On Venezuelan pholcid spiders (Araneae, Pholcidae) Author Huber, Bernhard A. 33607F65-19BF-4DC9-94FD-4BB88CED455F 0000-0002-7566-5424 Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany. b.huber@leibniz-zfmk.de Author Villarreal, Osvaldo 679C385E-B068-4351-9D2F-97753E534C26 0000-0001-5355-3723 Museo del Instituto de Zoología Agrícola, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Maracay, Venezuela. & Museu Nacional / UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. osvaldovillarreal@gmail.com text European Journal of Taxonomy 2020 2020-10-01 718 1 317 journal article 10.5852/ejt.2020.718.1101 2118-9773 4069574 F9E9A91E-488C-4DB1-9361-E788E9AC5BC1 Mesabolivar eberhardi Huber, 2000 Figs 597–598 , 1021-1022 , 1025, 1048 Synonymy, see Huber 2018: 34. Mesabolivar pseudoblechroscelis (misidentification) – González-Sponga 1998: 27 , figs 40–41 ( ♀ only). Notes Mesabolivar eberhardi is a common inhabitant of native and disturbed habitats in much of northern South America and one the most ubiquitous pholcids in Venezuela . Variation in the details of genitalic shape has been noted long ago ( Huber 2000 ), but this referred to specimens from Peru , Brazil , and Colombia , far from the type locality in Venezuela (Monagas) . All Venezuelan specimens seen in this and previous studies ( Huber 2000 , 2018) are unproblematic representatives of this species. This is also true of the six species described by González-Sponga (2011a) under Blechroscelis Simon, 1893 . They have been synonymized with M. eberhardi before ( Huber et al. 2014a ), and the reexamination of all types in Nov. 2018 confirmed the synonymies. However, a few errors in González-Sponga’s (2011a) work remain to be corrected: For “ Blechroscelis araguanus ”, only 1 ♂ holotype is mentioned in the original description, but the female is also described and illustrated. We assume that this is based on MAGS 1393 (MIZA 105765), 2 ♀♀ , 3 juvs from the same locality (La Montañita; corrected coordinates: 10.213° N , 67.176° W ). Figs 594–598. Mesabolivar González-Sponga, 1998 ; live specimens. 594–596 . M. aurantiacus (MelloLeitṳo, 1930); males and female from Bolívar, La Neverita (arrow: enlarged and red male femur 3). 597–598 . M. eberhardi Huber, 2000 ; male from La Guaira, El Limón and female with egg sac from Bolívar, Ciudad Guayana. The coordinates of the type locality of “ Blechroscelis blechroscelis ”, Cerro Guaiquinima , are approximately 5.758° N , 63.567° W (instead of 10.758°N ). The coordinates of the type locality of “ Blechroscelis copeyensis ”, Cerro Copey National Park, are probably 11.047° N , 63.891° W (rather than 11.033°N ). Most of the measurements are probably correct, but some are obviously wrong, casting doubt on the precision in general. For example, metatarsus 4 is given as shorter than metatarsus 3 in the holotype of “ B. blechroscelis ”; femur 3 is given as longer than femora 2 and 4 in the female of “ B. andinensis ”; and carapace shape is given as highly variable among ‘species’ (width =1.0–1.7 × length), while in fact is it highly consistent but heavily dependent on the angle of view. Material examined VENEZUELA – Amazonas • 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ , MIZA 105616 ( MAGS 1100 ), San Juan de Manapiare [ 5.324° N , 66.055° W ], Jul. 1987 (A. González ). – Anzoátegui • 3 ♂♂ , 1 ♀ , 4 juvs , MIZA 105776 ( MAGS 1036 ), near Sabana de Uchire [approximately 10.02° N , 65.52° W ], 2 Mar. 1987 (A.R. Delgado , M.A. González-S.). – Aragua • 1 ♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21966), Puerto Colombia ( 10.5025° N , 67.6057° W ), 25 m