Meri vanini, 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 : 70-73

Meri vanini sp. nov.

Figs 96–99, 101–102 , 285–296 , 319

Type material. Holotype: BRAZIL: Mato Grosso: ♂, Alta Floresta [‑9.8760, ‑56.0860], 8 August–20 September 2009, J.S. Oliveira leg. ( IBSP 246423 ) . Paratypes: BRAZIL: Mato Grosso: 1♀, same collection data as holotype ( IBSP 246406 ) ; Piauí: 1♂, Guaribas, Parque Nacional da Serra das Confusões (‑9.2211, ‑43.4892), no date, P. R. R . Silva et al. leg. (CHNUFPI 450) ; Rondônia: 1♀, Porto Velho [‑8.7667, ‑63.9000], Caiçara (transecto 4), 28 February 2010, M.C. Silveira leg. ( MZSP 33350 ) ; 1♀, same locality as previous specimen, (transecto 2), 24 November 2010, M.C. Silveira leg. ( MZSP 37241 ) ; Ceará: 1♀, Ubajara, Serra de Ibiapaba, Sítio do Alemão (‑3.8474, ‑40.8885), 22 May 2018, A. Souza et al. leg. (CHNUFPI 2412); Pará : 1♂, 1♀, Belterra [‑2.6387, ‑54.9348], Floresta Nacional do Tapajós, Km 117, 15–17 November 2018, Curso EBAN leg. ( IBSP 224164 ) ; 1♂, Juruti, Beneficiamento (ponto 1) (‑2.5076, ‑56.1776), 8 May 2010, B. V . B. Rodrigues leg. ( MPEG 30859 ) ; 1♀, Juruti, Sítio Barroso (‑2.4616, ‑ 56.0032), 7 August 2004, D.F. Candiani leg. ( MPEG 8663 ) .

Additional material examined. BRAZIL: Pará: 1♀, Belém, Parque Estadual do Utinga [‑1.4272, ‑48.4380], 16 September 2009, L. T. Miglio leg. ( MPEG 30771 ) ; 1♀, Mocambo [‑1.4500, ‑48.4500], September 1984, I. Knysak leg. ( IBSP 72715 ) ; 1♀, Barcarena, Reserva Samaúma (‑1.4953, ‑48.7100), 20 November 2001, D.D. Guimrães leg. ( MPEG 316 ) ; 1♀, Juruti, Platô Capiranga (linha 168E) (‑2.4728, ‑56.2082), 10 August 2008, N.F. Lo Man Hung leg. ( MPEG 30741 ) ; 1♀, Altér do Chão, Arioca [‑2.5054, ‑54.9522], 15 June 2007, E. Borari leg. ( MPEG 30640 ) ; 1♀, Tucuruí, Usina Hidrelétrica de Tucuruí, Rio Tocantins [‑3.8167, ‑49.6333], no date, Equipe Butantan leg. ( IBSP 6891 ) ; 2♀, 2juvs, Tucuruí [‑3.8167, ‑49.6333], December 1984, Equipe Butantan leg. ( IBSP 5630 ) ; 1♀, same locality as previous specimen, July 1984, Equipe Butanta leg. ( IBSP 5352 ) ; 1♀, Tucuruí, Margem esquerda do Rio Tocantins [‑3.8167, ‑49.6333], 15 March 1984, no leg. ( MPEG) ; Ceará: 1♂, Pacatuba, Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Nacional Monte Alegre [‑3.9333, ‑38.6000], 10 March 2018, R. Varela leg. ( IBSP 227036 ) ; Rondônia: 1♀, Porto Velho [‑8.7667, ‑63.9000], Caiçara (transecto 5), 17 November 2010, R. B. Almeida leg. ( MZSP 37307 ) ; 1♀, same locality as precious specimen, Caiçara (transecto 3), 22 November 2010, R. B. Almeida leg. ( MZSP 35875 ) ; 1♀, same locality as previous specimen, Caiçara (transecto 4), 25 August 2010, S. Outeda Jorge leg. ( MZSP 34800 ) ; Mato Grosso: 1♀, Alta Floresta [‑9.8760, ‑56.0860], 8 August–20 September 2009, J.S. Oliveira leg. ( IBSP 246432 ) . PERU: Loreto: 1♀, Rio Ampiyacu [‑3.3166, ‑71.8500], 9 December 1961, B. Malkin leg. ( AMNH) .

