Meri arraijan, Rheims & Jäger, 2022

Rheims, Cristina A. & Jäger, Peter, 2022, Revalidation of the genus Sadala Simon, 1880 with the description of a new genus of Neotropical huntsman spiders (Araneae, Sparassidae), Zootaxa 5135 (1), pp. 1-80 : 36-37

Meri arraijan spec. nov.

Figs 121–125 , 316

Type material. Holotype: PANAMA: Panama Oeste : ♀, Arraiján [8.9519, ‑79.6601], no date, A.M. Chickering leg. ( MCZ 99616) . Paratype: PANAMA: 1♀, Finca San Jose , 8km SE Socorpa Mission, Sierra de Perija, 27–31 July 1968, B. Malkin leg. ( AMNH) .

Etymology. The specific name refers to the type locality of the holotype; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Females of M. arraijan spec. nov. resemble those of M. carabobo spec. nov. ( Figs 130–132 ) by the epigyne with EF bearing a long, transversal anterior groove and EP opening posteriorly on MS. They are distinguished from the latter species by the MS widest anteriorly and EP with anterior margin not surpassing half MS length ( Fig. 121 ) (MS widest medially and EP with anterior margin surpassing half MS length in M. carabobo spec. nov.).

Description. Female (holotype): Total length 11.2. Prosoma: 4.9 long, 4.8 wide. Opisthosoma: 6.0 long, 3.7 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.36, 0.31, 0.24, 0.31; interdistances: 0.30, 0.21, 0.50, 0.57, 0.36, 0.22. Legs: I: 20.1 (5.8, 2.4, 5.1, 5.2, 1.6); II: 22.0 (6.4, 2.6, 5.7, 5.8, 1.5); III: 15.3 (4.7, 2.0, 3.7, 3.7, 1.2); IV: 16.9 (5.3, 1.9, 4.1, 4.2, 1.4). Spination follows the generic pattern. Epigyne: EF wider than long; MAB inconspicuous; MS hexagonal; EP triangular slightly longer than wide ( Figs 122 , 124 ). Vulva: internal ducts with FW slender, not dilated, postero laterad; GP slightly longer than wide, antero mediad, arising from ducts at first turn; SP spherical; FD antero laterad ( Figs 122–123 , 125 ).

Male. Unknown.

Variation. Females (n = 2): total length 11.2–12.8; prosoma length 4.9–5.4; femur I length 5.8–6.2. Coloration of paratype generally darker.

Distribution. Known from central Panama and northern Colombia ( Fig. 316 ).

Figures

FIGURES 118–123. 118–120 Meri aparia spec. nov., female (ex MNHN 2028, holotype) (118 epigyne, 119 vulva, 120 schematic course of internal duct system); 121–123 Meri arraijan spec. nov., female (AMNH, paratype) (121 epigyne, 122 vulva, 123 schematic course of internal duct system). ag—anterior groove; EP—epigynal pocket; ft—first turn of duct system; FD— fertilization duct; GP—glandular projection; LL—lateral lobe; MS—median septum; SP—spermathecae. Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 124–125. Meri arraijan spec. nov., female (AMNH, paratype) (124 epigyne, 125 vulva). Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 315–318. Distribution maps for species of Meri gen. nov. 315 (M. martinique spec. nov., M. sanctivincenti (Simon) comb. nov., M. trinitatis (Strand) comb. nov., M. carabobo spec. nov., M. kaieteur spec. nov.); 316 (M. jaraua spec. nov., M. arraijan spec. nov., M. formosus (Banks) comb. nov., M. guri spec. nov., M. tumatumari spec. nov.); 317 (M. zeteki spec. nov., M. manaos spec. nov., M. yaciba spec. nov., M. tapirapeco spec. nov., M. abuna spec. nov.); 318 (M. mathani (Simon) comb. nov., M. pictitarsis (Simon) comb. nov., M. conduri spec. nov., M. paiaia spec. nov., M. tambor spec. nov.);

FIGURES 126–132. Meri carabobo spec. nov. 126–129 Male (AMNH, holotype), left palp (126 prolateral, 127 ventral, 128 retrolateral, 129 detail of embolus); 130–132 Female (AMNH, paratype) (130 epigyne, 131 vulva; 132 schematic course of internal duct system). ag—anterior groove; C—conductor; E—embolus; EP—epigynal pocket; ft—first turn of duct system; FD—fertilization duct; GP—glandular projection; LL—lateral lobe; MAB—muscle attachment bands; MS—median septum; PTA—prolateral tibial apophysis; RpP—retro proximal projection of the cymbium; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; SP— spermathecae. Scale lines: 1 mm.