Tullgrenella lunata (Mello-Leitão, 1944)

Figs 6D–F, 7H, 25A–D, 26A–D, 51A–B

Zoobank. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 49F63DEB-202F-47E1-8CFF-32A15CA32A21

Akela lunata Mello-Leitão, 1944: 372, fig. 67 (holotype, male, ARGENTINA, Buenos Aires, Pourtalé [37°01’13.0”S 60°35’25.7”W], M. Birabén leg., (MLP 16195), examined).

Tullgrenella lunata: Galiano, 1970: 329, figs 43–48, 53 (description of female).

Diagnosis. Males of Tullgrenella lunata, like those of T. quadripunctata and T. nadjae, have a non-globose tegular membranous process, sickle-shaped cymbium, and elongate embolus exceeding the cymbium apex (Figs 21C–D, 23C–D, 25C–D), but T. lunata can be recognized by the longer and parallel tegulum in relation to the cymbium apex (Fig. 25C), and longer and conspicuous RTA (Fig. 25D). Females of T. lunata are similar to those of T. quadripunctata and T. nadjae by the epigynal plate (Figs 7F–H, 22C–D, 24C–D, 26C–D) with large copulatory ducts arranged in an anterior loop and the posterior ovoid spermathecae (Figs 7H, 26C–D), but T. lunata can be recognized by the large anterior-median copulatory opening inverted U-shaped and positioned upside down (Figs 7H, 26C–D), and the single C-shaped loop of copulatory ducts (Fig. 7H).

Description. See Galiano (1970; Figs 6D–F, 7H, 25C–D, 26C–D). We add the following complementary data: in the expanded palp, the bulb turns 45º and the pars pendula is not visible (Figs 6D–F), the conductor involves the embolus when basal haematodocha was expanded (Figs 6D–F). Basal haematodocha well-developed (Figs 6D–F).

Material examined. ARGENTINA, Neuquén, Junín de los Andes [39°57’04.3”S 71°04’14.5”W], II.1968, E. Maury leg. 1♀ (allotype, MACN-Ar 6217); Pucará, Lago Lacar [40°10’45.5”S 71°29’02.6”W], X.1955, A. Giai leg., 1♀ (MACN-Ar 6218); ditto, XII.1963, J. Navas leg., 1♂ (MACN-Ar 6220); Santa Fé [31°36’38.6”S 60°41’50.0”], I.1962, 1♂ (MACN-Ar 6216); Córdoba, Calamuchita [32°16’19.6”S 64°37’16.4”W], XII.1940, Viana leg. 1♂ (MACN-Ar 6214) ; La Pampa [37°54’12.2”S 65°05’55.5”W], II.1943, H. Hepper leg. 1♂ (MACN-Ar 6215). Río Negro, Bariloche [41°08’02.0”S 71°18’37.8”W], I.1964, E. Maury leg., 1♂ (MACN-Ar 6219) . URUGUAY, Salto, Estancia “Los Venados”, El Perado [31°43’65,32”S 56°44’12,13”W], 12. V.2010, Á. Laborda leg., collected with pitfall trap, 1♂ (FCE-Ar 10531) . Durazno, Carlos Reyles [33° 3’34.61”S 56°28’22.49”W], 04.XI.2020, M. Castro leg., 1♀ (FCE-Ar 7670); San Eduardo [32°35’32”S 55°42’43”W], 29.I.2019, G. Pompozzi leg., collected in natural grassland, 1♂ (FCE-Ar 11261) .

Distribution. Argentina (Córdoba, La Pampa, Néuquén, Pucará and [Río Negro (Galiano 1970)] and Uruguay (Salto and Durazno) (Figs 51A–B).

Natural history. Individuals were associated with shrubs and soil, collected with pitfall traps in Uruguay. The distribution of this species shows that it occurs from East to West in South America. It is found associated with the Chacoan subregion, crosses the South American Transitional Zone, and reaches the Andean region (Figs 51A–B). The variation in altitudinal occurrence of this species is 8–4776 m a. s. l. (Figs 51 A–B).