Meriola foraminosa Keyserling

Meriola foraminosa Keyserling

Figs 31–33, 89

Trachelas foraminosus Keyserling, 1891: 60, fig. 32 (female holotype from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in BMNH, examined by Platnick & Ewing, 1995).

Meriola foraminosa Platnick & Ewing, 1995: 29, fig. 72–76.

Diagnosis. Both sexes present depressed setal bases associated with tubercles covering the carapace surface. Males (Figs 32–33) can by distinguished by the short, twisted embolus, RTA nearly triangular with acute tip, and the presence of a distal spine on the prolateral side of femora II and III. Females (Fig. 31) can be also distinguished by the narrow anterior epigynal hood and the well separated copulatory openings and the very wide median field.

Description. See Platnick & Ewing (1995) for male and female descriptions.

Natural history and habitat. Several specimens were collected in pitfall traps in forests and shrub steppes, between rocks.

Distribution. Known from a few localities in Venezuela, Ecuador, Perú, Brazil, Chile, and from La Rioja, Buenos Aires, Neuquén and Río Negro provinces in Argentina (Fig. 89).

New records. ECUADOR: Pichincha: Quito, in building, S 0.180653°, W 78.467838°, IV.1994, V. & B. Roth, 1 male (CAS, CASENT 9059208). PERÚ: Puno: Chucuito: Cerro Ancomarca, S 16.648331°, W 69.364453°, elev. 4081 m, 4.III.2010, E. Razuri, 1 female (MUSM-ENT 0501377). BRAZIL: Rio Grande do Sul: Pelotas, S 31.765399°, W 52.337589°, 1–3.V.1997, L. Moura, 1 male (MCN 28371). Capão do Leão, S 31.836963°, W 52.574653°, 15.I.2008, J. Rosado, 2 males (MCN 46783). ARGENTINA: La Rioja: Chilecito: Guanchin, S 29.182324°, W 67.644785°, 24.X.1980, M. Galiano, 1 male (MACN-Ar 16327). Buenos Aires: Campana: Reserva Natural Otamendi, S 34.230186°, W 58.869773°, 30.VI.2007, C. Grismado, L. Damer, I. Crudele, S. Olejnik, S. Trivero, N. López & S. De Biase, 1 male, sample CJG-03001, temporary preparation CJG-01242 (MACN-Ar 12818). La Matanza: Lomas del Mirador, S 34.666369°, W 58.533396°, IV.1995, C. Grismado, 1 female (MACN-Ar 16365). Tornquist: Sierra de la Ventana, S 38.137325°, W 61.794005°, I.1991, between rocks, A. Belner & N. Florio, 1 female (MACN-Ar 30566). Sierra de la Ventana, Cerro Negro, S 38.139334°, W 61.794130°, 12.IV.1974, C. Cesari, 1 male (MACN-Ar 16351). Neuquén: Truran Kura nr. San Martín de los Andes, S 40.157988°, W 71.317981°, elev. 1000 m, 27–30.IX.1986, M. Gentill, 1 female (NMHN 01561). Río Negro: Bariloche: Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, Cerro López, S 41.08152°, W 71.54571°, elev. 800 m, III.2006, pitfall traps, V. Werenkraut, 1 male, temporary preparations MGM-00193, MGM-00484, MGM-00485 (MACN-Ar 19130). Bariloche: Cerro Challhuaco, S 41.18041°, W 71.32352°, elev. 908 m, I.2006, pitfall traps, V. Werenkraut, 1 male (MACN-Ar 21751). Bariloche: El Bolsón, Loma del Medio, S 41.977258°, W 71.554162°, II.2002, pitfall traps, P. Sackmann, 1 male (MACN-Ar 33076). Same locality, I.2002, pitfall traps, P. Sackmann, 1 male (MACN-Ar 33078). CHILE: Región RM Metropolitana de Santiago: Provincia de Cordillera: Reserva Nacional Río Clarillo, S 33.7635436°, W 70.4218734°, collector unknown, 4 females, 6 males (MACN-Ar 30969).