Description of three new species of the spider genus Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000 (Araneae, Sparassidae) from China, Laos and Thailand, and the female of P. kavanaughi Zhang, Jäger & Liu, 2023 Author Wu, Yanrong Hubei Key Laboratory of Regional Development and Environmental Response, Faculty of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, Hubei, China Author Zhong, Rui Hubei Key Laboratory of Regional Development and Environmental Response, Faculty of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, Hubei, China Author Zhu, Yang Hubei Key Laboratory of Regional Development and Environmental Response, Faculty of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, Hubei, China Author Jäger, Peter The State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering of China, College of Life Science, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, Hubei, China Author Liu, Jie Hubei Key Laboratory of Regional Development and Environmental Response, Faculty of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, Hubei, China & Arachnology, Senckenberg Research Institute, Mertonstraße 17 – 21, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany Author Zhang, He Hubei Key Laboratory of Regional Development and Environmental Response, Faculty of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, Hubei, China text ZooKeys 2024 2024-05-27 1202 287 301 journal article 297211 10.3897/zookeys.1202.116007 edcef66c-e5c3-42f1-bc4e-e9f391faf311 678BC18A-02A5-4264-BB5C-5A140B4DEABB Pseudopoda baimai Jäger & Liu sp. nov. Figs 1 , 2 , 9 Type material. Holotype female : Laos , Vientiane Province : Vang Vieng , W of Nam Song , Tham Nam Or Kjem , in cave , 18 ° 55 ' 46.86 " N , 102 ° 20 ' 56.82 " E , 324 m , 28 July 2016 , by hand , by day. P. Jäger leg. ( SMF , LAO 0008 ) . Paratype : 1 female , with same data as for holotype ( SMF , LAO 0008 ) . Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Laos word baimai (ໃບໄມ ້), meaning foliage and referring to the fact that the holotype female was collected on foliage of a secondary forest; noun in apposition. Diagnosis. The female of P. baimai Jäger & Liu , sp. nov. resembles P. gongschana Jäger & Vedel, 2007 ( Jäger and Vedel 2007 ) by: 1) IDS visible through cuticle in ventral view as large circular patches in centre of LL ; and 2) posterior margins of LL with median indentation. It can be recognised by: 1) S largely covered by LL in dorsal view; and 2) anterior margins of LL straight, almost “ V ” - shaped in ventral view, their lateral ends with a bend, laterad (covered by FW , anterior margins distinctly convex, their lateral ends latero-posteriad in P. gongschana ). Female ( LAO 0008): Measurements : Medium sized. Body length 11.3, DS length 4.6, width 4.0, OS length 6.7, width 3.8. Eyes : AME 0.12, ALE 0.26, PME 0.22, PLE 0.24, AME – AME 0.16, AME – ALE 0.08, PME – PME 0.28, PME – PLE 0.35, AME – PME 0.33, ALE – PLE 0.30, CH AME 0.40, CH ALE 0.34. Spination : Pp 131, 101, 2121, 1014; Fe I – III 323, IV 331; Pa I – III 001, IV 000; Ti I – II 2226 , III – IV 2026 ; Mt I – II 2024 , III 3024, IV 3036. Measurements of palps and legs : Pp 7.1 (2.0, 1.0, 1.6, –, 2.5); I 25.9 (7.7, 2.1, 7.4, 7.0, 1.7); II 28.7 (8.2, 2.5, 8.4, 7.4, 2.2); III 22.2 (6.3, 1.9, 6.8, 5.9, 1.3); IV 24.4 (7.9, 1.2, 7.0, 7.3, 2.0). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Promargin of chelicerae with three teeth, retromargin with four teeth, cheliceral furrow with c. 33 denticles. Epigyne (Fig. 1 A – C ): As in diagnosis. EF wider than long, without AB . Posterior margins of LL irregularly rounded. S oval-shaped, occupying most part of LL in ventral view. Most parts of FW covered by LL in dorsal view. Figure 1. Pseudopoda baimai Jäger & Liu , sp. nov. , holotype, female A epigyne, ventral B schematic course of IDS , dorsal C vulva, dorsal. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. Colouration (Fig. 2 A, B ): DS yellow with dark spots. Fovea distinct. Margin with dark marks. OS dorsally yellowish brown with two light yellow regions at posterior part, ventrally light yellow, with several brown marks, irregularly arranged. Figure 2. Pseudopoda baimai Jäger & Liu , sp. nov. , female habitus ( A dorsal B ventral). Scale bars: 2 mm. Male : Unknown. Variation. Female ( N = 1): body length 12.7, DS length 5.3, OS length 7.4. Remarks. This species might potentially be conspecific with P. caudata Zhang, Jäger & Liu, 2023 ( Zhang et al. 2023 ), given that the two habitats are only about 100 kilometres apart. However, there are subtle differences in coloration and patterns on the dorsal side of the females compared to the males of P. caudata , indicating a possible distinction between the two species. Further research and future findings are needed to conclusively resolve this ambiguity. Distribution. Laos ( Vientiane Province ) (Fig. 9 ).