Etymology. The species name honors the late Prof. Sergio Antonio Vanin (1948–2020), of the Zoology Department of the University of São Paulo. A fantastic teacher, a friend and one of the first author’s greatest influences in the study of taxonomy. He is truly missed; name in genitive case.

Diagnosis. Males of M. vanini spec. nov. resemble those of M. tambor spec. nov. ( Figs 253–256 ) by the palp with RTA distally blunt and embolus bulging prolaterally at base, with long, distad, laminar subdistal projection and barely conspicuous membranous area (see Fig. 100 ). They are distinguished from the latter species by the RTA ( Fig. 287 ) wider than long and embolus retrolaterally straight ( Fig. 288 ) (RTA longer than wide and embolus bulging retrolaterally at base in M. tambor spec. nov.). Females resemble those of M. pictitarsis comb. nov. ( Figs 225–227 ) and M. yaciba spec. nov. ( Figs 301–303 ) by the epigyne with LL covered by MS and not touching posteriorly and vulva with GP arising from ducts at first turn. They are distinguished from both species by the MS widest posteriorly, with anterior margins slightly constricted and EP roughly trapezoid ( Fig. 289 ) (MS widest posteriorly, with anterior margins not constricted and MS triangular in M. pictitarsis and M. yaciba spec. nov.).

Description. Male (MPEG 30859, paratype): Total length 10.0. Prosoma 4.5 long, 4.4 wide. Opisthosoma 5.2 long, 3.2 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.37, 0.35, 0.27, 0.31; interdistances: 0.25, 0.08, 0.45, 0.41, 0.26, 0.17. Legs: I: 28.8 (7.7, 2.6, 8.0, 8.4, 2.1); II: 30.9 (8.3, 2.7, 8.7, 9.0, 2.2); III: 20.8 (6.1, 2.1, 5.5, 5.5, 1.6); III: 23.3 (6.7, 2.1, 6.3, 6.4, 1.8). Spination follows the generic pattern. Palp: PTA rounded, roughly as wide as long; cymbium with small retroproximal projection; subtegulum visible between 9–11 o’clock in ventral view; tegulum with small protrusion close to conductor base; conductor widest at base, distally fanned; embolus gently curving subdistally with subdistal projection long, roughly 2.5 tmes longer than wide ( Figs 285–288 , 292–294 ).

Female (MZSP 37241, paratype): Total length 14.5. Prosoma 6.0 long, 5.3 wide. Opisthosoma 8.1 long, 5.5 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.41, 0.37, 0.30, 0.36; interdistances: 0.25, 0.20, 0.58, 0.54, 0.32, 0.16. Legs: I: 24.2 (7.0, 2.6, 6.4, 6.5, 1.7); II: 24.3 (7.3, 2.5, 6.5, 6.3, 1.7); III: 18.6 (5.7, 2.3, 4.7, 4.4, 1.5); IV: 20.9 (6.5, 2.2, 5.3, 5.4, 1.5). Epigyne: EF wider than long; MAB inconspicuous; MS longer than wide; EP wider than long with anterior margin slightly rounded ( Figs 289 , 295 ). Vulva: internal ducts with FW dilated, mediad; GP slightly longer than wide, antero mediad; SP spherical; FD anteriad ( Figs 290–291 , 296 ).

Variation. Males (n = 4): total length 10.0–14.1; prosoma length 4.5–6.5; femur I length 7.7–10.0. Females (n = 10): total length 12.7–15.2; prosoma length 5.2–6.3; femur I length 6.0–7.5.

