Meri pictitarsis Simon, 1880

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 : 57-60

Meri pictitarsis Simon, 1880 comb. nov.

Figs 221–237 , 318

Sadala pictitarsis Simon, 1880: 320 (1 male, 5 females, 1 juv. Syntypes from Tefé [‑3.3667, ‑64.7000], Amazonas, Brazil, deposited in MNHN 1140 , examined).

Sparassus pictitarsis: Simon 1897: 35 .

Olios pictitarsis: Simon 1903a: 1020 ; Petrunkevitch 1911: 502; Jäger 2020: 81 (misplaced in Olios )

Additional material examined. BRAZIL: Roraima: 1♀, Caracaraí, Rio Jufari, Arquipélago Mariuá‑Jauaperi , Tucano (‑1.0146, ‑62.1051), 25 May 2012, C.A. Rheims leg. ( IBSP 166269 ) ; 1♀, same locality as previous specimen, 31 May 2012, C.A Rheims & R. P. Indicatti leg. ( IBSP 271302 ) . Amazonas: 1♀, Seringalzinho, Parque Nacional do Jáú [‑1.8667, ‑61.5833], April 2004, M.L. Oliveira leg. ( INPA 4587 ) ; 1♂, Presidente Figueiredo, Usina Hidrelétrica de Balbina [‑1.9000, 59.4667], 1987‑1988, Equipe IBSP leg. ( IBSP 7349 ) ; 1♀, Coari, Porto Urucu, Base de Operções Geológicas Pedro de Moura (-4.8760, -65.2795), 1 November 2008, S.C. Dias et al. leg. ( MPEG 30754 ) ; 1♂, Novo Aripuanã [‑5.1238, ‑60.3762], Estrada Cade, 4 October 1974, Geluqueque leg. ( INPA 4562 ) ; 1♂, Rio Tiqué, Igarapé Araça [‑5.1990, ‑59.7620], 12–18 May 1982, B. Mascarenhas leg. ( IBSP 20795 ) .

Diagnosis. Males of M. pictitarsis resemble those of M. yaciba spec. nov. ( Figs 297–300 ) by the palp with RTA with a ventral branch ( Fig. 222 ). They are distinguished from the latter species by RTA distally blunt with ventral branch triangular, slightly longer than wide ( Figs 222–223 ) and embolus with subdistal projection long and laminar ( Fig. 224 ) (RTA distally pointed with ventral branch roughly three times longer than wide and embolus with subdistal projection hook-shaped in M. yaciba spec. nov.). Females resemble those of M. yaciba spec. nov. ( Figs 301–303 ) by the epigyne with MS widest anteriorly, partly covering LL and EP triangular. They are distinguished by the MS with posterior margins in line with posterior margin of LL and EP slightly longer than wide (Posterior margin of MS anterior to that of LL and EP more than 1.5 times longer than wide in M. yaciba spec. nov.).

Redescription. Male (IBSP 20795): Total length 13.0. Prosoma 5.0 long, 5.0 wide. Opisthosoma 7.4 long, 4.9 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.40, 0.34, 0.24, 0.28; interdistances: 0.22, 0.06, 0.46, 0.40, 0.18, 0.10. Legs: I: 31.4 (8.6, 2.9, 8.7, 8.8, 2.4). II: 33.3 (9.2, 2.9, 9.4, 9.3, 2.5); III: 22.7 (6.8, 2.3, 6.0, 5.9, 1.7); IV: 27.7 (7.6, 2.3, 8.8, 7.0, 2.0). Spination follows the generic pattern except metatarsus IV: p1-1-1. Palp: PTA wider than long, triangular, distally rounded; RTA roughly 2 times longer than wide; subtegulum visible between 9–11 o’clock in ventral view; tegulum slightly protruding close to conductor base; conductor widest at base, distally fanned; embolus bulging prolaterally at base, gently curved, with subdistal projection almost 5 times longer than wide, mediad ( Figs 221–224 , 231–233 ).

Female (IBSP 166269): Total length 14.8. Prosoma 5.7 long, 5.2 wide. Opisthosoma 8.5 long, 5.1 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.45, 0.36, 0.30, 0.36; interdistances: 0.30, 0.23, 0.60, 0.60, 0.35, 0.25. Legs: I: 24.9 (7.1, 3.0, 6.4, 6.6, 1.8); II: 26.4 (7.6, 3.0, 7.0, 7.0, 1.8); III: 18.2 (5.7, 2.2, 4.5, 4.4, 1.4); IV: 20.9 (6.5, 2.1, 5.3, 5.4, 1.6). Spination follows the generic pattern. Epigyne: EF wider than long; MAB inconspicuous; EP triangular, opening at posterior margin of MS ( Figs 225 , 134 ). Vulva: internal ducts with FW mediad; GP 2 times longer than wide, antero mediad, arising from ducts at first turn; SP oval; FD laterad ( Figs 226–227 , 235 ).

Variation. Males (n = 3): total length 9.8–13.0; prosoma length 4.8–5.0; femur I length 7.8–8.6. Females (n = 7): total length 13.3–16.0; prosoma length 5.2–6.2; femur I length 6.4–7.3. Female epigyne can have under developed EP ( Figs 228 , 236 ), spherical SP and FD antero-laterad ( Figs 229–230 , 237 ).

Distribution. Known from central Amazonia (Amazonas, Brazil) ( Fig. 318 ).

Figures

FIGURES 221–224. Meri pictitarsis (Simon) comb. nov., male (IBSP 20795), left palp (221 prolateral, 222 ventral, 223 retrolateral, 224 detail of embolus). C—conductor; E—embolus; mr—membranous region; PTA—prolateral tibial apophysis; RTA— retrolateral tibial apophysis; SdP—subdistal projection; tp—tegular protrusion; vb—ventral branch of RTA. 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 231–233. Meri pictitarsis (Simon) comb. nov., male (INPA 4562), left palp (231 prolateral, 232 ventral, 233 retrolateral). Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 234–237. Meri pictitarsis (Simon) comb. nov., female 234–235 (MPEG 30754) (234 epigyne, 235 vulva); 236–237 (INPA 4562) (236 epigyne, 237 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 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.

FIGURES 133–137. Meri carabobo spec. nov. 133–135 Male (AMNH, holotype), left palp (133 prolateral, 134 ventral, 135 retrolateral); 136–137 Female (AMNH, paratype) (136 epigyne, 137 vulva). Scale lines: 1 mm.