Meri martinique, 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 : 51-54

Meri martinique spec. nov.

Figs 196–207 , 315

Type material. Holotype: MARTINIQUE: Marin : ♂, Martinique [14.5390, ‑61.0361], 8–21 June 2013, A. Sanchez leg. ( IBSP 271305 ) . Paratypes: MARTINIQUE: 1♀, Anse Mitan [14.5390, ‑61.0361], Trois Ilets, 10–11 June 1960, C. & P. Vaurie leg. ( AMNH) ; GUADELOUPE: Basse-Terre : 1♀, Matouba [16.0403, ‑61.6902], 1 July 1960, C. & P. Vaurie leg. ( AMNH) .

Additional material examined. DOMINICA: Saint George: 1♀, Fresh Water Lake (NE of Laudat) [15°20’39.04”N, 61°18’38.33”W], 22 March 1956, I.F.G. Clarke leg. ( USNM) ; Saint Luke: 1♀, South Chiltern [Estate] (N of Soufrière) [15°15’8.72”N, 61°21’32.09”W], 25 March 1964, D.F. Bray leg. ( USNM) .

Etymology. The specific name refers to the type locality of the holotype; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Males of M. martinique spec. nov. resemble those of M. abuna spec. nov. ( Figs 103–106 ) by the palp with embolus bearing small, tubercle-like subdistal projection and large membranous area ( Fig. 199 ). They are distinguished from the latter species by the PTA triangular, RTA abruptly narrowed medially and embolus without prolateral bulge at base ( Figs 196–198 ) (PTA distally rounded, RTA gradually tappering and embolus bulging prolaterally at base in M. abuna spec. nov.). Females resemble those of M. trinitatis comb. nov. ( Figs 269–274 ) and M. tumatumari spec. nov. ( Figs 280–282 ) by the vulva with GP arising from ducts close to spermathecae, not at first turn. They are distinguished from both species by the MS subrectangular, with lateral margins medially constricted ( Fig. 200 ) (MS widest medially with lateral margins not constricted in M. trinitatis and M. tumatumari spec. nov.).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 11.3. Prosoma 5.4 long, 5.3 wide. Opisthosoma 5.8 long, 3.6 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.41, 0.36, 0.25, 0.35; interdistances: 0.25, 0.10, 0.45, 0.50, 0.33, 0.20. Legs: I: 31.2 (8.6, 3.2, 8.4, 8.8, 2.2); II: 33.8 (9.4, 3.3, 9.4, 9.5, 2.2); III: 21.8 (6.5, 2.8, 5.5, 5.4, 1.6); IV: 24.1 (7.2, 2.4, 6.2, 6.4, 1.9). Spination follows the generic pattern except tibia III: d1-0-1, tibia IV: d0; metatarsus IV: r1-1-2. Palp: PTA as wide as long; RTA roughly 2 times longer than wide (retrolateral view); cymbium with small retroproximal projection; subtegulum visible between 9–10 o’clock in ventral view; tegulum slightly projectiong over conductor base; conductor widest at base, distally fanned embolus subdistally curved ( Figs 196–199 , 203–205 ).

Female (paratype, Guadeloupe): Total length 17.8. Prosoma 7.1 long, 7.2 wide. Opisthosoma 10.2 long, 6.2 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.51, 0.45, 0.35, 0.42; interdistances: 0.37, 0.31, 0.65, 0.72, 0.40, 0.25. Legs: I: 30.3 (8.5, 3.8, 8.0, 7.8, 2.2); II: 33.1 (9.5, 3.9, 9.0, 8.6, 2.1); III: 23.1 (7.1, 3.2, 5.8, 5.2, 1.8); IV: 25.9 (8.0, 3.0, 6.5, 6.4, 2.0). Spination follows the generic pattern except metatarsus IV: r1-1-2. Epigyne: EF slightly longer than wide; MAB barely conspicupous embedded in EF; MS 1.5 times longer than wide, extending over posterior margins of LL; EP triangular, roughly as long as wide, opening at posterior margin of MS; LL touching posteriorly ( Figs 200 , 206 ). Vulva: internal ducts with FW dilated, postero mediad; GP 3 times longer than wide, anteriad; SP elongated with few grooves; FD antero laterad ( Figs 200–201 , 207 ).

Variation. Females (n = 2): total length 15.3–17.8; prosoma length 5.9–7.1; femur I length 7.0–8.5.

Distribution. Known from the Lesser Antilles ( Fig. 315 )

Figures

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 203–207. Meri martinique spec. nov. 203–205 male (IBSP 271305, holotype), left palp (203 prolateral, 204 ventral, 205 retrolateral); 206–207 female (AMNH, paratype) (206 epigyne, 207 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 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 269–274. Meri trinitatis (Strand) comb. nov., female 269–271 (AMNH) (269 epigyne, 270 vulva, 271 schematic course of internal duct system); 272–264 (MNRJ 105) (272 epigyne, 273 vulva, 274 schematic course of internal duct system). 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 280–282. Meri tumatumari spec. nov., female (AMNH, holotype) (280 epigyne, 281 vulva, 282 schematic course of internal duct system). 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.