Meri abuna, 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 : 33-36

Meri abuna spec. nov.

Figs 103–117 , 317

Type material. Holotype: BRAZIL: Rondônia: ♂, Porto Velho [‑8.7667, ‑63.9000], Abunã (transecto 9), 3 June 2011, R. Y. Lemos leg. ( MZSP 41395 ) . Paratypes: BRAZIL: Rondônia: 1♀, same locality as holotype, 2 September 2010, S. Outeda Jorge leg. ( MZSP 35006 ) ; 1♀, same locality as holotype, 3 September 2010, G. Perroni leg. ( MZSP 35102 ) ; 1♂, Caiçara (transecto 1), Porto Velho [‑8.7667, ‑63.9000], 26 August 2010, R. Y. Lemos leg. ( MZSP 34926 ) ; 1♀, Usina Hidrelétrica se Samuel, Rio Jamari [‑8.7500, ‑63.4500] December 1988, Equipe Butantan leg. ( IBSP 6618 ) ; Amazonas : 1♀, Manaus, Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke [‑3.000, ‑59.8667], 11–21 October 2004, A. Henriques leg. ( INPA 1907 ) .

Additional material examined. ECUADOR: Orellana: 1♀, Tiputini Biodiversity Station, near Yasuni National Park (-0.6333, -76.1333), 4 July 1998, T . L. Erwin et al. leg. ( USNM) ; 1♀, same locality as previous specimen, 22 October 1988, T . L. Erwin et al. leg. ( USNM) ; 1♀, Reserva Etnica Waorani, 1km S. Onkone Gare Camp (-0.9500, -76.2167), 1 October 1996, T . L. Erwin et al. leg. ( USNM) . BRAZIL: Amazonas: 1♀, Tefé [‑3.3667, ‑64.7000], no date ( MNHN 2459 , syntype of S. keyserlingi ) ; Rondônia: 1♀, Porto Velho [‑8.7667, ‑63.9000], 15 April 1996, Equipe IBSP / SMNK leg. ( IBSP 8701 ) ; 1♂, same locality as previous specimen, Caiçara (transecto 1), 15 November 2010, M.C. Silveira leg. ( MZSP 37821 ) ; 1♀, same locality as previous specimen, Caiçara (transecto 4), 25 August 2010, Equipe Jirau leg. ( MZSP 35445 ) ; 1♀, same locality as previous specimen, 21 November 2010, R . B. Almeida leg. ( MZSP 35922 ) ; 1♀, same locality as previous specimen, Abunã (transecto 10), 8 March 2010, A. Pepato leg. ( MZSP 33026 ) ; 1♀, same locality as previous specimen Mutum (transecto 8), 31 August 2010, G. Perroni leg. ( MZSP 34908 ) . PERU: Huanuco: 1♂, A.C. P. Panguana , Río Yuyapichis , 230 m (‑9.6167, ‑74.9333), 20 September–7 October 2013, S. Friedrich, F. Wachtel & E.-G. Burmeister leg. ( MUSM) .

Etymology. The specific name refers to the collection locality of the holotype, taken from the Tupi Guarani Language, meaning “to glide soundlessly”; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Males of M. abuna spec. nov. resemble those of M. martinique spec. nov. ( Figs 196–199 ) by the palp with embolus bearing small, tubercle-like subdistal projection and large membranous area ( Fig. 106 ). They are distinguished from the latter species by the PTA distally rounded, RTA gradually tappering and embolus bulging prolaterally at base ( Figs 103–105 ) (PTA triangular, RTA abruptly narrowed medially and embolus without prolateral bulge at base in M. martinique spec. nov.). Females resemble those of M. aparia spec. nov. ( Figs 118–120 ) by the epigyne with MS wider than long and EP rectangular or squared, and vulva with FW dilated, mediad. They are distinguished from the latter species by the EP wider than long or as wide as long ( Fig. 107, 110 ) and vulva with GP postero laterad ( Fig. 108 ) (EP longer than wide and GP antero-mediad in M. aparia spec. nov.).

Description. Male (MZSP 34926, paratype): Total length 11.0. Prosoma: 5.5 long, 5.3 wide. Opisthosoma: 5.3 long, 3.7 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.45, 0.39, 0.26, 0.35; interdistances: 0.31, 0.10, 0.50, 0.54, 0.33, 0.20. Legs: I: 30.4 (9.1, 3.2, 8.9, 9.1, 2.1); II: 34.7 (9.9, 3.3, 9.7, 9.8, 2.0); III: 24.2 (7.3, 2.4, 6.4, 6.3, 1.8); IV: 27.2 (7.9, 2.6, 7.1, 7.6, 2.0). Spination follows the generic pattern except tibia IV: d0; patella IV: p1, r1. Palp: PTA as long as wide; RTA triangular, as long as wide; cymbium with small retroproximal projection; subtegulum visible between 9 and 12 o’clock in ventral view; tegulum slightly protruding over conductor base; conductor widest at base, distally fanned; embolus gently curving subdistally ( Figs 103–106 , 113–115 ).

