Allende patagiatus Álvarez-Padilla, 2007

Álvarez-Padilla, Fernando, 2007, Systematics of the spider genus Metabus O. P. - Cambridge, 1899 (Araneoidea: Tetragnathidae) with additions to the tetragnathid fauna of Chile and comments on the phylogeny of Tetragnathidae, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 151 (2), pp. 285-335 : 312

ALLENDE PATAGIATUS ( SIMON, 1901) COMB. NOV.

Meta patagiata Simon, 1901: 18 (female holotype in MNHN, examined).

Meta echinata Tullgren, 1902: 19 , pl. 2, f. 1 (male holotype in NRS, examined). New synonymy.

Metabus echinatus ( Tullgren, 1902) : Archer, 1963: 17.

Diagnosis: This species can be distinguished from other Allende species by the following combination of characters: epigynum wider than long, and small apical invaginations covered by the dorsal plate ( Fig. 17C–E ); cymbial median process straight and covered with short macrosetae ( Fig. 17J ), cymbial basal process apophyses with two apical denticles ( Fig. 17L ); and the shape of the conductor tip ( Fig. 17K ).

Description: Female from Nahuelbuta, sendero Piedra del Aguila, Chile (FAP0243). Habitus as in Figure 17A . Total length 12.3. Cephalothorax 4.0 long, 3.3 wide, 1.1 high. Sternum 1.8 long, 1.7 wide. Chelicerae smooth and light in colouration ( Fig. 17B ). Abdomen oval 10.0 long, 5.8 wide, 6.3 high, with a caudal protuberance, venter with a median dark brown rectangular area delineated by two thin white lines. AME diameter 0.19. ALE 0.19. PME 0.20. PLE 0.15. Clypeus height 1.3 × AME diameter. AME separation 1.1 × AME diameter. AME–ALE separation 1.7 × AME diameter. PME separation 1.0 × PME diameter. PME–PLE separation 1.5 × PME diameter. Leg I length 19.3, leg II 17.3, leg III 8.7, leg IV 13.3, pedipalp 4.8. Epigynal median plate with two round protuberances ( Fig. 17D, E ), spermathecae ovalshaped longer than wide ( Fig. 17F, G ).

Male from Puyehue, Anticura, Chile (FAP0261). Habitus as in Figure 17H . Total length 7.8. Cephalothorax 3.3 long, 2.5 wide, 0.9 high. Sternum 1.6 long, 1.5 wide. Chelicerae pattern as in Figure 17I . Abdomen oval, venter as in female. 4.9 long, 3.9 wide, 2.5 high. AME diameter 0.17. ALE 0.14. PME 0.17. PLE 0.13. Clypeus height 1.1 × AME diameter. AME separation 0.9 × AME diameter. AME–ALE separation 1.4 × AME diameter. PME separation 0.9 × PME diameter. PME– PLE separation 1.4 × PME diameter. Leg I length 29.4, leg II 18.3, leg III 8.8, leg IV 12.7, pedipalp 6.1. Pedipalp tibia 3.1 times longer than wide. Embolic basal apophysis short, pedipalp as in Figure 17J–M .

Variation: The colouration of the dorsal surface of the abdomen varies from almost white to dark brown, and no geographical pattern correlates with this colour variation. Female total length 7.1–12.7, cephalothorax length 2.9–4.0. Male total length 6.2–9.2, cephalothorax length 3.3–4.2.

Distribution: A. patagiatus is found in Chile and Argentina ( Fig. 11B ). Its geographical range covers the following latitudes 31°50′0″S to 42°53′55″S, and altitudes from 40 to 1100 m.

Material examined (N = 83): ARGENTINA: Río Negro, El Bolsón , 41°58′0″S, 71°31′0″W, 1.ii.1961, A. Kovacs leg. 1 female ( AMNH) FAP0258 . CHILE: Región IV del Coquimbo, Los Vilos , 21.x.1994, L. E. Peña leg. 1 male ( AMNH) FAP0252 largest male measured. Región V de Valparaiso, Valparaiso, Cerro Molle, 1 female

Figures

Figure 11. Distribution maps: A, Metabus species, Central and northern South America. B, Allende species, Chile. C, Chrysometa species, Chile. D, Mollemeta edwardsi, Chile.

Figure 17. Allende patagiatus. A, female habitus. B, female frontal view. C–G, epigynum. C, ventral view. D, caudal view. E, lateral view. F, caudal view cleared. G, dorsal view cleared. H, male habitus. I, male frontal view. J–M, male pedipalp. J, ectal view. K, conductor detail. L, dorsal view. M, ventral view. Scale bars 0.2 mm, except in habitus 1 mm.