Pseudopoda deformis Gong & Zhong, 2023

Zhang, He, Hu, Chang-Hao, Wang, Lu-Yu, Liu, Jie & Zhong, Yang, 2025, A new species of Pseudopoda (Araneae, Sparassidae) from China, with first description of the female of P. spiralis Zhang, Ja ̈ ger & Liu, 2023, ZooKeys 1260, pp. 111-122 : 111-122

Pseudopoda deformis Gong & Zhong, 2023

Figs 3 , 4 , 8

Pseudopoda deformis Gong & Zhong , in Gong et al. 2023: 191, figs 1 A – F, 2 A – F, 3 A – J ( male holotype, male and female paratypes from Guanmenshan Scenic Area , Muyu Town, Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei Province, China, deposited in HUST, examined ).

Other material examined.

China • Chongqing Municipality: 1 female, Wuxi County, Shuangyang Township, Yintiaoling Nature Reserve, Linkouzi , 31.4746°N, 109.8778°E, 1224 m, 22 June 2024, Luyu Wang leg. ( CBEE, LJ 20240053 ) .

Diagnosis.

See Gong et al. (2023). The additional female examined has more compact and medially shifted copulatory ducts, consistent with intraspecific variation.

Description.

Female (Figs 3 , 4 ): Internal duct system more compactly coiled, FD more twisted, medially shifted (Fig. 3 A, B ). For further description, see Gong et al. (2023).

Remarks.

All examined specimens are considered conspecific based on the general structure and configuration of the epigynal field and vulval organs. The internal duct system is highly convoluted and exhibits no consistent orientation or symmetry, reflecting a high degree of structural complexity and notable intraspecific variation.

Distribution.

China ( Hubei Province and Chongqing Municipality, Fig. 8 ).

Figures

Figure 3. Pseudopoda deformis Gong & Zhong, 2023 from Chongqing, female. A. Epigyne, ventral; B. Schematic course of IDS, dorsal; C. Vulva, dorsal. Abbreviations: CO, copulatory opening; FD, fertilization duct; FW, first winding; IDS, Internal duct system; LL, lateral lobes. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 4. Pseudopoda deformis Gong & Zhong, 2023 from Chongqing, female habitus. A. Dorsal; B. Ventral. Scale bars: 2 mm.

Figure 8. Distribution map of the three Pseudopoda species. The numbers represent the different species. 1. P. rongxianensis sp. nov.; 2. P. deformis Gong & Zhong, 2023; 3. P. spiralis Zhang, Jäger & Liu, 2023.