Female (IBSP 6618, paratype): Total length: 12.4. Prosoma: 5.4 long, 5.1 wide. Opisthosoma: 6.7 long, 3.4 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.41, 0.35, 0.26, 0.35; interdistances: 0.32, 0.25, 0.62, 0.57, 0.33, 0.20. Legs: I: 23.0 (7.0, 2.7, 6.0, 5.7, 1.6): II: 24.4 (7.3, 2.9, 6.7, 6.1, 1.4); III: 17.9 (5.7, 2.3, 4.5, 4.1, 1.3); IV: 20.0 (6.1, 2.2, 5.1, 5.1, 1.5). Spination follows the generic pattern except patella II–III: p1. Epigyne: EF wider than long; MAB slightly conspicuous, embedded in EF; EP with anterior margin not reaching half MS length; LL touching posteriorly ( Fig. 107 ). Vulva: GP longer than wide, arising from ducts at first turn; SP ovoid; FD anteriad ( Figs 107–109 ).

Variation. Males (n = 4): total length 9.4–12.7; prosoma length 4.5–5.6; femur I length 7.4–9.1. Females (n = 10): total length 12.4–19.2; prosoma length 4.9–6.6; femur I length 6.0–8.0. Coloration pattern in females can be generally darker. Epigyne can have MS more V-shaped with EP slightly anterior to MS posterior margin ( Figs 110 , 116 ) and vulva can have SP more elongated oval ( Figs 111 , 117 ).

Distribution. Known from northwestern South America, in Ecuador, Peru and Brazil ( Fig. 317 ).

Figures

FIGURES 103–106. Meri abuna spec. nov., male (MZSP 34926, paratype), left palp (103 prolateral, 104 ventral, 105 retrolateral, 106 detail of embolus). C—conductor; E—embolus; mr—membranous region at base of embolus; PTA—prolateral tibial projection; RpP—retroproximal projectionof cymbium; SdP—subdistal projection of embolus. Scale lines: 1 mm

FIGURES 107–112. Meri abuna spec. nov., female, 107–109 (ex MNHN 2459) (107 epigyne, 108 vulva, 109 schematic course of internal duct system); 110–112 (IBSP 6618) (110 epigyne, 111 vulva, 112 schematic course of internal duct system). CO—copulatory opening; EP—epigynal pocket; FD—fertilization duct; ft—first turn of duct system; GP—glandular projection; LL—lateral lobe; MS—median septum; SP—spermathecae. Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 113–117. Meri abuna spec. nov. 113–115 male (MZSP 34926, paratype) left palp (113 prolateral, 114 ventral, 115 retrolateral); 116–117 female (MZSP 35006, paratype) (116 epigyne, 117 vulva). Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 315–318. Distribution maps for species of Meri gen. nov. 315 (M. martinique spec. nov., M. sanctivincenti (Simon) comb. nov., M. trinitatis (Strand) comb. nov., M. carabobo spec. nov., M. kaieteur spec. nov.); 316 (M. jaraua spec. nov., M. arraijan spec. nov., M. formosus (Banks) comb. nov., M. guri spec. nov., M. tumatumari spec. nov.); 317 (M. zeteki spec. nov., M. manaos spec. nov., M. yaciba spec. nov., M. tapirapeco spec. nov., M. abuna spec. nov.); 318 (M. mathani (Simon) comb. nov., M. pictitarsis (Simon) comb. nov., M. conduri spec. nov., M. paiaia spec. nov., M. tambor spec. nov.);

FIGURES 196–202. Meri martinique spec. nov. 196–199 male (IBSP 271305, holotype), left palp (196 prolateral, 197 ventral, 198 retrolateral, 199 detail of embolus); 200–202 Female (AMNH, paratype) (200 epigyne, 201 vulva, 202 schematic course of internal duct system). E—embolus; EP—epigynal pocket; ft—first turn of duct system; FD—fertilization duct; GP—glandular projection; LL—lateral lobe; mr—membranous region; MS—median septum; PTA—prolateral tibial projection; RpP—retro proximal projection; RTA—retrolateral tibial projection; SdP—subdistal projection; SP—spermathecae; ST—subtegulum. Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 118–123. 118–120 Meri aparia spec. nov., female (ex MNHN 2028, holotype) (118 epigyne, 119 vulva, 120 schematic course of internal duct system); 121–123 Meri arraijan spec. nov., female (AMNH, paratype) (121 epigyne, 122 vulva, 123 schematic course of internal duct system). ag—anterior groove; EP—epigynal pocket; ft—first turn of duct system; FD— fertilization duct; GP—glandular projection; LL—lateral lobe; MS—median septum; SP—spermathecae. Scale lines: 1 mm.