Mesabolivar eberhardi Huber, 2000

Huber, Bernhard A. & Villarreal, Osvaldo, 2020, On Venezuelan pholcid spiders (Araneae, Pholcidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 718, pp. 1-317 : 164-168

Mesabolivar eberhardi Huber, 2000

Figs 597–598 , 1021-1022, 1025, 1048

Synonymy, see Huber 2018: 34.

Mesabolivar pseudoblechroscelis (misidentification) – González-Sponga 1998: 27, figs 40–41 (♀ only).

Notes

Mesabolivar eberhardi is a common inhabitant of native and disturbed habitats in much of northern South America and one the most ubiquitous pholcids in Venezuela . Variation in the details of genitalic shape has been noted long ago ( Huber 2000), but this referred to specimens from Peru, Brazil, and Colombia, far from the type locality in Venezuela (Monagas) . All Venezuelan specimens seen in this and previous studies ( Huber 2000, 2018) are unproblematic representatives of this species. This is also true of the six species described by González-Sponga (2011a) under Blechroscelis Simon, 1893 . They have been synonymized with M. eberhardi before ( Huber et al. 2014a), and the reexamination of all types in Nov. 2018 confirmed the synonymies. However, a few errors in González-Sponga’s (2011a) work remain to be corrected:

For “ Blechroscelis araguanus ”, only 1 ♂ holotype is mentioned in the original description, but the female is also described and illustrated. We assume that this is based on MAGS 1393 (MIZA 105765), 2 ♀♀, 3 juvs from the same locality (La Montañita; corrected coordinates: 10.213° N, 67.176° W).

The coordinates of the type locality of “ Blechroscelis blechroscelis ”, Cerro Guaiquinima , are approximately 5.758° N, 63.567° W (instead of 10.758°N).

The coordinates of the type locality of “ Blechroscelis copeyensis ”, Cerro Copey National Park, are probably 11.047° N, 63.891° W (rather than 11.033°N).

Most of the measurements are probably correct, but some are obviously wrong, casting doubt on the precision in general. For example, metatarsus 4 is given as shorter than metatarsus 3 in the holotype of “ B. blechroscelis ”; femur 3 is given as longer than femora 2 and 4 in the female of “ B. andinensis ”; and carapace shape is given as highly variable among ‘species’ (width =1.0–1.7 × length), while in fact is it highly consistent but heavily dependent on the angle of view.

