Meri aparia, 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 : 36

Meri aparia spec. nov.

Figs 118–120 , 319

Sadala mathani Simon 1880 (only 1 female syntype, misidentification, ex MNHN 2028 )

Type material. Holotype: PERU. Loreto: ♀, Pebas [‑3.3167, ‑718167], no date, M. de Mathan leg. (ex MNHN 2028 ).

Etymology. The specific name refers to the Aparia village, encountered by the Spanish explorer Francisco de Orellana while exploring the area of modern day Pebas; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Females of M. aparia spec. nov. resemble those of M. abuna spec. nov. ( Figs 107–112 ) by the epigyne with MS wider than long and EP rectangular or squared, and vulva with FW dilated, mediad. They are distinguished from the latter species by the EP longer than wide with anterior margin greatly surpassing half MS length ( Fig. 118 ) and GP antero mediad ( Figs 119–120 ) (EP wider than long or as long as wide with anterior margin not surpassing half MS length and GP postero laterad in M. abuna spec. nov.). Males are unknown.

Description. Female (holotype): Total length: 12.4. Prosoma: 5.2 long, 4.8 wide. Opisthosoma: 6.7 long, 3.6 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.36, 0.26, 0.20, 0.28; interdistances: 0.34, 0.10, 0.54, 0.52, 0.38, 0.30. Legs: I: 21.6 (6.3, 2.6, 5.8, 5.4, 1.5); II: 23.3 (7.0, 2.6, 5.3, 5.8, 1.6); III: 17.0 (5.4, 2.3, 4.1, 3.8, 1.4); IV: 18.9 (5.7, 2.1, 4.7, 4.8, 1.6). Epigyne: EF wider than long; MS with margins strogly diverging; LL touching posteriorly ( Fig. 118 ). Vulva: GP arising from ducts at first turn; SP ovoid; FD laterad ( Figs 119–120 ).

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality ( Fig. 319 ).

Figures

FIGURES 118–123. 118–120 Meri aparia spec. nov., female (ex MNHN 2028, holotype) (118 epigyne, 119 vulva, 120 schematic course of internal duct system); 121–123 Meri arraijan spec. nov., female (AMNH, paratype) (121 epigyne, 122 vulva, 123 schematic course of internal duct system). ag—anterior groove; EP—epigynal pocket; ft—first turn of duct system; FD— fertilization duct; GP—glandular projection; LL—lateral lobe; MS—median septum; SP—spermathecae. Scale lines: 1 mm.

FIGURES 319–320. 319 distribution map for species of Meri gen. nov. (M. vanini spec. nov., M. munduruku spec. nov., M. aparia spec. nov., M. quinari spec. nov., M. rivai spec. nov.) 320 distribution map for all species of the genera Sadala Simon and Meri gen. nov.

FIGURES 107–112. Meri abuna spec. nov., female, 107–109 (ex MNHN 2459) (107 epigyne, 108 vulva, 109 schematic course of internal duct system); 110–112 (IBSP 6618) (110 epigyne, 111 vulva, 112 schematic course of internal duct system). CO—copulatory opening; 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.