Meri carabobo spec. nov.

Figs 126–137, 315

Type material. Holotype: VENEZUELA: Aragua: ♂, Rancho Grande [10.3493, ‑67.6845], 30 May 1946, W. Beebe et al. leg. (AMNH) . Paratype: VENEZUELA: Carabobo: 1♀, Parque Nacional San Esteban [10.3908, ‑ 67.9802], near Maracay, 26 January 1940, P. Andruze leg. (AMNH) .

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

Diagnosis. Males of M. carabobo spec. nov. are distinguished from those of other congeners by the palp with embolus roughtly straight lacking any projections or membranous areas (Figs 127, 129). Females resemble those of M. arraijan spec. nov. (Figs 121–123) 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 medially and EP with anterior margin surpassing half MS length (Fig. 130) (MS widest anteriorly and EP with anterior margin not surpassing half MS length in M. arraijan spec. nov.).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 12.8. Prosoma: 5.7 long, 5.2 wide. Opisthosoma: 6.9 long, 4.2 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.45, 0.37, 0.25, 0.37; interdistances: 0.23, 0.10, 0.50, 0.50, 0.28, 0.20. Legs: I: 33.2 (9.0, 3.1, 9.0, 9.8, 2.3); II: 36.9 (10.0, 3.3, 10.4, 10.9, 2.3); III: 23.4 (6.2, 2.6, 6.5, 6.4, 1.7); IV: 27.9 (8.2, 2.5, 7.4, 7.9, 1.9). Spination follows the generic pattern except tibiae I–II: d1-0-1; metatarsus IV: r1-1-2. Palp: PTA triangular, as long as wide; RTA gutter-shaped, slightly widened distally and blunt, roughly 2 times longer than its widest part (retrolateral view); cymbium with small retro proximal projection; subtegulum barely visible between 11–12 o’clock in ventral view (Figs 126–129, 133–135).

Female (paratype): Total length 13.9. Prosoma 5.6 long, 5.8 wide. Opisthosoma 7.3 long, 4.5 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.40, 0.35, 0.30, 0.35; interdistances: 0.38, 0.25, 0.55, 0.62, 0.36, 0.25. Legs: I: 24.3 (7.0, 3.0, 6.2, 6.4, 1.7); II: - (7.5, 3.0, 7.0, 6.9, rest of leg absent); III: - (5.8, rest of leg absent); IV: absent. Epigyne: EF roughly as wide as long; MAB short and narrow; MS tear-shaped, widest medially; EP triangular, longer than wide, opening slightly anterior to posterior margin of MS; LL touching posteriorly (Figs 130, 136). Vulva: internal ducts with FW not dilated, postero laterad; GP rounded, slightly longer than wide, arising from ducts at first turn; antero laterad; SP spherical; FD antero laterad (Figs 131–132, 137).

Distribution. Known from northern Venezuela (Fig. 315).