Material examined

VENEZUELA – Amazonas • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, MIZA 105616 ( MAGS 1100 ), San Juan de Manapiare [5.324° N, 66.055° W], Jul. 1987 (A. González). – Anzoátegui • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 4 juvs, MIZA 105776 ( MAGS 1036 ), near Sabana de Uchire [approximately 10.02° N, 65.52° W], 2 Mar. 1987 (A.R. Delgado, M.A. González-S.). – Aragua • 1 ♀, ZFMK (Ar 21966), Puerto Colombia (10.5025° N, 67.6057° W), 25 m a.s.l., 2 Dec. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 1 ♂, ZFMK (Ar 21967), between Maracay and Puerto Colombia (10.4304° N, 67.5998° W), 380 m a.s.l., 2 Dec. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 2 ♀♀, 3 juvs, MIZA 105765 ( MAGS 1393 ), La Montañita , carretera Tejerias-Tiara [10.213° N, 67.176° W], 28 Feb. 1994 (A.R. Delgado, M.A. González S.) • 1 ♀, 1 juv., MIZA 105642 ( MAGS 161 ), Colonia Tovar [approximately 10.405° N, 67.303° W], 2 May 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 2 ♀♀, 1 juv., CAS (9027227), Henri Pittier National Park, Rancho Grande [10.349° N, 67.684° W], cloud forest, 29 Dec. 1970 (W.B. Peck). – Bolívar • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, ZFMK (Ar 21968), and 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 juv. in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-162), Ciudad Guayana , Parque La Llovizna (8.3130° N, 62.6724° W), 50 m a.s.l., 11 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, ZFMK (Ar 21969), and 1 ♂ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-174), same locality but 8.3112° N, 62.6742° W, 30 m a.s.l., 14 Nov. 2018 • 1 ♂, MIZA 105628 ( MAGS 1369 ), Los Pijiguaos [approximately 6.57° N, 66.81° W], May 1992 (J.M. Ayala L.) • 1 ♂, MIZA 105696 ( MAGS 1322 ), Guri [7.77° N, 63.04° W], 9 Oct. 1991 (A.R. Delgado, M.A. González-S.) • 2 ♂♂, MIZA 105717 ( MAGS 1191 ), Camp 4, Cerro Guaiquinima (Las cuevas), 980 m a.s.l., 18 Jan. 1990 (C. Toro). – Capital • 1 ♀, 1 juv., MIZA 105592 ( MAGS 1028 ), near Hotel Humboldt [10.542° N, 66.875° W], 17 Jan. 1987 (C.E. Avila). 6 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 7 juvs, MIZA 105672 ( MAGS 1167 ), El Ávila National Park, Quebrada Quintero [10.518° N, 66.851° W], 19 Aug. 1989 (A.R. Delgado, E. González, M.A. González-S.) • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 juv., MIZA 105728 ( MAGS 1171 ), El Ávila National Park, Los Venados [10.536° N, 66.898° W], 9 Sep. 1989 (E. González-S., M.A. González-S.) • 6 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, 3 juvs (with one parasitized egg-sac), MIZA 105699 ( MAGS 1374 ), Las Canoas [10.547° N, 66.932° W], 1200 m a.s.l., 12 Oct. 1992 (E. González L., E. González S., M.A. González-S.). – Carabobo • 1 ♀, MIZA 105605 ( MAGS 336 ), San Esteban [10.425° N, 68.013° W], 4 Aug. 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 4 ♂♂, 1 juv., MIZA 105749 ( MAGS 333 ), same data. – Falcón • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, ZFMK (Ar 21970), and 1 ♂ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-177), Península de Paraguaná , Cueva del Guano (11.9000° N, 69.9479° W), 140 m a.s.l., 16 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, ZFMK (Ar 21971), and 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-180), Península de Paraguaná , near Cueva del Guano (11.9026° N, 69.9456° W), 140 m a.s.l., 16 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 6 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, 1 juv., ZFMK (Ar 21972), and 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-185), Península de Paraguaná , Cerro Santa Ana (11.8177° N, 69.9468° W), 480 m a.s.l., 17 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, ZFMK (Ar 21973), Medanos de Coro (11.5690° N, 69.7147° W), 3 m a.s.l., 17 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, ZFMK (Ar 21974), and 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-191), Sierra de San Luis , E Curimagua (11.1748° N, 69.6273° W), 960 m a.s.l., 18 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 2 ♀♀, MIZA 105621 ( MAGS 1132 ), Paraguaná, Cerro Capuchino, Montecano [approximately 11.94° N, 69.97° W], 27 Jan. 1988 (R. Ramirez) • 1 ♀, MIZA 105795 ( MAGS 738 ), San Juan de los Cayos [11.173° N, 68.408° W], 3 Oct. 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 1 ♀, MIZA 105796 ( MAGS 711 ), Riecito [10.906° N, 68.767° W], 30 Sep. 