Meriola quilicura 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 : 84-87

Meriola quilicura Platnick & Ewing

Figs 67–69 , 93

Meriola quilicura Platnick & Ewing, 1995: 29 , figs 69–71 (male holotype from Quilicura , Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile, in AMNH, examined).

Diagnosis. Males ( Figs 68–69 ) can be distinguished by the distally expanded palpal tibia, the short RTA, and the short, prolaterally directed embolus. Females ( Fig. 67 ) can by distinguished by the curved lateral ridges and small, oval, medially situated CDR ( Fig. 69b ).

Note. The female newly described here was not collected together with the known males of M. quilicura ; it is tentatively associated to the male by the leg spination pattern. The male has thick, elongate scopular setae, although not as long as those in the female ( Figs 69a, c ).

Description. Female (MACN-Ar 36314): Carapace length 1.47, width 1.18, narrowed in eye region. Carapace with few setae and low tubercles. Palpal tarsus length 0.33. Sternum length 0.91, width 0.77. Length of tibia/metatarsus: I, 1.10/0.83; II, 0.87/0.70; III, 0.67/0.63; IV, 1.17/1.17. Spines: Leg I, femur p 1ap. II, femur d 1ba, p 1-0-1. III, femur d 1ba; tibia p 1ap, v 1p-0-1p; metatarsus p 0-1-0, v lp-lp-0, r 0-1-0. IV, femur d 1 ba; tibia v 1p-1p-0, r 1ap; metatarsus p 0-1-1, v 1p-1p-0, r 1ba. Leg cuspules absent. Tibia and metatarsus of legs I and II with dense rows of long setae, probably modified scopular setae ( Fig. 69a ), metatarsi of legs III and IV with distinct preening comb. Opisthosoma length 2.40. Color in ethanol: Prosoma brownish, with dark reticulations and dark border. Chelicerae dark brown. Legs pale orange, with vague traces of dark markings. Sternum brownish, with dark reticulations. Opisthosoma grayish-brown dorsally, with reticulations and posterior chevrons. Venter grayish, with reticulations and longitudinal dark stripes. Epigyne ( Fig. 67h ): median field wide, curved lateral ridges, hood absent. Copulatory openings in posterior position; copulatory ducts short, connecting longitudinally with small and oval CDR, S2 large and weakly sclerotized, S1 small ( Fig. 69b ).

Male described by Platnick & Ewing (1995).

Natural history and habitat. Unknown.

Distribution: Known from central Chile in Regions Coquimbo, Valparaiso and Metropolitana, and Río Negro province in Argentina ( Fig. 93 ).

New records: CHILE: Región IV de Coquimbo: Provincia de Elqui: Totoralillo Norte , S 29.559194°, W 71.316056°, 12.VII.2009, under stones, M. Izquierdo, A. Ojanguren, J. Pizarro & F. Alfaro, 1 female, temporary preparations MGM-00466, MGM-00467 ( MACN-Ar 36314 ) . ARGENTINA: Río Negro: Bariloche: Cerro Challhuaco , S 41.2152°, W 71.30527°, elev. 1006 m, III.2006, pitfall traps, V. Werenkraut, 1 male, temporary preparations MGM-00220–00221 ( MACN-Ar 20430 ) .

Figures

FIGURE 67. Meriola quilicura Platnick & Ewing, female (MACN-Ar 36314). 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 68. Meriola quilicura Platnick & Ewing, male (MACN-Ar 20430). 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 69. Meriola quilicura Platnick & Ewing. a, female right legs I and II, ventral view (MACN-Ar 36314); b, epigyne cleared, dorsal view. c, male right legs I and II, ventral view (MACN-Ar 20430); d, same, carapace, anterior view; e, left palp, ventral view; f, same, prolateral view; g, same, retrolateral view.

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