5.0, width 3.4. Eyes: AME 0.16, ALE 0.23, PME 0.19, PLE 0.24, AME-AME 0.13, AME-ALE 0.21, PME-PME 0.24, PME-PLE 0.27, AME-PME 0.37, ALE-PLE 0.40, CHAME 0.26, CHALE 0.21. Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Spination: Pp 131, 101, 2121, 1014; Fe I–II 323, III 322, IV 322; Pa I–III 101, IV 100; Ti I–II 2228, III–IV 2126; Mt I–II 2024, III 3025, IV 3036. Measurement of palps and legs: Pp 5.0 (1.3, 0.6, 0.9, -, 2.2); I 13.9 (3.9, 1.0, 3.6, 4.0, 1.4); II 14.3 (4.1, 1.2, 4.2, 3.3, 1.5); III 12.2 (3.5, 0.9, 3.4,3.0, 1.4); IV 13.7 (4.5, 1.2, 3.3, 3.2, 1.5). Promargin of chelicerae with three teeth, retromargin with four teeth, cheliceral furrow with ca. 20 denticles. Palp as in diagnosis. Conductor arising from tegulum at 12-o’clock-position, basally folded. Tegular outgrowth short, claviform. Embolus arising from tegulum at 8.30-o’clock-position, long, well developed, with abruptly tapering apical part with additional loop. Spermophore visible submarginally on retrolateral tegulum in ventral view. RTA arising proximally on Ti, with broad ventral part, its distal end bent, bowl-shaped (Figs 8A, 9A, B). Colouration in ethanol: DS yellow with dark spots, two lateral bands, margin with thin dash line and brown patterns. Fovea and radial furrows distinctly marked. OS dorsally with lots of reddish brown dots, ventrally with reddish brown marks, regularly arranged (Fig. 11A, B).

Female: Measurements: small-sized . Body length 8.0–9.5. DS length 4.0, width 3.6, OS length 4.6, width 2.8. Eyes: AME 0.15, ALE 0.20, PME 0.16, PLE 0.20, AME-AME 0.27, AME-ALE 0.13, PME-PME 0.33, PME-PLE 0.41, AME-PME 0.35, ALE-PLE 0.32, CHAME 0.31, CHALE 0.29. Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Spination: Pp 131, 101, 2121, 1014; Fe I–II 323, III 322, IV 322; Pa I–III 101, IV 100; Ti I–II 2228, III–IV 2126; Mt I–II 2024, III 3025, IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs: Pp 4.4 (1.3, 0.6, 0.9, -, 1.6); I 9.9 (3.1, 0.8, 2.6, 2.4, 1.0); II 10.9 (3.1, 1.2, 3.0, 2.6, 1.0); III 7.3 (1.9, 0.8, 2.2, 1.5, 0.9); IV 8.8 (2.8, 0.8, 2.4, 2.0, 0.8). Cheliceral furrow with three anterior and four posterior teeth, and with ca. 18 denticles. Epigynal field wider than long. Anterior and posterior margins of lateral lobes almost parallel. FW well developed, covering the entire sclerotised part of internal duct system, the latter folded. FD long, narrow (Fig. 8B–D). Colouration in ethanol: As in male, generally darker (Fig. 11C, D).

China (Yunnan) (Fig. 18).

Jäger, 2001

93223859-E006-57B9-952B-FDDA54B9DA6A

Figs 12 , 13 , 14 , 18

Figure 12.

Jäger, 2001 A left male palp, ventral B epigyne, ventral C schematic course of internal duct system in right part, dorsal D vulva, dorsal. Abbreviations: C–conductor; E–embolus; dRTA–dorsal retrolateral tibial apophysis; T–tegulum; vRTA–ventral retrolateral tibial apophysis; CO–copulatory opening; LL–lateral lobes; FD–fertilisation duct; FW–first winding; SIDS–sclerotised internal duct system. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 13.

Jäger, 2001 A left male palp, prolateral B same, retrolateral. Abbreviation: ST–subtegulum. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 14.

Jäger, 2001 A, B male habitus (A dorsal B ventral) C, D female habitus (C dorsal D ventral). Scale bars: 2 mm

Jäger, 2001: 50, f. 29h-j (description of female).

:

CHINA, : 6 males, 7 females, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Cangshan Scenic Area, , 2645 m, 17 May 2014, Yang Zhong & Xiaowei Cao leg. (CBEE, LJ01695-LJ01707); 12 males, 6 females, Chuxiong City, Zixishan Scenic Area, , 2476 m, 15 May 2014, Yang Zhong & Xiaowei Cao leg. (CBEE, LJ01708-LJ01719, LJ01785-LJ01790).

See Jäger et al. (2015).

China (Yunnan, new province record; Sichuan) (Fig. 18).

Yang & Hu, 2001

81A7F39C-E403-579F-AFD4-BF4A9D992670

Figs 15 , 16 , 17 , 18

Figure 15.

Yang & Hu, 2001 A left male palp, ventral B epigyne, ventral C Schematic course of internal duct system in right part, dorsal D vulva, dorsal. Abbreviations: C–conductor; dRTA–dorsal retrolateral tibial apophysis; E–embolus; vRTA–ventral retrolateral tibial apophysis; T–tegulum; CO–copulatory opening; LL–lateral lobes; FD–fertilisation duct; FW–first winding; SIDS–sclerotised internal duct system. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 16.

Yang & Hu, 2001 A left male palp, prolateral B same, retrolateral. Abbreviation: ST–subtegulum. Scale bar: 0.5mm.

Figure 17.

Yang & Hu, 2001 A, B male habitus (A dorsal B ventral) C, D female habitus (C dorsal D ventral). Scale bars: 2 mm

Yang & Hu, 2001: 18, figs 1–3 (description of female).

: Jäger & Vedel, 2007: 17, figs 60–62 (Transfer from

CHINA, : 2 males, 2 females, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Lanping Bai Nationality Autonomous Prefecture, Mt. Erwu, , 2366 m, 28 May 2014, Yang Zhong & Xiaowei Cao leg. (CBEE, LJ01535-LJ01538); 42 males, 26 females, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Shangri-La County, Mt. Wufeng, , 3528 m, 23 May 2014, Yang Zhong & Xiaowei Cao leg. (CBEE, LJ01539-LJ01606); 18 males, 17 females, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Jianchuan County, Mt. Qianshi, , 2647 m, 19 May 2014, Yang Zhong & Xiaowei Cao leg. (CBEE, LJ01501-LJ01534).

See Yang and Chen (2008).

China (Yunnan) (Fig. 18).