a.s.l., 2 Dec. 2018 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M.) • 1 ♂ , ZFMK (Ar 21967), between Maracay and Puerto Colombia ( 10.4304° N , 67.5998° W ), 380 m a.s.l., 2 Dec. 2018 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M.) • 2 ♀♀ , 3 juvs , MIZA 105765 ( MAGS 1393 ), La Montañita , carretera Tejerias-Tiara [ 10.213° N , 67.176° W ], 28 Feb. 1994 (A.R. Delgado , M.A. González S.) • 1 ♀ , 1 juv. , MIZA 105642 ( MAGS 161 ), Colonia Tovar [approximately 10.405° N , 67.303° W ], 2 May 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 2 ♀♀ , 1 juv. , CAS (9027227), Henri Pittier National Park , Rancho Grande [ 10.349° N , 67.684° W ], cloud forest , 29 Dec. 1970 (W.B. Peck ). – Bolívar • 2 ♂♂ , 2 ♀♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21968), and 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ , 1 juv. in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-162), Ciudad Guayana , Parque La Llovizna ( 8.3130° N , 62.6724° W ), 50 m a.s.l., 11 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M.) • 2 ♂♂ , 4 ♀♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21969), and 1 ♂ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-174), same locality but 8.3112° N , 62.6742° W , 30 m a.s.l., 14 Nov. 2018 • 1 ♂ , MIZA 105628 ( MAGS 1369 ), Los Pijiguaos [approximately 6.57° N , 66.81° W ], May 1992 (J.M. Ayala L.) • 1 ♂ , MIZA 105696 ( MAGS 1322 ), Guri [ 7.77° N , 63.04° W ], 9 Oct. 1991 (A.R. Delgado , M.A. González-S.) • 2 ♂♂ , MIZA 105717 ( MAGS 1191 ), Camp 4, Cerro Guaiquinima (Las cuevas), 980 m a.s.l., 18 Jan. 1990 ( C. Toro ). – Capital • 1 ♀ , 1 juv. , MIZA 105592 ( MAGS 1028 ), near Hotel Humboldt [ 10.542° N , 66.875° W ], 17 Jan. 1987 (C.E. Avila ). 6 ♂♂ , 2 ♀♀ , 7 juvs , MIZA 105672 ( MAGS 1167 ), El Ávila National Park , Quebrada Quintero [ 10.518° N , 66.851° W ], 19 Aug. 1989 (A.R. Delgado , E. González , M.A. González-S.) • 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ , 1 juv. , MIZA 105728 ( MAGS 1171 ), El Ávila National Park , Los Venados [ 10.536° N , 66.898° W ], 9 Sep. 1989 (E. González-S., M.A. González-S.) • 6 ♂♂ , 5 ♀♀ , 3 juvs (with one parasitized egg-sac), MIZA 105699 ( MAGS 1374 ), Las Canoas [ 10.547° N , 66.932° W ], 1200 m a.s.l., 12 Oct. 1992 (E. González L., E. González S., M.A. González-S.). – Carabobo • 1 ♀ , MIZA 105605 ( MAGS 336 ), San Esteban [ 10.425° N , 68.013° W ], 4 Aug. 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 4 ♂♂ , 1 juv. , MIZA 105749 ( MAGS 333 ), same data. – Falcón • 2 ♂♂ , 2 ♀♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21970), and 1 ♂ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-177), Península de Paraguaná , Cueva del Guano ( 11.9000° N , 69.9479° W ), 140 m a.s.l., 16 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M.) • 2 ♂♂ , 2 ♀♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21971), and 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-180), Península de Paraguaná , near Cueva del Guano ( 11.9026° N , 69.9456° W ), 140 m a.s.l., 16 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M.) • 6 ♂♂ , 4 ♀♀ , 1 juv. , ZFMK (Ar 21972), and 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-185), Península de Paraguaná , Cerro Santa Ana ( 11.8177° N , 69.9468° W ), 480 m a.s.l., 17 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M.) • 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21973), Medanos de Coro ( 11.5690° N , 69.7147° W ), 3 m a.s.l., 17 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M.) • 2 ♂♂ , 1 ♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21974), and 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-191), Sierra de San Luis , E Curimagua ( 11.1748° N , 69.6273° W ), 960 m a.s.l., 18 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M.) • 2 ♀♀ , MIZA 105621 ( MAGS 1132 ), Paraguaná , Cerro Capuchino , Montecano [approximately 11.94° N , 69.97° W ], 27 Jan. 1988 (R. Ramirez ) • 1 ♀ , MIZA 105795 ( MAGS 738 ), San Juan de los Cayos [ 11.173° N , 68.408° W ], 3 Oct. 