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, ZFMK (Ar 21975), and 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 juv. in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven20-151), forest near Santa Cruz de La Alegría (10.8795° N, 68.4949° W), 100 m a.s.l., 15 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.). – Guárico • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, MIZA 105695 ( MAGS 988 ), El Morrito , road Altagracia de Orituco to San Francisco de Macaira [9.916° N, 66.283° W], 10 Apr. 1982 (R. Torrealba) • 1 ♀, 1 juv., MIZA 1808 , Agua Salada [approximately 9.163° N, 65.775° W], 540 m a.s.l., “sistema cuevas y cañones”, 22 Nov. 1997 (O. Villarreal). – Lara • 4 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, ZFMK (Ar 21976), and 1 ♂, 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-198), between Coro and Barquisimeto, El Rodeo (10.7240° N, 69.3008° W), 400 m a.s.l., 19 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, ZFMK (Ar 21977), and 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-201), between Barquisimeto and Boconó (9.5906° N, 69.8343° W), 1370 m a.s.l., 20 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.). – Mérida • 2 ♀♀, (paratypes of M. pseudoblechroscelis ), MIZA 105737 ( MAGS 986 part), near Mesa Bolívar [8.474° N, 71.598° W], 25 Dec. 1981 (A.R. Delgado, J.A. González D., M.A. González-S.) • 1 ♂, MIZA 105611 ( MAGS 1053 ), Mesa Bolívar [8.474° N, 71.598° W], 21 Dec. 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 6 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 2 juvs, MIZA 105744 ( MAGS 835 ), Represa General J.A. Páez [8.900° N, 70.617° W], 5 Sep. 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 2 ♀♀, 1 juv., MIZA 105683 ( MAGS 838 ), Dtto Rivas Dávila , between La Playa and San Pablo [8.28° N, 71.80° W, ~1350 m a.s.l.], 4 Sep. 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 juv., ZFMK (Ar 21978), Las Piedras , ‘site 1’ (8.8939° N, 70.6448° W), 1710 m a.s.l., forest remnant, 7 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.) • 7 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, ZFMK (Ar 21979–80), and 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven20-108), Las Piedras , ‘site 2’ (8.9002° N, 70.6279° W), 1700 m a.s.l., 7 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.) • 6 ♂♂, 1 ♀, ZFMK (Ar 21981), forest above Caño Azul (8.8543° N, 71.3651° W), 280 m a.s.l., 13 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.). – Miranda • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-149), El Ávila National Park , between Sabas Nieves and La Silla (10.5245° N, 66.8566° W), 1600 m a.s.l., 7 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • approximately 4 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀, 10 juvs, MIZA 105595 ( MAGS 1022 ), Boca de Cura [10.20° N, 66.30° W], 17 Jan. 1987 (A.R. Delgado, M.A. González-S.) • approximately 10 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 2 juvs, MIZA 105598 ( MAGS 1021 ), same data • 1 ♀, MIZA 105619 (separated from MAGS 1111 ), road Carenero-Chirimena [approximately 10.57° N, 66.15° W], 9 Feb. 1988 (A.R. Delgado, M.A. González-S.) • 1 ♀, MIZA 105623 ( MAGS 1121 ), Hacienda Santa Rosalia , alrededores de Arag̹ita [approximately 11.215° N, 66.458° W], 16 Jul. 1988 (A.R. Delgado, M.A. González-S.) • 3 ♂♂, 3 juvs, MIZA 105633 ( MAGS 1087 ), Zamora, Salmerón [approximately 10.472° N, 66.369° W], 15 Aug. 1987 (A.R. Delgado, M.A. González-S.) • 1 ♂, MIZA 105686 ( MAGS 966 ), 10 km N de Guatire [approximately 10.55° N, 66.58° W], Hacienda Santa Rosa, 19 Feb. 1982 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, MIZA 105697 ( MAGS 845 ), near Tacarigua de Mamporal (“ a 1 km de Tacarigua de Mamporal en la via a Rio Chico ”) [10.382° N, 66.147° W], 31 Oct. 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., M.A. González S.) • 3 ♂♂, MIZA 105747 ( MAGS 1441 ), San Antonio de los Altos [10.369° N, 66.973° W], “Urb. Las Minas, Ed. Altair ”, 1998 (M. García) • 2 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀, 4 juvs, MIZA 105704 ( MAGS 242 ), El Castaño , carretera a Arag̹ita [10.283° N, 66.400° W], 27 Jun. 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 1 ♀, MIZA 105721 ( MAGS 1093 ), Guatopo National Park , Macanilla , 5 Sep. 1987 (A.R. Delgado, M.A. González-S.) • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, MIZA 105690 ( MAGS 506 ), El Ávila National Park (“estribaciones del Avila”), El Paraiso [10.530° N, 66.819° W], ~1500 m a.s.l., 16 Aug. 1981 (J.A. González D.) • 1 ♂, 1 juv., MIZA 105617 ( MAGS 1109 ), La Julia, via Pico Naiguatá [between 10.50° N, 66.81° W and 10.54° N, 66.78° W], 15 Oct. 1987 (H. Bird) • 1 ♀, ZFMK (Ar 21982), El Ávila National Park, near La Julia, ‘site 3’ (10.5066° N, 66.8119° W), 1090 m a.s.l., forest near dry brook bed, 22 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 2 ♂♂, ZFMK (Ar 21983), El Ávila National Park, near La Julia, trail to Rancho Grande (10.5164° N, 66.8089° W), 1460 m a.s.l., degraded forest along small stream, 22 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, MIZA 105670 ( MAGS 1169 ), Rio Aricagua [10.583° N, 66.234° W], 27 Aug. 1989 (M.A. González-S.) • 1 ♀, MIZA 105800 ( MAGS 985 ), Dtto. Brión, Hacienda La Maravilla , 6 Jun. 1981 (A. Utrera) • 7 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 3 juvs, MIZA 105594 ( MAGS 1030 ), Estanque Ayala [10.505° N, 66.763° W], 25 Jan. 1987 (A.R. Delgado de