Meriola longitarsis Simon

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 : 54

Meriola longitarsis Simon

Figs 43–45 , 96

Trachelas longitarsis Simon, 1904: 104 , fig. 5 (male holotype from Punta Arenas , Magallanes, Región de Magallanes, Chile, in MNHN 12913, labeled as “Chili”, examined; Fig. 45b, c , g–i).

Meriola longitarsis Platnick & Ewing, 1995: 18 , figs 34–38.

Diagnosis. Males ( Figs 44 a–f, 45) are easily distinguished by a combination of an elongated cymbium constricted at the middle, a long, filiform embolus, and the distally pointed tegulum. Females ( Fig. 43 , 44g ) are recognized by the rectangular median field located posterior to the copulatory ducts and spermathecae, and the large, rounded secondary spermathecae ( Platnick & Ewing 1995: figs 37, 38).

Description. See Platnick & Ewing (1995) for male and female descriptions.

Variability. The males show continuous variability in palpal morphology, with a long embolus and curved cymbium ( Fig. 45 h–i) to a shorter embolus and straighter cymbium ( Fig. 45 e–f and Platnick & Ewing 1995: figs 34–36).

Natural history and habitat. The specimens were collected by fogging in forests of Laurelia sp., Myrceugenia sp., Nothofagus dombeyi , N. oblicua , N. alpina , Castanopsis hystrix , Podocarpus saligna , Austrocedrus chilensis and Araucaria araucana , between 900–1200 m altitude. A few specimens were found in low coastal forest, hygrophilic forests and forests of Peumus boldus .

Distribution. Known from a Chile, in Choapa, Quillota, Curicó, Concepción, Malleco and Valdivia provinces in Chile, and adjacent localities in Neuquén, Río Negro and Chubut provinces in Argentina; the holotype however is from Punta Arenas, far to the south ( Fig. 96 ).