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 1 ♀ , MIZA 105796 ( MAGS 711 ), Riecito [ 10.906° N , 68.767° W ], 30 Sep. 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 2 ♂♂ , 2 ♀♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21975), and 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ , 1 juv. in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven20-151), forest near Santa Cruz de La Alegría ( 10.8795° N , 68.4949° W ), 100 m a.s.l., 15 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M. , Q. Arias C.). – Guárico • 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ , MIZA 105695 ( MAGS 988 ), El Morrito , road Altagracia de Orituco to San Francisco de Macaira [ 9.916° N , 66.283° W ], 10 Apr. 1982 (R. Torrealba ) • 1 ♀ , 1 juv. , MIZA 1808 , Agua Salada [approximately 9.163° N , 65.775° W ], 540 m a.s.l., “sistema cuevas y cañones”, 22 Nov. 1997 (O. Villarreal ). – Lara • 4 ♂♂ , 5 ♀♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21976), and 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-198), between Coro and Barquisimeto, El Rodeo ( 10.7240° N , 69.3008° W ), 400 m a.s.l., 19 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M.) • 2 ♂♂ , 1 ♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21977), and 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-201), between Barquisimeto and Boconó ( 9.5906° N , 69.8343° W ), 1370 m a.s.l., 20 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M.). – Mérida • 2 ♀♀ , (paratypes of M. pseudoblechroscelis ), MIZA 105737 ( MAGS 986 part), near Mesa Bolívar [ 8.474° N , 71.598° W ], 25 Dec. 1981 (A.R. Delgado , J.A. González D., M.A. González-S.) • 1 ♂ , MIZA 105611 ( MAGS 1053 ), Mesa Bolívar [ 8.474° N , 71.598° W ], 21 Dec. 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 6 ♂♂ , 3 ♀♀ , 2 juvs , MIZA 105744 ( MAGS 835 ), Represa General J.A. Páez [ 8.900° N , 70.617° W ], 5 Sep. 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 2 ♀♀ , 1 juv. , MIZA 105683 ( MAGS 838 ), Dtto Rivas Dávila , between La Playa and San Pablo [ 8.28° N , 71.80° W , ~1350 m a.s.l.], 4 Sep. 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ , 1 juv. , ZFMK (Ar 21978), Las Piedras , ‘site 1’ ( 8.8939° N , 70.6448° W ), 1710 m a.s.l., forest remnant , 7 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.) • 7 ♂♂ , 3 ♀♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21979–80), and 1 ♂ , 2 ♀♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven20-108), Las Piedras , ‘site 2’ ( 8.9002° N , 70.6279° W ), 1700 m a.s.l., 7 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.) • 6 ♂♂ , 1 ♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21981), forest above Caño Azul (8.8543° N, 71.3651° W), 280 m a.s.l., 13 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.). – Miranda • 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-149), El Ávila National Park , between Sabas Nieves and La Silla ( 10.5245° N , 66.8566° W ), 1600 m a.s.l., 7 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M.) • approximately 4 ♂♂ , 10 ♀♀ , 10 juvs , MIZA 105595 ( MAGS 1022 ), Boca de Cura [ 10.20° N , 66.30° W ], 17 Jan. 1987 (A.R. Delgado , M.A. González-S.) • approximately 10 ♂♂ , 2 ♀♀ , 2 juvs , MIZA 105598 ( MAGS 1021 ), same data • 1 ♀ , MIZA 105619 (separated from MAGS 1111 ), road Carenero-Chirimena [approximately 10.57° N , 66.15° W ], 9 Feb. 1988 (A.R. Delgado , M.A. González-S.) • 1 ♀ , MIZA 105623 ( MAGS 1121 ), Hacienda Santa Rosalia , alrededores de Arag̹ita [approximately 11.215° N , 66.458° W ], 16 Jul. 1988 (A.R. Delgado , M.A. González-S.) • 3 ♂♂ , 3 juvs , MIZA 105633 ( MAGS 1087 ), Zamora , Salmerón [approximately 10.472° N , 66.369° W ], 15 Aug. 1987 (A.R. Delgado , M.A. González-S.) • 1 ♂ , MIZA 105686 ( MAGS 966 ), 10 km N de Guatire [approximately 10.55° N , 66.58° W ], Hacienda Santa Rosa , 19 Feb. 1982 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 1 ♂ , 3 ♀♀ , MIZA 105697 ( MAGS 845 ), near Tacarigua de Mamporal (“ a 1 km de Tacarigua de Mamporal en la via a Rio Chico ”) [ 10.382° N , 66.147° W ], 31 Oct. 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., M.A. González S.) • 3 ♂♂ , MIZA 105747 ( MAGS 1441 ), San Antonio de los Altos [ 10.369° N , 66.973° W ], “Urb. Las Minas, Ed. Altair ”, 1998 ( M. García ) • 2 ♂♂ , 6 ♀♀ , 4 juvs , MIZA 105704 ( MAGS 242 ), El Castaño , carretera a Arag̹ita [ 10.283° N , 66.400° W ], 27 Jun. 1981 (A.R. Delgado de G., J.A. González D., M.A. González S.) • 1 ♀ , MIZA 105721 ( MAGS 1093 ), Guatopo National Park , Macanilla , 5 Sep. 1987 (A.R. Delgado, M.A. González-S.) • 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ , MIZA 105690 ( MAGS 506 ), El Ávila National Park (“estribaciones del Avila”), El Paraiso [ 10.530° N , 66.819° W ], ~1500 m a.s.l., 16 Aug. 1981 (J.A. González D.) • 1 ♂ , 1 juv. , MIZA 105617 ( MAGS 1109 ), La Julia , via Pico Naiguatá [between 10.50° N , 66.81° W and 10.54° N , 66.78° W ], 15 Oct. 1987 (H. Bird ) • 1 ♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21982), El Ávila National Park , near La Julia , ‘site 3’ ( 10.5066° N , 66.8119° W ), 1090 m a.s.l., forest near dry brook bed , 22 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M.) • 2 ♂♂ , ZFMK (Ar 21983), El Ávila National Park , near La Julia , trail to Rancho Grande ( 10.5164° N , 66.8089° W ), 1460 m a.s.l., degraded forest along small stream , 22 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M.) • 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ , MIZA 105670 ( MAGS 1169 ), Rio Aricagua [ 10.583° N , 66.234° W ], 27 Aug. 1989 ( M.A. González-S.) • 1 ♀ , MIZA 105800 ( MAGS 985 ), Dtto. Brión , Hacienda La Maravilla , 6 Jun. 1981 ( A. Utrera ) • 7 ♂♂ , 3 ♀♀ , 3 juvs , MIZA 105594 ( MAGS 1030 ), Estanque Ayala [ 10.505° N , 66.763° W ], 25 Jan. 1987 (A.R. Delgado de G., E.S.S., E.G.L., M.A. González S.) • 1 ♂ , 2 ♀♀ , 2 juvs , MIZA 105668 ( MAGS 1165 ), old road Caracas-Charallave , Los Amarillos [ 10.367° N , 66.945° W ], Jul. 1989 (A.R. Delgado , M.A. González-S.) • 2 ♂♂ , 1 ♀ , CAS (9027359), Caracas , Hacienda La Trinidad [approximately 10.42° N , 66.85° W , 1100 m a.s.l.], 28 Dec. 1970 (W.B. Peck ) • 1 ♀ , 1 juv. , MIZA , El Volcán , Topotepuy [ 10.417° N , 66.851° W , ~1450 m a.s.l.], 11–13 Nov. 2019 (O. Villarreal , J. Rodriguez ). – Monagas • 1 ♂ , 8 juvs , MIZA 105710 ( MAGS 1318 ), Cueva del Guácharo [ 10.174° N , 63.552° W ], 12 Oct. 1991 (A.R. Delgado , M.A. González-S.) • 1 ♂ , 2 ♀♀ , 3 juvs , MIZA 105752 ( MAGS 1313 ), same locality, 14 Oct. 1991 ( M. de García , A.R. Delgado , M.A. González S.). – Nueva Esparta • 1 ♀ , MIZA 105780 ( MAGS 1007 ), Cerro Copei [ 11.047° N , 63.891° W ], Dec. 1986 (C.E. Contreras A.). – Portuguesa • 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ , MIZA 105574 ( MAGS 1400 ), Paez , Acarigua (Pozo Blanco) [approximately 