G., E.S.S., E.G.L., M.A. González S.) • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, 2 juvs, MIZA 105668 ( MAGS 1165 ), old road Caracas-Charallave, Los Amarillos [10.367° N, 66.945° W], Jul. 1989 (A.R. Delgado, M.A. González-S.) • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, CAS (9027359), Caracas, Hacienda La Trinidad [approximately 10.42° N, 66.85° W, 1100 m a.s.l.], 28 Dec. 1970 (W.B. Peck) • 1 ♀, 1 juv., MIZA, El Volcán, Topotepuy [10.417° N, 66.851° W, ~1450 m a.s.l.], 11–13 Nov. 2019 (O. Villarreal, J. Rodriguez). – Monagas • 1 ♂, 8 juvs, MIZA 105710 ( MAGS 1318 ), Cueva del Guácharo [10.174° N, 63.552° W], 12 Oct. 1991 (A.R. Delgado, M.A. González-S.) • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, 3 juvs, MIZA 105752 ( MAGS 1313 ), same locality, 14 Oct. 1991 (M. de García, A.R. Delgado, M.A. González S.). – Nueva Esparta • 1 ♀, MIZA 105780 ( MAGS 1007 ), Cerro Copei [11.047° N, 63.891° W], Dec. 1986 (C.E. Contreras A.). – Portuguesa • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, MIZA 105574 ( MAGS 1400 ), Paez, Acarigua (Pozo Blanco) [approximately 9.52° N, 69.15° W], 7 Jul. 1995 (A.R. Delgado, M.A. González-S.). – Táchira • 5 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 1 juv., ZFMK (Ar 21984), and 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven20-123), SE Pregonero, forest near La Trampa (7.9236° N, 71.7152° W), 1300 m a.s.l., 10 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.). – Trujillo • 7 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, ZFMK (Ar 21985–86), and 2 ♀♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-216), between Boconó and Burbusay (9.3945° N, 70.2674° W), 1820 m a.s.l., 22 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 1 ♀, 1 juv., MIZA 105762 ( MAGS 1386 ), Boconó, Miticún [9.235° N, 70.264° W], 26 Dec. 1993 (E. González S., M.A. González S.) • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, MIZA 105778 ( MAGS 1011 ), near Boconó, Hacienda La Encomienda [9.284° N, 70.317° W], 27 Dec. 1986 (R. Manzanilla) • 1 ♂ (palps missing), MIZA 1809 , route to Buena Vista via La Gira, 650 m a.s.l., 14 May 2005 (O. Villarreal M., H. Escalona) • 1 ♂, ZFMK (Ar 21987), and 1 juv. in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven20-140), near El Encanto (9.7562° N, 70.7418° W), 150 m a.s.l., among rocks, 13 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.). – La Guaira • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, ZFMK (Ar 21988), and 1 ♂ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-159), El Limón , above road Colonia Tovar-Puerto Cruz (10.4566° N, 67.2548° W), 1535 m a.s.l., 9 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 3 juvs, MIZA 105742 ( MAGS 993 ), Hacienda El Limón [approximately 10.475° N, 67.283° W], 26 Nov. 1986 (A.R. Delgado, M.A. González-S.) • 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 1 juv., MIZA 105777 ( MAGS 983 ), same locality, 12 Feb. 1982 (M.A. González S.) • 2 ♀♀, ZFMK (Ar 21989), El Limón , ‘site 1’ (10.4788° N, 67.3010° W), 600 m a.s.l., forest remnant along small stream, 21 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 1 juv., ZFMK (Ar 21990), and 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven20-171), El Limón , ‘site 2’ (10.4774° N, 67.2819° W), 1235 m a.s.l., forest along stream, 21 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M.) • 1 ♀, 1 juv., MIZA 105583 ( MAGS 1412 ), Galipán [approximately 10.55° N, 66.89° W], 26 Jun. 1996 (J.A. González D.). – Yaracuy • 1 ♂, MIZA 105641 ( MAGS 1085 ), Yurubi National Park [approximately 10.48° N, 68.66° W], 11 Sep. 1986 (E. Yustiz) • 1 ♀, MIZA 1810 , Minas de Aroa [approximately 10.422° N, 68.878° W], “tunel de la casa de montaña”, 22 Dec. 1998 (O. Villarreal) • 6 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, ZFMK (Ar 21991), and 2 ♀♀, 1 juv. in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven20-157), Yurubi National Park (10.4913° N, 68.6564° W), 140 m a.s.l., forest along stream, 16 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.) • 2 ♂♂, ZFMK (Ar 21992), Guaquira , ‘site 1’ (10.2951° N, 68.6535° W), 120 m a.s.l., forest along stream, 16 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.) • 3 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, ZFMK (Ar 21993), Guaquira , ‘site 2’ (10.2807° N, 68.6530° W), 150 m a.s.l., forest along stream, 17 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.) .

Distribution

This species is widespread in northern South America (cf. Huber 2018: fig. 724). The map in Fig. 1048 shows only the known Venezuelan records and those in neighboring regions.

Figures

Figs 594–598. Mesabolivar González-Sponga, 1998; live specimens. 594–596. M. aurantiacus (Mello- Leitṳo, 1930); males and female from Bolívar, La Neverita (arrow: enlarged and red male femur 3). 597–598. M. eberhardi Huber, 2000; male from La Guaira, El Limón and female with egg sac from Bolívar, Ciudad Guayana.