Meri abuna Rheims & Jäger 2022, spec. nov.
Creators: name: Rheims, Cristina A.
name: Jäger, Peter
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Sparassidae
Meri
Meri abuna

description: Meri abuna spec. nov.
Figs 103–117, 317
Type material. Holotype: BRAZIL: Rondônia: ♂, Porto Velho [‑8.7667, ‑63.9000], Abunã (transecto 9), 3 June 2011, R. Y. Lemos leg. (MZSP 41395). Paratypes: BRAZIL: Rondônia: 1♀, same locality as holotype, 2 September 2010, S. Outeda Jorge leg. (MZSP 35006); 1♀, same locality as holotype, 3 September 2010, G. Perroni leg. (MZSP 35102); 1♂, Caiçara (transecto 1), Porto Velho [‑8.7667, ‑63.9000], 26 August 2010, R. Y. Lemos leg. (MZSP 34926); 1♀, Usina Hidrelétrica se Samuel, Rio Jamari [‑8.7500, ‑63.4500] December 1988, Equipe Butantan leg. (IBSP 6618); Amazonas: 1♀, Manaus, Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke [‑3.000, ‑59.8667], 11–21 October 2004, A. Henriques leg. (INPA 1907).
Additional material examined. ECUADOR: Orellana: 1♀, Tiputini Biodiversity Station, near Yasuni National Park (-0.6333, -76.1333), 4 July 1998, T. L. Erwin et al. leg. (USNM); 1♀, same locality as previous specimen, 22 October 1988, T. L. Erwin et al. leg. (USNM); 1♀, Reserva Etnica Waorani, 1km S. Onkone Gare Camp (-0.9500, -76.2167), 1 October 1996, T. L. Erwin et al. leg. (USNM). BRAZIL: Amazonas: 1♀, Tefé [‑3.3667, ‑64.7000], no date (MNHN 2459, syntype of S. keyserlingi); Rondônia: 1♀, Porto Velho [‑8.7667, ‑63.9000], 15 April 1996, Equipe IBSP / SMNK leg. (IBSP 8701); 1♂, same locality as previous specimen, Caiçara (transecto 1), 15 November 2010, M.C. Silveira leg. (MZSP 37821); 1♀, same locality as previous specimen, Caiçara (transecto 4), 25 August 2010, Equipe Jirau leg. (MZSP 35445); 1♀, same locality as previous specimen, 21 November 2010, R. B. Almeida leg. (MZSP 35922); 1♀, same locality as previous specimen, Abunã (transecto 10), 8 March 2010, A. Pepato leg. (MZSP 33026); 1♀, same locality as previous specimen Mutum (transecto 8), 31 August 2010, G. Perroni leg. (MZSP 34908). PERU: Huanuco: 1♂, A.C. P. Panguana, Río Yuyapichis, 230 m (‑9.6167, ‑74.9333), 20 September–7 October 2013, S. Friedrich, F. Wachtel & E.-G. Burmeister leg. (MUSM).
Etymology. The specific name refers to the collection locality of the holotype, taken from the Tupi Guarani Language, meaning “to glide soundlessly”; noun in apposition.
Diagnosis. Males of M. abuna spec. nov. resemble those of M. martinique spec. nov. (Figs 196–199) by the palp with embolus bearing small, tubercle-like subdistal projection and large membranous area (Fig. 106). They are distinguished from the latter species by the PTA distally rounded, RTA gradually tappering and embolus bulging prolaterally at base (Figs 103–105) (PTA triangular, RTA abruptly narrowed medially and embolus without prolateral bulge at base in M. martinique spec. nov.). Females resemble those of M. aparia spec. nov. (Figs 118–120) 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 wider than long or as wide as long (Fig. 107, 110) and vulva with GP postero laterad (Fig. 108) (EP longer than wide and GP antero-mediad in M. aparia spec. nov.).
Description. Male (MZSP 34926, paratype): Total length 11.0. Prosoma: 5.5 long, 5.3 wide. Opisthosoma: 5.3 long, 3.7 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.45, 0.39, 0.26, 0.35; interdistances: 0.31, 0.10, 0.50, 0.54, 0.33, 0.20. Legs: I: 30.4 (9.1, 3.2, 8.9, 9.1, 2.1); II: 34.7 (9.9, 3.3, 9.7, 9.8, 2.0); III: 24.2 (7.3, 2.4, 6.4, 6.3, 1.8); IV: 27.2 (7.9, 2.6, 7.1, 7.6, 2.0). Spination follows the generic pattern except tibia IV: d0; patella IV: p1, r1. Palp: PTA as long as wide; RTA triangular, as long as wide; cymbium with small retroproximal projection; subtegulum visible between 9 and 12 o’clock in ventral view; tegulum slightly protruding over conductor base; conductor widest at base, distally fanned; embolus gently curving subdistally (Figs 103–106, 113–115).
Female (IBSP 6618, paratype): Total length: 12.4. Prosoma: 5.4 long, 5.1 wide. Opisthosoma: 6.7 long, 3.4 wide. Eyes: diameters: 0.41, 0.35, 0.26, 0.35; interdistances: 0.32, 0.25, 0.62, 0.57, 0.33, 0.20. Legs: I: 23.0 (7.0, 2.7, 6.0, 5.7, 1.6): II: 24.4 (7.3, 2.9, 6.7, 6.1, 1.4); III: 17.9 (5.7, 2.3, 4.5, 4.1, 1.3); IV: 20.0 (6.1, 2.2, 5.1, 5.1, 1.5). Spination follows the generic pattern except patella II–III: p1. Epigyne: EF wider than long; MAB slightly conspicuous, embedded in EF; EP with anterior margin not reaching half MS length; LL touching posteriorly (Fig. 107). Vulva: GP longer than wide, arising from ducts at first turn; SP ovoid; FD anteriad (Figs 107–109).
Variation. Males (n = 4): total length 9.4–12.7; prosoma length 4.5–5.6; femur I length 7.4–9.1. Females (n = 10): total length 12.4–19.2; prosoma length 4.9–6.6; femur I length 6.0–8.0. Coloration pattern in females can be generally darker. Epigyne can have MS more V-shaped with EP slightly anterior to MS posterior margin (Figs 110, 116) and vulva can have SP more elongated oval (Figs 111, 117).
Distribution. Known from northwestern South America, in Ecuador, Peru and Brazil (Fig. 317).
description: Published as part of 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), pp. 1-80 in Zootaxa 5135 (1) on pages 33-36, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5135.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6550195