Distribution. Known from northern Brazil and northeastern Peru ( Fig. 319 ).

Figures

FIGURES 95–98. Meri conduri spec. nov. 95 MPEG 30809; 96–98 Meri vanini spec. nov. 96, 98 IBSP 227036, male; 97 IB 5352 female. 95 left chelicerae, ventral view; 96 right endite, serrula; 97 left palp, claw, prolateral view; 98 right leg II, membrane, dorsal view.

FIGURES 99–102. 99 Meri vanini spec. nov. 99, 101 IBSP 227036, male; 102 IBSP 5352, female; 100 Meri conduri spec. nov. MPEG 30809, male. 99 epiandrium, epiandrous spigots (arrows point to clusters of spigots); 100 right palp, embolus, detail of membranous region; 101 right palp, embolus, detail of membranous region; 102 left palp, sensory setae. mr—membranous region.

FIGURES 285–291. Meri vanini spec. nov. 285–288 male (MPEG 30859, paratype), left palp (285 prolateral, 286 ventral, 287 retrolateral, 288 detail of embolus, ventral); 289–291 female (MZSP 37241, paratype) (289 epigyne, 290 vulva, 291 schematic course of internal duct system). C—conductor; E—embolus; EP—epigynal pocket; FD—fertilization duct; ft—first turn of duct system; GP—glandular projection; LL—lateral lobe; MS—median septum; PTA—prolateral tibial apophysis; RpP—retro proximal projection; RTA—retrolateral tibial projection; SdP—subdistal projection; SP—spermathecae; ST—subtegulum; tp—tegular protrusion. Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 292–296. Meri vanini spec. nov. 292–294 male (MPEG 30859, paratype), left palp (292 prolateral, 293 ventral, 294 retrolateral); 295–296 female (MZSP 37241, paratype) (295 epigyne, 296 vulva). Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 319–320. 319 distribution map for species of Meri gen. nov. (M. vanini spec. nov., M. munduruku spec. nov., M. aparia spec. nov., M. quinari spec. nov., M. rivai spec. nov.) 320 distribution map for all species of the genera Sadala Simon and Meri gen. nov.

FIGURES 253–259. 253–256 Meri tambor spec. nov., male (INPA 3522), left palp (253 prolateral, 254 ventral, 255 retrolateral, 256 detail of embolus); 257–259 Meri tapirapeco spec. nov., female (INPA) (257 epigyne, 258 vulva, 259 schematic course of internal duct system). C—conductor; E—embolus; EP— epigynal pocket; FD—fertilization duct; ft—first turn of duct system; GP—glandular projection; LL—lateral lobe; MS—median septum; PTA—prolateral tibial apophysis; RpP—retro proximal projection; RTA—retrolateral tibial projection; SdP—subdistal projection; SP—spermathecae; tp—tegular protrusion. Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 225–230. Meri pictitarsis (Simon) comb. nov. 225–227 female (MNHN 1140, syntype) (225 epigyne, 226 vulva, 227 schematic course of internal duct system); 228–230 female (MNHN 1140, syntype) (228 epigyne, 229 vulva, 230 schematic course of internal duct system). EP—epigynal pocket; FD—fertilization duct; ft—first turn of duct system; GP—glandular projection; MS—median septum; SP—spermathecae. Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 297–303. Meri yaciba spec. nov. 297–300 male (AMNH), left palp (297 prolateral, 298 ventral, 299 retrolateral, 300 detail of embolus); 301–303 female (AMNH) (301 epigyne, 302 vulva, 303 schematic course of internal duct system). C—conductor; E—embolus; EP—epigynal pocket; FD—fertilization duct; ft—first turn of duct system; GP—glandular projection; LL—lateral lobe; mr—membranous region; MS—median septum; PTA—prolateral tibial apophysis; RpP—retro proximal projection; RTA—retrolateral tibial projection; SdP—subdistal projection; SP—spermathecae; ST—subtegulum. Scale lines: 1 mm.