Meriola arcifera 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 : 12-15

Meriola arcifera Simon

Figs 7–9 , 89

Trachelas arcifer Simon, 1886 : clxxi (female holotype from Cochabamba, Cochabamba, Bolivia, in MNHN, examined by Platnick & Ewing, 1995).

Trachelas lineolata Mello-Leit „o, 1938: 118 , fig. 39 (female holotype from Río Santiago , La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, in MLP, examined).

Ceto costulata Mello-Leit „o, 1940: 52, fig. 51 (male holotype from Comodoro Rivadavia , Chubut, Argentina, in MLP, examined).

Trachelas carvalhoi Mello-Leit„o, 1943a: 405 , fig. 3 (female holotype from Santiago, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile, formerly in MNRJ, probably lost; examined by Platnick & Ewing, 1995).

Cetonana costulata Mello-Leit„o, 1947: 288 .

Trachelas lineolatus Bonnet, 1959: 4668 .

Meriola arcifera Platnick & Ewing, 1995: 27 , figs 64–68.

Diagnosis. Males ( Figs 8–9 ) are recognized by the small, hook-shaped, subdistal RTA ( Figs 9 b–d; Platnick & Ewing 1995: figs 65, 66). Females ( Fig. 7 ) resemble those of M. peras sp. nov. by the epigyne lacking a hood and with a wide median field, but differ by the narrower, bean-shaped secondary spermathecae and by the shorter, not arcshaped, lateral epigynal ridges ( Platnick & Ewing 1995: figs 67, 68).

Description. See Platnick & Ewing (1995).

Natural history and habitat. Specimens were collected in grass, succulents or under rocks. The specimens from U.S.A. and Chile belong to the Matorral region, where the most typical communities include sclerophyllous forest, xeric scrub and Mediterranean forest. Those from Robinson Crusoe Island were found under stones in a disturbed, dry area with little vegetation. The rest were collected in the Chacoan subregion, where vegetation is predominantly xerophyllous forest and graminaceous steppes or in temperate rainforest. Some male specimens were collected with pitfalls.

Distribution. Known from Cochabamba in Bolivia, south of Brazil and Uruguay, Argentina and center and south of Chile. Probably introduced in California, U.S.A., and Easter Island (Baert et al. 1997). Some records from temperate forests in southern Argentina and Chile and in Robinson Crusoe Island, Juan Fernández Archipelago, may represent anthropic introductions as well.

