Meriola rahue Platnick & Ewing

González, María E., Grismado, Cristian J. & Ramírez, Martín J., 2021, A Taxonomic Revision Of The Spider Genus Meriola Banks (Araneae: Trachelidae), Zootaxa 4936 (1), pp. 1-113 : 88

Meriola rahue Platnick & Ewing

Figs 1e , 4d , 5 , 70–72 , 95b

Meriola rahue Platnick & Ewing, 1995: 35 , figs 92–96 (male holotype and female allotype from 16 km from Rahue on Rt. 46, Neuquén, Argentina, in AMNH, not examined).

Diagnosis. Males ( Figs 71 , 72 ) can be recognized by the RTA in a dorsal position, which is curved ventrally. Females are distinguished by the epigyne with a small, triangular anterior hood and oval secondary spermathecae with relatively long stalks ( Fig. 70h ; Platnick & Ewing 1995: figs 95, 96).

Description. Male and female described by Platnick & Ewing (1995).

Natural history and habitat. The specimens were found between 800–1500 m altitude, in forests of Nothofagus dombeyi (coihue), N. antarctica (ñire) and Chusquea (caña colihue) or under rocks. Many specimens were collected by pitfall traps.

Distribution. Known from Neuquén and Río Negro provinces in Argentina and Osorno province in Chile ( Fig. 95b ).

New records. ARGENTINA: Neuquén: Lácar: Parque Nacional Lanín, Lago Queñi, S 40.159353°, W 71.709362°, 15.II.1996, M. Ramírez, 1 male (MACN-Ar 16335). Los Lagos: Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, Cerro La Mona (M4S6E06), S 40.57163°, W 71.69777°, elev. 1300 m, I.2006, pitfall traps, V. Werenkraut, 1 male (MACN-Ar 20503). Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, Cerro La Mona (M4S8M06), S 40.57575°, W 71.69948°, elev. 1095 m, III.2006, pitfall traps, V. Werenkraut, 1 male (MACN-Ar 20276). RP 65, pasando Arroyo Pedregoso (LT352E5), S 40.62246°, W 71.59593°, elev. 852 m, I.2005, forest of Nothofagus dombeyi (coihue), N. antarctica (ñire) and Chusquea (caña colihue), pitfall traps, P. Sackmann, 2 males (MACN-Ar 16339). Zapala: Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, Cerro Pelado (M2S6E05), S 40.93134°, W 71.33495°, elev. 1318 m, I.2005, pitfall traps, V. Werenkraut, 1 male, temporary preparations MGM-00113–00114, MGM-00116–00117 (MACN-Ar 21642). Río Negro: Bariloche: Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, Cerro Tronador, S 41.171787°, W 71.872928°, 23.XII.2014, under rocks, A. Porta, 1 female, sample MGM-00424, MGM-00493 (MACN-Ar 33092). Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, Cerro Challhuaco (M5S4M06), S 41.24917°, W 71.28273°, elev. 1203 m, III.2006, pitfall traps, V. Werenkraut, 1 male, MGM-00494–00495 (MACN-Ar 20251). Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, Cerro Challhuaco (M5S4M05), S 41.24917°, W 71.28273°, elev. 1203 m, III.2005, pitfall traps, V. Werenkraut, 1 male, temporary preparations MGM- 00122, MGM-00125–00127 (MACN-Ar 21964). Pasando Paso Cretón, poco antes de Pampa Linda (LT552E5), S 41.24963°, W 71.74312°, elev. 874 m, I.2005, forest of Nothofagus antarctica (ñire), pitfall traps, P. Sackmann, 1 female, 2 males, temporary preparations MGM-00118–00121, MGM-00123–00124 (MACN-Ar 16338). Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, Cerro Challhuaco (M5S7E05), S 41.26248°, W 71.29703°, elev. 1509 m, I.2006, pitfall traps, V. Werenkraut, 1 male (MACN-Ar 21774). CHILE: Región X de Los Ríos: Provincia de Osorno: Parque Nacional Puyehue, Antillaca, S 40.775000°, W 72.191667°, elev. 1050–1350 m, 30.XII.2000, alpine meadow, pitfall traps, K. Miller, I. Agnarsson, F. Álvarez, J. Coddington & G. Hormiga, 1 female (NMNH 01561).

Figures

FIGURE 1. a, Meriola fasciata Mello-Leit„o, female (MACN-Ar 30366), carapace, dorsal view; b, same, detail of ocular area. c, Trachelas sp. group speciosus, ocular area, dorsal view (Argentina, Jujuy, MACN-Ar 26927). d, Trachelopachys keyserlingi (Roewer), female, ocular area, dorsal view (Argentina, Buenos Aires, MANC-Ar MGM-00109). e, M. rahue Platnick & Ewing, male epigastric area (MACN-Ar 21964). f, M. cetiformis (Strand), female epigastric area (MACN-Ar 36883). g, M. macrocephala (Nicolet), male epigastric area (AMNH MJR-26). Arrows to postepigastric invaginations.

FIGURE 4. a, Meriola fasciata Mello-Leit„o, female, left tarsus I, retrolateral view (MACN-Ar 30366); b, claws, retro-apical view. c, M. macrocephala (Nicolet) comb. nov., female, left tarsus I, ventral view, arrows to cuspules (AMNH MJR-23). d, M. rahue Platnick & Ewing, male, trichobothria socket (MACN-Ar 21964). e, M. penai Platnick & Ewing, female tarsus I, claw tuft tenent surface, lateral view (MACN-Ar 30355); f, tarsus IV scopula tenent surface, lateral view. g, M. macrocephala (Nicolet) comb. nov., female, metatarsus IV preening comb (AMNH MJR-12). h, M. penai Platnick & Ewing, female, right claws IV, lateral view (MACN-Ar 30355).

FIGURE 5. Meriola macrocephala (Nicolet) comb. nov., genitalia. a, female epigyne ventral view (female AMNH MJR-10); b, same, vulva, dorsal lateral view; c, same, detail of secondary spermatheca, arrows to gland ducts. d, left male palp, prolateral view (MACN-Ar MAI-85, images thanks to Matías Izquierdo); e, same, ventral view; f, same, retrolateral view. Abbreviations: CDR = copulatory duct receptacle, CO = copulatory opening, E = embolus, EH = anterior hood, FD = fertilization duct, LL = lateral lobe, LR = lateral ridge, MF = median field, RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis, S1 = primary spermatheca, S2 = secondary spermatheca, ST = subtegulum, T = tegulum.

FIGURE 70. Meriola rahue Platnick & Ewing, female (MACN-Ar 33092). a, habitus, dorsal view; b, same, ventral view; c, same, lateral view; d, prosoma, dorsal view; e, same, ventral view; f, same, lateral view; g, habitus, anterior view; h, epigyne, ventral view.

FIGURE 71. Meriola rahue Platnick & Ewing, male (MACN-Ar 20251). a, habitus, dorsal view; b, same, ventral view; c, same, lateral view; d, prosoma, dorsal view; e, same, ventral view; f, same, lateral view.

FIGURE 72. Meriola rahue Platnick & Ewing, male (MACN-Ar 20251). a, habitus, anterior view; b, left palp, ventral view; c, same, prolateral view; d, same, retrolateral view.

FIGURE 95. a, b. Known distribution of Meriola goloboffi, M. puyehue, M. virgata, M. manuel and M. rahue in Argentina and Chile