Description of the female of Melloina gracilis (Schenkel, 1953) (Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae) with comments on the familial placement of Melloina

Abstract

: The female of Melloina gracilis (Schenkel, 1953), a species previously known only from males, is de- scribed. This is the second species of the genus known from both sexes. Detailed morphological description and figures of the female specimen are presented. A reanalysis of Mori & Bertani, 2020 matrix is done and some com- ments about the familial placement of the genus Melloina Brignoli, 1985 are made.