Meriola ramirezi 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 : 89

Meriola ramirezi Platnick & Ewing

Figs 73–75 , 94b

Meriola ramirezi Platnick & Ewing, 1995: 38 , figs 102–106 (male holotype from San Pedro, Buenos Aires, Argentina, in MACN, examined; female misidentified, see M. davidi ).

Diagnosis. Males ( Figs 74 , 75 c–e) resemble those of M. teresita by the uniform orange-brown and nearly smooth carapace, and the uniform gray abdomen, but can be recognized by the retrodistal protrusion of the tegulum. Females ( Fig. 73 , 75 a–b, 75f) resemble those of M. davidi by their orange-brown carapace and the general morphology of the genitalia (nearly parallel sclerotized ridges and large, piriform S2), but differ by having shorter copulatory ducts, relatively larger and rounded median spermathecae with stalks, and by lacking granulation on the carapace.

Description. Female (MACN-Ar 12786): Carapace length 1.73, width 1.30, narrowed in eye region. Carapace without prominent tubercles at base of setae. Palpal tarsus length 0.48. Sternum length 1.00, width 0.77. Length of tibia/metatarsus: I, 1.33/missing; II, 0.93/0.82; III, 0.65/0.72; IV, 1.27/1.25. Spines: Leg I, femur p 1ap. II, femur p 1ap, d 1bas. III, femur d 1bas. IV, femur d 1bas; tibia v 1bas. Leg cuspules absent. Opisthosoma length 2.27. Color in ethanol: Prosoma orange-brown. Chelicerae yellowish-brown. Legs yellowish (III and IV slightly paler), without dark markings. Sternum pale orange. Opisthosoma whitish, with light gray spots, making tenuous chevron on posterior part. Venter without spots, almost uniformly whitish. Sometimes coloration considerably darker in living specimens (with abdomen uniformly dark gray, Figs 73h , 75f ). Epigyne ( Figs 75 a–b): single plate flanked by two sclerotized marginal guides, with copulatory openings in anterior position; copulatory ducts short, S2 large and elongated, widened anteriorly, receptacle of copulatory ducts small and oval, anterior to S1, rounded and larger in size.

Male described by Platnick & Ewing (1995).

Natural history and habitat. The specimens from Parque Nacional Predelta were collected in a forest of Tessaria integrifolia (“aliso”), Mikania cordifolia , Cayaponia citrullifolia , Ephedra tweediana (“enredaderas”) and Coleataenia prionitis (“paja brava”), and in a marsh in a lagoon. The specimens from Reserva Otamendi were collected by beating grasses in halophilous grassland. The spiders adopt a cryptic posture with all the legs stretched, as occurs with other grass-dwelling spiders from the same area (e.g., Anyphaenidae ; see Ceccarelli et al. 2019). The specimen on which the description is based constructed a lenticular egg sac containing six eggs in the lab (diameter 8 mm, Fig. 75g ).

Distribution. Known from Entre Ríos and Buenos Aires provinces in Argentina ( Fig. 94b ).

New records. ARGENTINA: Entre Ríos: Diamante: Parque Nacional Predelta, Campo Sarmiento, pastizal, S 32.12057°, W 60.62524°, elev. 35 m, 23–26.V.2011, foliage, G. Rubio, L. Piacentini & M. Izquierdo, 1 female (MACN-Ar 30989). Parque Nacional Predelta, isla frente a seccional, 6 km S de Diamante (MJR-loc-143), S 32.1214°, W 60.63528°, elev. 10 m, 1.V.2013, forest of Tessaria integrifolia (“aliso”), Mikania cordifolia , Cayaponia citrullifolia , Ephedra tweediana (“enredaderas”) and Coleataenia prionitis (“paja brava”), hand collection, M. Ramírez, L. Piacentini, M. González Márquez, A. Laborda & S. Aisen, 1 female, sample MGM-00142 (MACN-Ar 30280), 1 male, sample MGM-00149 (MACN-Ar 30287). Parque Nacional Predelta, bañado cerca de entrada, 6 km S de Diamante (MJR-loc-142), S 32.12194°, W 60.62996°, elev. 10 m, 30.IV.2013, marsh in lagoon, hand collection, M. Ramírez, L. Piacentini, M. González Márquez, A. Laborda & S. Aisen, 1 female, sample MGM- 00132 (MACN-Ar 30270), 1 male, sample MGM-00134 (MACN-Ar 30272). Buenos Aires: Zárate: Las Palmas, S 34.069377°, W 59.150693°, VI.1982, M. Ramírez, 1 female (MACN-Ar 16336). Isla Talavera, 2 km E Zárate, S 34.100843°, W 58.9886198°, 3.XI.1996, M. Ramírez, 4 females (MACN-Ar 16342), 1 male (MACN-Ar 30988). Campana: Estación Río Luján, S 34.278°, W 58.890168°, elev. 4 m, 28.VII.2007, beating shrubs, C. Grismado, L. Damer, I. Crudele, N. Olejnik, N. López & S. De Biase, 1 female, temporary preparations CGJ-00670, CJG-00833 (MACN-Ar 12786), 1 female, temporary preparations CJG-00559 (MACN-Ar 12785), 1 female, sample EMS- 04094, temporary preparations CJG-00648, MGM-00163 (MACN-Ar 12783). Reserva Natural Otamendi, Estación Río Luján, S 34.278017°, W 58.890346°, elev. 5 m, 9.IX.2011, hand collection, M. Ramírez & Equipo MACN-Ar, 1 female, sample LNP-04228, temporary preparation LNP-00967 (MACN-Ar 28812).

Figures

FIGURE 73. Meriola ramirezi Platnick & Ewing, female (MACN-Ar 12785). 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, female, live specimen.

FIGURE 74. Meriola ramirezi Platnick & Ewing, male (MACN-Ar 30988). 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, male, live specimen.

FIGURE 75. Meriola ramirezi Platnick & Ewing, female.a, female epigyne, ventral view (MACN-Ar 12785); b, vulva, cleared, dorsal view. c, male left palp, prolateral view (MACN-Ar 20251); d, same, ventral view; e, same, retrolateral view. f, female, live specimen (MACN-Ar 12785); g, egg sac (made by female MACN-Ar 10786).

FIGURE 94. a, b. Known distribution of Meriola penai, M. setosa comb. nov., M. davidi, M. gallina and M. ramirezi in South America