Skip to main content

Three new species of Huntsman spider (Pseudopoda Jäger 2000) from Qizimeishan National Nature Reserve

Three new species of Huntsman spider (Pseudopoda Jäger 2000) from Qizimeishan National Nature Reserve

NEWS - A spider survey in Qizimeishan National Nature Reserve in Xuan’en County, southwest Hubei Province, adjacent to the northeastern edge of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, discovered three new species: arc huntsman spider (Pseudopoda arcuata ♀), Qizimeishan huntsman spider (Pseudopoda qizimeishanensis ♂ ♀) and Mian Wei huntsman spider (Pseudopoda weimiani ♂ ♀).

The reserve covers a total area of 345.5 km2 and the highest peak is about 2010 meters. It mainly protects the central subtropical mountain evergreen broadleaf forest and subalpine sphagnum swamp wetland area. The reserve is rich in wildlife resources and has been listed as a key biodiversity area in the China Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan.

Pseudopoda Jäger 2000 is the largest genus of the Sparassidae Bertkau 1872 with 256 species. Currently, 155 species of Pseudopoda are known in China. This genus is a small to large spider that lives mainly in leaf litter and less frequently in plants.

P. arcuata derives its specific epithet from the Latin word meaning "arch-shaped" referring to the curved LL. Females resemble P. allantoides Zhang, Jäger & Liu 2023, but P. arcuata can be recognized by its horizontally elongated S and FD appearing anterior to the S (vs. S elongated longitudinally and FD appearing medial to the S).

P. qizimeishanensis derives its specific epithet from the type locality, Mount Qizimeishan. Males resemble P. baoshanensis Zhang, Jäger & Liu 2023, but P. qizimeishanensis can be recognized by the long RTA and occurs in the basal part of Ti, T without prolateral growth and E tip pointing towards 11 o'clock (vs. short RTA, occurs in the medial part of Ti, T with prolateral growth, E tip pointing towards 7 o'clock).

Females resemble P. nanyueensis Tang & Yin 2000, but P. qizimeishanensis can be recognized by the long S, with wrinkles, almost parallel to the anterior edge of LL (vs. S without wrinkles and extending horizontally).

P. weimiani is named after one of the collectors, Mian Wei. Males resemble P. hongqi Deng, Zhong, Irfan & Wang 2023, but P. weimiani can be recognized by the short-smooth RTA and twisted EP (vs. RTA long and gradually narrowing towards the tip, EP without twists, terminal not exceeding E).

Females resemble P. taipingensis Zhang, Jäger & Liu 2023, but P. weimiani can be recognized by the nearly straight posterior margin of the LL, parallel to the anterior margin and the S with a clear bend in ventral view (vs. the W-shaped posterior margin of the LL, the S with a tube-like structure).

Pseudopods are widely distributed throughout China with 155 species accounting for about 61% of the world's total species. The majority are found in the southwest region, especially in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, with 84 species highlighting the rich biodiversity and varied topography.

Qizimeishan National Nature Reserve, part of the northeastern extension of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, has a diverse landscape with elevations ranging from 650 to 2010 meters. This variation creates a variety of microclimates and habitats that support a variety of species. However, research on spiders in this area is still limited.

Original research

Chang J, Zhang H, Liu J, Zhu Y, Liu C, Chen K, Hu C (2024) Three new species of Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000 (Araneae, Sparassidae, Heteropodinae) from Qizimeishan National Nature Reserve of Hubei, China. ZooKeys 1214: 143-160, DOI:10.3897/zookeys.1214.130101

Dlium theDlium
Labels:

Popular Posts

Porang (Amorphophallus muelleri)

Porang or iles-iles ( Amorphophallus muelleri ) is a plant species in Araceae, the petiole is a pseudo stem with a height of 40-180 cm, 1-5 cm in diameter, round, green or purple with irregular white spots, each branching point grows brown bulbil and yellow bulb. A. muelleri has all leaves or stems or stems that are light green to dark green or gray and has greenish-white patches, smooth or smooth surface. The leaves are elliptical in shape with pointed leaf tips, smooth and wavy surface. When flushing has 3, 4-5, 5-6 and finally 6 minor leaves branching with 3 minor petioles. Young leaves have light purple or green edges and will end in yellow and 0.3-0.5 mm wide. The whole canopy is 50-150 cm wide. The stems grow above the tubers with a diameter of 25-50 mm and a height of 75-175 cm. Tubers have a brownish yellow or gray color on the outer surface and brownish yellow on the inside, are slightly oval in shape, fibrous roots, weigh 450-3350 grams, smooth tissue, 4-5 months of dormanc...
Read more

Dragon tongue (Phyllodium elegans)

Dragon tongue ( Phyllodium elegans ) is a plant species in Fabaceae, shrubs up to 3 meters high, stems erect or sloping and brown, leaves gathered in three strands and are elongated in shape, flowers grow in rows on long stalks. P. elegans has stems erect or sideways, cylindrical, woody, sturdy, slender, branching alternately, zigzagging, brown, the surface has white hair and the old stems have colored spots. The leaves grow in a stalk with three strands. The leaves are elongated, the base is rounded, the tip is slender, a bone in the middle with several lateral veins, the upper surface is brownish green and has white hair. The inflorescences grow in rows on long stalks. The flower buds are folded and wrapped in two circular leaves, flat, green and white-haired. The flower has a yellowish white color and the base is brown. Pod-shaped fruit, white hair, tip has a tail and 1-3 seeds but generally 2 seeds. Dragon tongue grows on the slopes of sandy, calcareous soils, karst, lots of sun...
Read more

Golden-armed mantis (Hierodula venosa)

Golden-armed mantis ( Hierodula venosa ) is an animal species in the Mantidae, winged praying mantis with females 65-75 mm long and males 45-65 mm, large but not the largest in the genus Hierodula and generally bright yellow with green and chocolate variations. H. venosa has a fully rotating head. The head is dominated by a pair of very large and brownish yellow eyes. The jaw forms a triangle. The back is very wide with thickened margins. A pair of long antennas. Wide wings with rounded tips, striped surface, thick margins, two small white plots on the right and left. The belly is large and jointed, curved downward, the upper part is completely covered by the wings, but partially visible from the side. The pair of forelegs are large and have three segments. The upper segment has rows of spikes on the front and back. The middle segment has a row of many spines on the back and a black tip. The third segment has a row of many spines, long, black and tipped with a long palm. The middle ...
Read more