Meriola fasciata Mello-Leitao

Meriola fasciata Mello-Leitão

Figs 1 a–b, 2e–g, 4a–b, 28–30, 91

Trachelopachys fasciatus Mello-Leit „o, 1941a: 178, fig. 70, pl. X, fig. 48 (four female syntypes from Cabana, Cordoba, Argentina, in MLP, examined by Platnick & Ewing, 1995).

Trachelas fasciatus Platnick, 1975: 10.

Meriola fasciata Platnick & Ewing, 1995: 26, figs 59–63.

Diagnosis. Males (Figs 29–30) resemble those of M. avalosi sp. nov. by the long RTA with bent tip, but differ by the longer, sinuous embolus, by lacking the bulb distal projection, and by lacking a basal spine on the dorsal side of the femur II. Females (Fig. 28) are easily recognized by the long tube-like anterior hood of the epigyne.

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

Natural history and habitat. The specimens were collected in forests and grasslands; many were found in dry forests (xerophilic and semi-xerophilic forest), with pyrophilus plants, such as Baccharis sp., but also in humid forests.

Distribution. Known from south of Brazil, Uruguay and center of Argentina (Fig. 91).

New records. BRAZIL: Rio Grande do Sul: Quaraí: Estância São Roberto, S 30.293520°, W 55.961878°, 24–28.V.1991, A. Brescovit, 1 male (MCN 30540). ARGENTINA: Santa Fe: Vera: Estancia Las Gamas, 16,5 km por aire W de Vera (MJR-loc-161), S 29.44134°, W 60.38455°, elev. 82 m, 20.III.2014, humid chacoan forest, hand collection, M. Ramírez, C. Grismado, L. Piacentini & M. González Márquez, 1 male, sample MGM-00309, temporary preparation MLB-00772 (MACN-Ar 32284). San Justo: Ruta Nacional Nº 11, 9 km por aire S de Videla (MJR-loc-158), S 31.025681°, W 60.701673°, elev. 44 m, 19.III.2014, grassland, hand collection, M. Ramírez, C. Grismado, L. Piacentini & M. González Márquez, 1 male, sample MGM-00311, fotos MJR IMG-54–56 (MACN-Ar 32281). San Juan: Iglesia: Paso de Agua Negra, S 30.39291°, W 69.566809°, elev. 3500 m, 12.I.1982, A. Roig Alsina, 2 females (MACN-Ar 16386). Córdoba: Calamuchita: Valle de Calamuchita, S 31.981373°, W 64.509436°, II.1952, J. Viana, 1 male (MACN-Ar 30564). Santa Rosa de Calamuchita, S 32.071729°, W 64.54472°, III–IV.1958, J. Viana, 1 female, 5 males (MACN-Ar 16384). Entre Ríos: Diamante: Parque Nacional Predelta, bosque de barranca, S 32.12034°, W 60.62958°, elev. 26 m, 23–26.V.2011, G. Rubio, L. Piacentini & M. Izquierdo, 4 females, 1 male, temporary preparations MGM-00194–00200 (MACN-Ar 30366), 1 male, temporary preparations MGM- 00201–00203, MGM-00478–00479 (MACN-Ar 30567). Parque Nacional Predelta, Campo Sarmiento, 6 km S de Diamante (MJR-loc-141), S 32.12182°, W 60.62525°, elev. 39 m, 30.IV.2013, grassland at the edge of Baccharis sp. vegetation (“ Chilcal ”), hand collection, M. Ramírez, L. Piacentini, M. González Márquez, A. Laborda & S. Aisen, 1 male, sample MGM-00139 (MACN-Ar 30277), 1 female, 1 male (MACN-Ar 30776), 1 female, temporary preparation MGM-00477 (MACN-Ar 30828). San Luis: Merlo: Quebrada, S 32.336441°, W 64.963298°, 12.XI.1982, A. Roig Alsina, 1 female (MACN-Ar 16385). Junín: Merlo, S 32.347434°, W 65.011716°, XI.1971, J. Viana, 1 female (MACN-Ar 16387). Chacabuco: Villa Elena, S 32.505224°, W 64.974619°, 10.XI.1982, rushes, E. Maury, 3 females (MACN-Ar 16383). Chacabuco: Cortaderas, S 32.505603°, W 64.991119°, 10.XI.1982, in forest of Schinus or under rocks, A. Roig Alsina, 2 females, 1 imm. (MACN-Ar 30973). URUGUAY: Maldonado: Piriápolis, S 34.831882°, W 55.259071°, 9.XII.1966, R. Capocasale & L. Bruno, 1 female (CAS, CASENT 9059435).