New records. ARGENTINA: Río Negro: Bariloche: Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, Puerto Blest, sendero a laguna Los Cántaros, S 41.013754°, W 71.822738°, elev. 820–890 m, 28.XII.2010, humid forest, M. Ramírez, V. Werenkraut & S. Aisen, 1 male, sample MGM-00213 (MACN-Ar 30887). Arroyo Casa de Piedra, S 41.118743°, W 71.461673°, I.1982, M. Ramírez, 1 male, 1 imm. (MACN-Ar 30974). Lago Los Moscos, S 41.356833°, W 71.632500°, elev. 900 m, I.2003, pitfall traps, Y. Sasal, 1 male (MACN-Ar 33075). CHILE: Región IV de Coquimbo: Provincia de Choapa: Ñagué, 10 km N Los Vilos, Ruta 5 km 236, S 31.82137°, W 71.50231°, elev. 90 m, 19.II.2005, low coastal forest, M. Ramírez & F. Labarque, 1 male, temporary preparations MGM-00471, MGM-00472 (MACN-Ar 30880). Región V de Valparaíso: Provincia de Quillota: Parque Nacional La Campana, sector granizo, 5,2 km por aire ENE de Olmué (MJR-loc-65), S 32.98124°, W 71.13016°, elev. 456 m, 4.XI.2011, hydrophilic forest in cliff, hand collection, M. Ramírez, A. Ojanguren Affilastro & J. Pizarro, 1 male, sample CJG- 03102, temporary preparation CJG-01332, MGM-00475 (MACN-Ar 30345). Región VII del Maule: Provincia de Curicó: Los Niches, Fundo de Juan Enrique Barriga-Tuñón, Cerro Huecahuecan (MJR-loc-72), S 35.06735°, W 71.120852°, elev. 303 m, 7.II.2012, forest of Peumus boldus, M. Ramírez, M. Izquierdo, P. Michalik, C. Wirknler & K. Huckstorf , 1 male (MACN-Ar 29180), 1 female, sample MAI-04068, temporary preparations MAI-00999, (MACN-Ar 29167), 1 male, sample MAI-04064, temporary preparation MAI-00995 (MACN-Ar 29169), 1 female, temporary preparation MGM-00476 (MACN-Ar 29288). Camino El Relvo, 15 km E Potrero Grande, S 35.190907°, W 70.9228267°, 25.III.2003, Laurelia sp. and Myrceugenia sp., fogging, J. Barriga, 5 females, 5 males (MACN-Ar 30866). Same locality, elev. 1000 m, 13.V.2004, Nothofagus oblicua and N. dombeyi , fogging, J. Barriga, 2 females (MACN-Ar 30878). Same locality, 19.XII.2004, Nothofagus alpina , N. obliqua , fogging, J. Barriga, 2 males, 1 imm. (MACN-Ar 33039). El Relvo, 20 km E Potrero Grande, S 35.185833°, W 70.937472°, 16.I.2004, Nothofagus dombeyi , Laurelia sp., Castanopsis hystrix and Podocarpus saligna , fogging, J. Barriga, 9 males (MACN-Ar 33040). Same locality, S 35.189167°, W 70.958333°, elev. 1100 m, 30.XII.2003, Nothofagus dombeyi , fogging, J. Barriga, 2 females, 2 males (MACN-Ar 33038). Same locality, S 35.190907°, W 70.8130279°, 30.XII.2003, Nothofagus dombeyi , fogging, J. Barriga, 1 male (MACN-Ar 30868). Same locality, 16.I.2004, Nothofagus dombeyi , Laurelia sp., Castanopsis hystrix and Podocarpus saligna , fogging, J. Barriga, 8 females, 2 males (MACN-Ar 30869). Same locality, elev. 1100 m, 8.V.2004, Nothofagus dombeyi , fogging, J. Barriga, 2 females (MACN-Ar 30870), 1 female (MACN-Ar 30877). Potrero Grande, 15 km E, Puente los Morongos, S 35.190907°, W 71.087525°, 30.III.2004, Nothofagus alpina , N. dombeyi and Laurelia sp., fogging, J. Barriga, 4 females, 9 males (MACN-Ar 30873). Fundo El Coihue, 20 km E Potrero Grande, S 35.190907°, W 70.8679273°, elev. 1035 m, 25.V.2004, Podocarpus saligna , fogging, J. Barriga, 6 females, 1 male (MACN-Ar 33037), 5 females (MACN-Ar 30876). Same locality, elev. 937 m, 25.V.2004, Austrocedrus chilensis , fogging, J. Barriga, 7 females (MACN-Ar 30865). Same data, elev. 937 m, Nothofagus dombeyi and Austrocedrus chilensis , fogging, J. Barriga, 8 females, 2 males (MACN-Ar 30872). 5 km E Potrero Grande, Puente Los Morongos, S 35.216139°, W 70.216139°, 22.XII.2003, Nothofagus dombeyi , fogging, J. Barriga, 2 females, 6 males (MACN-Ar 30867). Región VIII del Biobío: Provincia de Concepción: Cerro Caracol, S 36.841083°, W 73.041285°, elev. 240 m, 15.II.2005, M. Ramírez & F. Labarque, 1 male (MACN-Ar 10953). Provincia de Arauco: Pichinahuel, sendero monitoreo Arauco, 32 km E Cañete (por aire), S 37.80692°, W 73.03732° (GPS, +- 200m), elev. 1200 m (GPS), 11.I.2020, forest N. dombeyi and Araucaria, M.J. Ramírez, E. Soto, J. Wilson, D. Poy (MJR-loc-350), 1 male, sample MJR-2391-1 (MACN-Ar 40964). Región IX de La Araucanía: Provincia de Malleco: Parque Nacional Nahuelbuta, S 37.784643°, W 72.953286°, elev. 1200 m, 12.II.2005, Araucaria araucana , fogging, J. Barriga, 1 female, 5 males, 2 imms. (MACN-Ar 30864), 1 female (MACN-Ar 30874), 2 females, 3 males (MACN-Ar 30875). Same locality, 22.XI.2004, Araucaria araucana , Nothofagus dombeyi , fogging, J. Barriga, 1 male (MACN-Ar 30871). Monumento Natural Contulmo, S 38.034412°, W 73.196368°, 19–21.XII.1998, M. Ramírez, L. Compagnucci, C. Grismado & L. Lopardo, 2 males (MACN-Ar 16378), 1 female (MACN-Ar 16381), 1 female (MNHS). Región XIV de Los Ríos: Provincia de Valdivia: Valdivia, S 39.817379°, W 73.242533°, 1983, E. Krahmer, 1 female (MNHS 816).

Figures

FIGURE 43. Meriola longitarsis Simon, female (MACN-Ar 16379). 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 44. Meriola longitarsis Simon. a, male habitus, dorsal view (MACN-Ar 30880); b, same, ventral view; c, same, lateral view; d, prosoma, dorsal view; e, same, ventral view; f, same, lateral view. g, female alive (MACN-Ar 40964).

FIGURE 45. Meriola longitarsis Simon, male. a, habitus, anterior view (MACN-Ar 30880); b, male holotype, habitus, lateral view (MNHN 12913). c, holotype, specimen labels. d, left palp, prolateral view (MACN-Ar 30880); e, same, ventral view; f, same, retrolateral view. g, left palp of holotype, prolateral view; h, same, ventral view; i, same, retrolateral view.

FIGURE 96. Known distribution of Meriola longitarsis, M. peras sp. nov. and M. tablas in Argentina and Chile