New records. U.S.A.: California: Fresno Co.: 2 mi E Parlier, Kearney Agricultural Center , N 36.600718°, W 119.510787°, 1.II.1992, blando brome grass ( Bromus sp.), R. Gerber, 1 male ( CAS, CASENT 9059146 ) . Same data, 14.V.1992, R. Gerber, 1 male ( CAS, CASENT 9059175 ) . Same data, Kearney Research Center , N 36.600718°, W 119.510787°, 12.III.1992, R. Gerber, 1 female ( CAS, CASENT 9059203 ) . San Jose , N 37.338210°, W 121.886330°, fall.1979, A. Teel, 2 females ( MCZ 129836 ) . San Mateo Co., N 37.44°, W 122.36°, elev. 25 m, 8.II.1974, MLS, 1 female ( CAS, CASENT 9059139 ) . Alameda Co.: San Leandro , N 37.724930°, W 122.156077°, 5.XI.1976, R. Tafore, 1 female ( MCZ 129838 ) . Same data, IX.1978, Mullins, 1 male ( MCZ 129835 ) . San Francisco: Presidio National Park, Crissy Field , N 37.802558°, W 122.453056°, elev. 5 m, 26.X.2007, pitfall trap, M. Leong, P. Morgado & T. Shelton, 1 male ( CAS, CASENT 9052428 ) . BOLIVIA: Cochabamba: Charamoco , S 17.600°, W 66.283°, V.1941, J. Vellard, 1 female ( MACN-Ar 775 ) . BRAZIL: Rio Grande do Sul: Capão da Canoa: Xangrilá , S 29.802808°, W 50.041231°, 17.I.1987, A. Lise, 1 female ( MCN-FZB 16651 ) . URUGUAY: Colonia: Nueva Palmira, Río Uruguay , S 33.882355°, W 58.416541°, 6.XII.1979, R. Capocasale, 1 female ( CAS, CASENT 9059427 ) . Maldonado: S 34.908825°, W 54.958086°, 2.X.1966, R. Capocasale & L. Bruno, 1 female ( CAS, CASENT 9059380 ) . ARGENTINA: Jujuy: Tumbaya: El Volcán , S 23.91455°, W 65.464407°, II.1981, P. Goloboff, 1 female ( MACN-Ar 16348 ) . Tucumán: Tafí del Valle , S 26.84882°, W 65.69944°, 16.XII.1994, C. Grismado, 2 females ( MACN-Ar 16362 ) . Tafí del Valle: La Angostura , S 26.935084°, W 65.683628°, 15.XII.1994, C. Grismado, 1 female (MACN-Ar 16341) . Same data, under rocks, C. Grismado, 2 females ( MACN-Ar 16360 ) . Catamarca: Yunka Suma (GDRloc 18), S 27.395283°, W 65.98165°, elev. 1406 m, 19.II.2013, Chaco serrano, diurnal hand collection, G. Rubio, H. Iuri, A. Ojanguren, A. Porta & R. Adilardi, 1 female ( MACN-Ar 33019 ) . Córdoba: Punilla: Villa Lago San Roque , S 31.373808°, W 64.466022°, 1975, C. Cesari, 1 female ( MACN-Ar 16494 ) . Calamuchita: Santa Rosa de Calamuchita , S 32.071729°, W 64.54472°, XII.1941, J. Viana, 1 male ( MACN-Ar 16627 ) . Yacanto de Calamuchita, S 32.098645°, W 64.759622°, XII.1940, J. Viana, 1 female ( MACN-Ar 1893 ) ; 1 female ( MACN-Ar 1894 ) ; 1 male ( MACN-Ar 1897 ) ; 1 female ( MACN-Ar 1899 ) . Marcos Juárez: Leones , S 32.658951°, W 62.300667°, 22.I.1947, collector unknown, 1 female ( MACN-Ar 16371 ) . San Luis: La Capital: San Francisco , S 33.295509°, W 66.335083°, XI.1970, Williner, 1 female ( MACN-Ar 16509 ) . Buenos Aires: Avellaneda: Sarandí (at home: Mansilla 3392, in garden), S 34.690514°, W 58.349756°, elev. 5 m, 23.II.2014, C. Grismado, 1 female (MACN-Ar 31201) . Guaminí , S 37.014392°, W 62.415034°, VIII.1964, I. Apóstol, 1 female ( MACN-Ar 16493 ) . Tandil , S 37.31566°, W 59.142152°, V.1967, E. Maury, 8 females, 4 males ( MACN-Ar 16514 ) . Same data, date unknown, J. Viana, 2 females ( MACN-Ar 16629 ) . Same data, I.1982, M. Ramírez, 1 male ( MACN-Ar 30972 ) . Tandil: Reserva Natural Sierra del Tigre , S 37.379444°, W 59.128889°, IV.2012, pitfall traps, N. Ferretti, 1 female, 2 males ( MACN-Ar 33024 ) , 2 males ( MACN-Ar 33025 ) . Balcarce: Laguna Brava , S 37.8810042°, W 57.977306°, I.1965, C. de la Serna, 1 male ( MACN-Ar 16354 ) . Tornquist: Parque Provincial Ernesto Tornquist , 300 m del bosque del sismógrafo, S 38.06668°, W 61.96355°, elev. 534 m, 2–3.VII.2013, hand