Mello-Leitão, 1940 : 9
Mello-Leitão, 1944 : 312
Huber, 2000 : 214
M. tandilicus
Contributions to the taxonomy and distribution of the genus Mesabolivar in southern South America (Araneae: Pholcidae)
Machado, Éwerton O.
Laborda, Álvaro
Simó, Miguel
Brescovit, Antonio D.
Zootaxa
2013
3682
3
401
411
3ZXF7
Mello-Leitao, 1940
Mello-Leitao
1940
[151,687,575,601]
Arachnida
Pholcidae
Mesabolivar
Animalia
Araneae
1
402
Arthropoda
species
tandilicus
Litoporus tandilicus Mello-Leitão, 1940: 9–10, figs 10–12, ( Syntypes: two females, one without epigynum, and one male without palps and chelicerae from Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina, XII.1938, M. Birabén leg., in Museo de La Plata, number 14275 examined); Mello-Leitão, 1944: 312. Mesabolivar tandilicus: Huber, 2000: 214–215, figs 828–829; Platnick, 2012. Notes.The female syntypesof M. tandilicuswere redescribed by Huber (2000)but the male syntypewas found to be severely damaged, lacking chelicerae and palps ( Huber, 2000). The original description ( Mello-Leitão, 1940) does not present useful drawings of the male genitalia. The female Uruguayan specimens were compared with the female types, and the corresponding males were used for the redescription.
Diagnosis.The male can be distinguished from congeners by the position of the prolateral cheliceral apophysis ( Figs 1–3) combined with the subdivided and membranous tip of the procursus ( Figs 4–6). The female can be distinguished from congeners by the low epigynum ( Fig. 9), the anterior position of the epigynal pocket and the pair of small posterior apophysis ( Figs 8–9).
Description. Male (FCE 1151).Total length 1.95, carapace width 0.9; leg I: 17.4 (4.9 + 0.4 + 4.6 +6.1 + 1.4), tibia II: 2.9, tibia III: 2.2, tibia IV: 2.9, tibia I L/d: 42. Carapace yellow with a dark dorsal longitudinal stripe; sternum yellow. Thoracic groove distinct. Eight eyes on a slightly elevated area; PME-ALE distance about 90% of PME diameter. Chelicerae uniformly light brown, basal segment with long and pointed proximal prolateral apophysis, with tip curved ventrally, proximally perpendicular to chelicerae ( Figs 1–3). Palp as in Fig. 4. Coxa with retrolateral apophysis truncated ( Fig. 4). Femur with retrolateral proximal apophysis small and rounded ( Fig. 4). Procursus brown, narrow and curved towards dorsally ( Fig. 4), with two prolateral hairs. Procursus tip distinct, several membranous projections ( Figs 5–6). Bulb simple, without transparent projection, embolic division membranous ( Fig. 7). Legs yellowish-brown; without spines, without modified hairs. Tarsus I with 22 pseudosegments. Abdomen almost globular, yellow with some darker lateral spots. Female.Redescribed by Huber (2000: 214–215, figs 864–868).
Distribution.Known from northeastern Argentinaand Uruguay( Fig. 41). New records. URUGUAY: Treinta y Tres: Santa Clara de Olimar (32°55ʹS, 54°58ʹW), 23, 2Ƥ, 09.II.1960, L. Zolessi leg., under stones (FCE 655); Río Negro: Fray Bentos, near bridge "General San Martín" (33°07ʹ57ʺS, 58°17ʹ44ʺW), 43, 3Ƥ, 16.XII.2008, A. Laborda leg. (FCE 2843); Canelones: Rincón del Colorado, INIALas Brujas (34°37ʹ59ʺS, 56°19ʹ59ʺW), 13, 6Ƥ, 07.X.2004(FCE 1778, 1132, 2831, 2832, 2833); 13, 2Ƥ, 23.X.2004(FCE 1182, 1151); 1Ƥ, 09.XI.2004(FCE 1409); 1Ƥ, 25.XI.2004(FCE 1534); 13, 5Ƥ, 11.XII.2004(FCE 1637, 1653, 1665, 1678); 1Ƥ, 27.XII.2004(FCE 1784); 1Ƥ, 12.I.2005(FCE 2069); 13, 13Ƥ, 1j, 02.II.2005(FCE 3048, 3056, 3085, 3105, 3080, 3096; IBSP 163027); 1Ƥ, 19.II.2005(FCE 2834); 13, 07.III.2005(FCE 3287), all collected by M. Simó. Natural history.Most of the specimens collected in Uruguaywere sampled with pitfall traps in grassland areas and agroecosystems, suggesting a ground-level habitat.