Meriola nague Platnick & Ewing

González, María E., Grismado, Cristian J. & Ramírez, Martín J., 2021, A Taxonomic Revision Of The Spider Genus Meriola Banks (Araneae: Trachelidae), Zootaxa 4936 (1), pp. 1-113 : 72

Meriola nague Platnick & Ewing

Figs 55–57 , 93

Meriola nague Platnick & Ewing, 1995: 14 , figs 24–28 (male holotype from Choapa , Región de Coquimbo (IV), Chile, in AMNH, not examined).

Diagnosis. Males ( Figs 56 , 57 a–d) resemble those of M. virgata by the sinuous embolus with a retrolateral origin, but differ by the shorter and more slender RTA, and thinner embolus. Females ( Figs 55 , 57 g–i) resemble those of M. virgata by their epigyne with a median excavation, but which is narrower, and the CDR and S1 are transversally arranged, between the S2 ( Platnick & Ewing 1995: fig. 28).

Description. Male and female described by Platnick & Ewing (1995).

Natural history and habitat. The specimens were found between 400–1400 m of altitude, in forest of Peamus boldus and bushes of Maytenus boaria .

Distribution. Known from central Chile, Regions of Coquimbo, Valparaíso and Metropolitana, and one isolated record from Malleco Province (reported by Platnick & Ewing 1995) ( Fig. 93 ).

New records. CHILE: Región V de Valparaíso: Provincia de Valparaíso: Sendero a Quebrada El Tigre , 2.3 km E de Zapallar (MJR-loc-03), S 32.55368°, W 71.43493°, elev. 348–357 m, 12.II.2011, forest of Peumus boldus, M. Ramírez, E. Soto & J. Pizarro , 1 female (temporary preparations MGM-00214–15 ( MACN-Ar 30971 ) . Región RM Metropolitana de Santiago: Valle del Río Mapocho entre El Arrayán y Farellones, S 33.324727°, W 70.370685°, 15.X.1958 – 8.VI.1960, pitfall traps, W. Noodt, 1 female ( MNHS 337 ) . Región VII del Maule: Provincia de Curicó: Ruta J-55, 30 km W de Los Queñes (MJR-loc-75), S 35.06316°, W 70.51248°, elev. 1406 m, 8.II.2012, Maytenus boaria (maitenes) bushes, M. Ramírez, M. Izquierdo, P. Michalik, C. Wirknler & K. Huckstorf, 1 male, sample MAI-04063, temporary preparations MAI-00994, MGM-00216–18 ( MACN-Ar 29171 ) .

Figures

FIGURE 55. Meriola nague Platnick & Ewing, female (MACN-Ar 30971). a, habitus, dorsal view; b, same, ventral view; c, same, lateral view; d, prosoma, dorsal view; e, same, ventral view; f, same, lateral view; g, habitus, anterior view; h, epigyne, ventral view.

FIGURE 56. Meriola nague Platnick & Ewing, male (MACN-Ar 29171). a, habitus, dorsal view; b, same, ventral view; c, same, lateral view; d, prosoma, dorsal view; e, same, ventral view; f, same, lateral view; g, right leg I, prolateral view; h, same, metatarsus close up, prolateral view, arrows to cuspules.

FIGURE 57. Meriola nague Platnick & Ewing. a, male habitus, anterior view male (MACN-Ar 29171); b, left palp, ventral view; c, same, prolateral view; d, same, retrolateral view. g, female eyes, dorsal view (MACN-Ar 30971); h, same, detail of right tarsus I, ventral view; i, same, detail of tibia I, ventral view.

FIGURE 93. Known distribution of Meriola mauryi, M. quilicura and M. nague in South America.