collection, under rocks, M. Izquierdo, N. Ferretti, G. Pompozzi & S. Copperi, 1 female, sample MAI-04166, temporary preparation MAI-01500 ( MACN-Ar 32249 ) . Entre Tres Arroyos y Pringles , S 38.180626°, W 60.820682°, XI.1962, M. Galiano, 1 female ( MACN-Ar 16508 ) . Bahía Blanca , S 38.718623°, W 62.2691°, VII.1943, A. Borgni, 1 male ( MACN-Ar 1305 ) . Patagones: Puerto San Blas, Buque Oceanográfico “San Luis”, S 40.5494496°, W 62.25°, 2.III.1932, A. Carcelles & J. Daguerre, 1 male ( MACN-Ar 16639 ) . Carmen de Patagones , S 40.78935°, W 63.024028°, I.2013, hand collection, H. Iuri, 1 female ( MACN-Ar 30986 ) . Río Negro: General Roca: Cinco Saltos, camino a Lago Pellegrini (IFM-loc- 033), S 38.81157°, W 68.05190°, elev. 270 m, 16.X.2014, monte, under rocks, hand collection, A. Brescovit, A. Santos, L. Piacentini & I. Magalhaes, 1 male, sample MGM-00417 ( MACN-Ar 33072 ) . Adolfo Alsina: Viedma , S 40.842714°, W 62.9876°, I.2013, hand collection, H. Iuri, 2 females, 2 imms. ( MACN-Ar 30985 ) . Bariloche: El Bolsón, Loma del Medio , S 41.977258°, W 71.554162°, IV.2002, pitfall trap, P. Sackmann, 1 male, temporary preparations MGM-00469, MGM-00470 ( MACN-Ar 33020 ) . Chubut: Biedma: Puerto Madryn , S 42.757476°, W 65.042535°, 8.II.1980, collector unknown, 1 female, temporary preparation MGM-00468 ( MACN-Ar 16364 ) . CHILE: Región V de Valparaíso: Provincia de Quillota: Quillota , S 32.887603°, W 71.252963°, 13.IV.1963, Fritz, 1 female ( MACN-Ar 16502 ) . Provincia de Valparaíso: Archipiélago Juan Fernández, Isla Robinson Crusoe, área de Plazoleta El Yunque (MJR-loc-05), S 33.65276°, W 78.84403°, 17.II.2011, M. Ramírez, E. Soto & J. Pizarro Araya, 1 female ( MACN-Ar 36403 ) . Archipiélago Juan Fernández, Isla Robinson Crusoe, Bahía del Padre , sector Punta de Isla , cerca de la orilla (MJR-loc-06), S 33.66977°, W 78.93593°, elev. 3 m, 12.II.2011, almost bare ground, under stones and succulents, M. Ramírez, E. Soto & J. Pizarro Araya, 1 male, sample MGM-00094, temporary preparation MLB-00515 ( MACN-Ar 28625 ) ; 1 female, sample MGM-00095, temporary preparation MLB-00516 ( MACN-Ar 28626 ) ; 5 females, 1 male, 1 imm. ( MACN-Ar 28761 ) . Región RM Metropolitana de Santiago: Provincia de Santiago: Pudahuel , S 33.425984°, W 70.818441°, 14.IV.1963, Fritz, 1 female, 1 male ( MACN-Ar 16511 ) . Provincia de Cordillera: Reserva Nacional Río Clarillo , S 33.763407°, W 70.419388°, collector unknown, 1 female, 2 males ( MACN-Ar 30965 ) . Región VI del Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins: Colchagua: Embalse Rapel, Estación Hidrobiológica , Univ. Chile , S 34.140401°, W 71.501180°, V.1977, on grass under Acacia caven , sweep net, 1 female ( MNHS 669 ) . Región IX de la Araucanía, Provincia de Malleco: Monumento Natural Contulmo , S 38.0272353°, W 73.2021587°, collector unknown, 15.V.1975, 1 female ( MNHS 670 ) .

Figures

FIGURE 7. Meriola arcifera Simon, female (MACN-Ar 16364). 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 8. Meriola arcifera Simon, male (MACN-Ar 33020). A, habitus, dorsal view; b, same, ventral view; c, same, lateral view; d, prosoma, dorsal view; e, same, ventral view; f, same, lateral view

FIGURE 9. Meriola arcifera Simon, male (MACN-Ar 33020). a, habitus, anterior view; b, left palp, ventral view; c, same, prolateral view; d, same, retrolateral view.

FIGURE 89. Known distribution of Meriola arcifera and M. foraminosa in America. Records of M. arcifera in U.S.A., Easter Island and Robinson Crusoe Island, marked with a dotted line are probably recent introductions.