9.52° N , 69.15° W ], 7 Jul. 1995 (A.R. Delgado , M.A. González-S.). – Táchira • 5 ♂♂ , 2 ♀♀ , 1 juv. , ZFMK (Ar 21984), and 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven20-123), SE Pregonero , forest near La Trampa ( 7.9236° N , 71.7152° W ), 1300 m a.s.l., 10 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber, O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C. ). – Trujillo • 7 ♂♂ , 3 ♀♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21985–86), and 2 ♀♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-216), between Boconó and Burbusay ( 9.3945° N , 70.2674° W ), 1820 m a.s.l., 22 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M.) • 1 ♀ , 1 juv. , MIZA 105762 ( MAGS 1386 ), Boconó , Miticún [ 9.235° N , 70.264° W ], 26 Dec. 1993 (E. González S., M.A. González S.) • 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ , MIZA 105778 ( MAGS 1011 ), near Boconó , Hacienda La Encomienda [ 9.284° N , 70.317° W ], 27 Dec. 1986 (R. Manzanilla ) • 1 ♂ (palps missing), MIZA 1809 , route to Buena Vista via La Gira , 650 m a.s.l., 14 May 2005 ( O. Villarreal M., H. Escalona ) • 1 ♂ , ZFMK (Ar 21987), and 1 juv. in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven20-140), near El Encanto ( 9.7562° N , 70.7418° W ), 150 m a.s.l., among rocks , 13 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M. , Q. Arias C.). – La Guaira • 3 ♂♂ , 1 ♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21988), and 1 ♂ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven18-159), El Limón , above road Colonia Tovar-Puerto Cruz ( 10.4566° N , 67.2548° W ), 1535 m a.s.l., 9 Nov. 2018 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M.) • 4 ♂♂ , 2 ♀♀ , 3 juvs , MIZA 105742 ( MAGS 993 ), Hacienda El Limón [approximately 10.475° N , 67.283° W ], 26 Nov. 1986 (A.R. Delgado , M.A. González-S.) • 3 ♂♂ , 2 ♀♀ , 1 juv. , MIZA 105777 ( MAGS 983 ), same locality, 12 Feb. 1982 (M.A. González S.) • 2 ♀♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21989), El Limón , ‘site 1’ ( 10.4788° N , 67.3010° W ), 600 m a.s.l., forest remnant along small stream , 21 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M.) • 2 ♂♂ , 2 ♀♀ , 1 juv. , ZFMK (Ar 21990), and 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven20-171), El Limón , ‘site 2’ ( 10.4774° N , 67.2819° W ), 1235 m a.s.l., forest along stream , 21 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M.) • 1 ♀ , 1 juv. , MIZA 105583 ( MAGS 1412 ), Galipán [approximately 10.55° N , 66.89° W ], 26 Jun. 1996 (J.A. González D.). – Yaracuy • 1 ♂ , MIZA 105641 ( MAGS 1085 ), Yurubi National Park [approximately 10.48° N , 68.66° W ], 11 Sep. 1986 (E. Yustiz ) • 1 ♀ , MIZA 1810 , Minas de Aroa [approximately 10.422° N , 68.878° W ], “tunel de la casa de montaña” , 22 Dec. 1998 (O. Villarreal ) • 6 ♂♂ , 3 ♀♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21991), and 2 ♀♀ , 1 juv. in pure ethanol, ZFMK (Ven20-157), Yurubi National Park ( 10.4913° N , 68.6564° W ), 140 m a.s.l., forest along stream , 16 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.) • 2 ♂♂ , ZFMK (Ar 21992), Guaquira , ‘site 1’ ( 10.2951° N , 68.6535° W ), 120 m a.s.l., forest along stream , 16 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.) • 3 ♂♂ , 4 ♀♀ , ZFMK (Ar 21993), Guaquira , ‘site 2’ ( 10.2807° N , 68.6530° W ), 150 m a.s.l., forest along stream , 17 Feb. 2020 (B.A. Huber , O. Villarreal M., Q. Arias C.) . Distribution This species is widespread in northern South America (cf. Huber 2018: fig. 724). The map in Fig. 1048 shows only the known Venezuelan records and those in neighboring regions.