Metabus, AND

Álvarez-Padilla, Fernando, 2007, Systematics of the spider genus Metabus O. P. - Cambridge, 1899 (Araneoidea: Tetragnathidae) with additions to the tetragnathid fauna of Chile and comments on the phylogeny of Tetragnathidae, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 151 (2), pp. 285-335 : 321-322

SYSTEMATICS OF METABUS AND TETRAGNATHID SPIDERS 321

23.0, leg III 11.6, leg IV 14.8, pedipalp 6.5. Pedipalp tibia 3.2 times longer than wide ( Fig. 7E ); pedipalp as in Figure 20F–J .

Variation: Female total length 7.1–13.6, cephalothorax length 3.7–5.9. Male total length 5.8–8.4, cephalothorax length 2.7–4.5.

Natural history: Mollemeta edwardsi builds vertical orb webs on tree trunks. The web is longer than wide with c. 48 radii, and several spirals of the sticky silk (more than 50). The temporary spiral is removed and the hub is closed ( Fig. 10C ).

Phylogenetics: The monotypy of this genus is based on the cladistic placement of M. edwardsi as sister to a clade that contains the genera Meta , Metellina , Dolichognatha , Allende and Chrysometa (Figs 1,2). Autapomorphies of Mollemeta are the ring-shaped cymbium, and the unique shape of the conductor and embolus ( Fig. 7A, B ).

Composition: Monotypic.

Distribution: This species is endemic to Chile ( Fig. 11D ).

Figures

Figure 7. A–E, male genital anatomy of Mollemeta edwardsi. A, pedipalp ventral view. B, ectal view. C, cymbial basal process. D, mesal view. E, palpal tibia. F, Metellina curtisi pedipalp ectal view.

Figure 10. Photos of webs: A, Allende puyehuensis. B, Chrysometa acinosa. C, Mollemeta edwardsi. D, Metabus ebanoverde. Scale lines 10 cm. Photos A–C from Puyehue National Park, Chile. Photo D from Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve, Dominican Republic. (Photos A to C by G. Hormiga).

Figure 11. Distribution maps: A, Metabus species, Central and northern South America. B, Allende species, Chile. C, Chrysometa species, Chile. D, Mollemeta edwardsi, Chile.

Figure 20. Mollemeta edwardsi. A, female habitus. B, epigynum ventral view. C, caudal view. D, ventral view cleared. E, dorsal view cleared. F–J, male pedipalp. F, cymbium (bulb dissected). G, expanded. H, dorsal view. I, palpal tibia. J, ventral view. Scale bars 0.2 mm, except in habitus 1 mm.