Mallinella myrmecophaga Koh & Dankittipakul

Dankittipakul, Pakawin, Koh, Joseph K. H. & Singtripop, Tippawan, 2014, Three new species and a new record of the spider genus Mallinella Strand, 1906 from Brunei (Araneae, Zodariidae), Zootaxa 3826 (2), pp. 377-385 : 382-383

Mallinella myrmecophaga Koh & Dankittipakul sp. nov.

( Figs 1 , 9–10 , 22–25 )

Mallinella sp. B Koh & Leong, 2013: 336.

Material examined. Holotype: ♀, BRUNEI, Tutong: Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park, zone C1, Merimbun Botanical Trail (N04°35′ 40″, E114°40′ 26″), disturbed forest, on tree trunk, 3 July 2008, J.K.H. Koh leg. (BM, JK.09.07.03.0014).

Diagnosis. Mallinella myrmecophaga sp. nov. belongs to the fasciata -group that includes large, long-legged Mallinella species with indistinct dorsal pattern on the opisthosoma (see also Dankittipakul et al. 2012; figs 604–611). Their female epiygne is relatively broad and anteriorly invaginated. Mallinella myrmecophaga sp. nov. can be distinguished from other members of the fasciata -group by the semi-circular posterior invagination ( Figs 9 , 22, 25 ) and the strongly elevated lateral borders ( Fig. 9 ) on the epigynal plate, in combination with the thickening internal duct system ( Fig. 10 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a Latinised combination of Greek words (= preying on ants), which aptly depicts the circumstances when the holotype was collected, i.e., feeding on a giant forest ant, presumably Camponotus gigas (Latreille, 1802) ( Fig. 1 ). Its sheer size calls to mind that Latin American giant ant-eater Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758. Its arboreal habit reminds one of another ant-eater, Manis javanica Desmarest, 1822 , the Sunda pangolin otherwise known as the Malayan scaly anteater. Although the pangolin is largely terrestrial and often seeks shelter in burrows, it also climbs trees as in this new species.

Description. Female holotype. Total length 7.5; prosoma 3.6 long, 2.3 wide; opisthosoma 3.9 long. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.26, ALE 0.20, PME 0.20, PLE 0.20, AME–AME 0.16, AME–ALE 0.18, PME–PME 0.18, PME–PLE 0.36; MOQ: 0.58 long, 0.52 anterior width, 0.48 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 14.3 (3.6, 4.3, 4.0, 2.4), II 13.8 (3.3, 3.8, 3.5, 3.2), III 12.2 (3.1, 3.6, 3.5, 2.0), IV 16.7 (3.8, 4.8, 5.4, 2.7).

Coloration and pattern ( Fig. 1 ). Prosoma pyriform, strongly convex, in profile highest just behind PME, integument smooth. Fovea deep, longitudinal. Carapace dark brown, almost black, with slightly paler band running between PME and fovea. Chelicerae, labium and sternum dark brown. Gnathocoxae reddish brown, distally pale. Legs bicolored, trochanters to metatarsi dark brown, distal half of tibiae and entire segment of tarsi reddish brown.

Opisthosoma orange-brown, lacking distinctive pattern. Dorsal scutum indistinct, represented by pale longitudinal band on darker background.

Genitalia ( Figs 9–10 , 22–25 ). Epigynal plate W-shaped, longer than wide, with distinct posterior median invagination and strongly elevated anterior lateral borders. Internal ducts thickened, copulatory ducts subtriangular in anterior view, spermathecae as long as copulatory duct, abruptly bent posteriorly, distally narrowed, apices bluntly pointed.

Male. Unknown.

Natural history. This rarely seen species has been found at night on tree trunks feeding on large ants.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3. 1 – 3. Habitus. 1. Mallinella myrmecophaga sp. nov., female holotype. 2. M. platyrhyncha sp. nov., female holotype. 3. M. merimbunenis sp. nov., female paratype.

FIGURES 4 – 11. 4. Leg I – III, showing tubercle (indicated by arrow). 5 – 9, 11. Epigyne, ventral. 10. Internal female genitalia, anterior. 4. Mallinella merimbunenis sp. nov., male holotype. 5. M. bigemina Dankittipakul, Jocqué & Singtripop, 2012, new material from Brunei. 6. M. bigemina, female holotype. 7. M. albomaculata (Bosmans & Hillyard, 1990), female paratype. 8. M. merimbunenis sp. nov., female paratype. 9 – 10. M. myrmecophaga sp. nov., female holotype. 11. M. platyrhyncha sp. nov., female holotype.

FIGURES 22 – 25. Mallinella myrmecophaga sp. nov., female holotype. 22. Internal female genitalia, dorsal. 24. Ditto, lateral. 23. Left spermatheca, anterior. 25. Right spermatheca, contralateral. Scale bar = 0.25 mm.