Mallinella ledong Lu & Li, 2023

Lu, Ying, Li, Shuqiang & Yao, Zhiyuan, 2023, Two new ant-eating spiders of the genus Mallinella Strand, 1906 (Araneae, Zodariidae) from Hainan Island, China, Zootaxa 5374 (2), pp. 245-254 : 246-249

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5374.2.5
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:81BF38EB-A84F-4B7E-A4AE-0720A8E7A9C6
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10169338
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03840E45-6853-FFAC-4D8D-FC7EFCEB7779
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Mallinella ledong Lu & Li
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Mallinella ledong Lu & Li , sp. nov.

Figs 1 View FIGURE 1 , 2 View FIGURE 2 , 5A View FIGURE 5 , 6A–D View FIGURE 6

Type material. Holotype: male ( IZCAS-Ar 44638 ), Jianfengling National Forest Park , (18°44′16.6′′N, 108°51′30.5′′E, elevation 905 m), Ledong, Hainan, China, 28 April 2009, G. Tang leg. GoogleMaps Paratypes: 1 male ( IZCASAr 44639 ), Diaoluoshan National Forest Park , (18°39.84′N, 109°55.81′E, elevation 98 m), Lingshui, Hainan, China, 20 April 2009, G. Tang leg GoogleMaps ; 1 female ( IZCAS-Ar 44640 ), same data as holotype GoogleMaps .

Etymology. The specific name refers to the type locality and is a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Mallinella ledong sp. nov. resembles M. rectangulata Zhang, Zhang & Chen, 2011 (cf. Figs 1 View FIGURE 1 , 2 View FIGURE 2 , 5A View FIGURE 5 , 6A–D View FIGURE 6 and Zhang et al. 2011: 58, figs 8–12) in that the males have similar retro-proximal cymbial outgrowth and filiform embolus ( Fig. 1A–B View FIGURE 1 ), and the females have similar nearly rectanglular median plate ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ). Males can be distinguished by the two retrolateral tibial apophyses of tibia: ventral apophysis smaller, bifurcated in retrolateral view, dorsal apophysis large, triangular ( Fig. 1A–B View FIGURE 1 ; vs. ventral apophysis digitiform in ventral view, dorsal apophysis bifurcated), by the tegular apophysis apically bifurcated (arrow 1 in Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ), with pointed apico-retrolateral flange in ventral view, apex semi-transparent, with small meso-retrolateral tooth, and with triangular, semi-transparent baso-retrolateral flange ( Figs 1A–B View FIGURE 1 , 5A View FIGURE 5 ; vs. apex of tegular apophysis pointed prolaterad; basal fold protruding posteriorly, pointed retrolaterad), and by the conductor stripe-shaped, with pointed apex ( Fig. 1A–B View FIGURE 1 ; vs. conductor fishtail in lateral view); females by the spermathecae spherical ( Fig. 2B–C View FIGURE 2 ; vs. spermathecae nearly oval), and by the fertilization ducts pointing laterad ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 ; vs. fertilization ducts pointing posteriorad).

Description. Male (holotype; Fig. 6A–B View FIGURE 6 ): Total length 4.15; prosoma 2.34 long, 1.79 wide; opisthosoma 1.81 long, 1.60 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.09, ALE 0.13, PME 0.10, PLE 0.13, AME-AME 0.07, AME-ALE 0.12, PME-PME 0.09, PME-PLE 0.21; MOQ: 0.44 long, 0.60 anterior width, 0.28 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 6.52 (1.72, 0.67, 1.50, 1.37, 1.26), II 5.91 (1.53, 0.67, 1.28, 1.31, 1.12), III 5.90 (1.59, 0.66, 1.19, 1.49, 0.97), IV 8.43 (2.02, 0.70, 1.87, 2.53, 1.31). Spination: femora I–II p001, d111, III p11, d111, r11, IV p11, d111, r001; patellae III–IV 101; tibiae I p11, v112, II p11 v222, III p11, d11, r11, v222, IV p111, d11, r111, v222; metatarsi I–II v222, III p112, d010, r112, v222, IV p1111, d010, r1111, v2222.

Pattern and colouration ( Fig. 6A–B View FIGURE 6 ). Carapace pear-shaped, in profile highest between PME and longitudinal fovea; tegument rough, covered with pits, reddish-brown. Chilum present, single, triangular, sclerotized, and brown. Chelicerae reddish-brown. Labium triangular, yellowish, basal and lateral margins slightly darker. Endites yellowish, with anteromesal brush of black hairs. Sternum yellowish to brown, shield-shaped, intercoxal sclerites present, precoxal triangles indistinct; anterior margin straight, protruding posteriorly. Legs yellowish to brown. Opisthosoma elongate oval, covered with numerous erect spines. Dorsum of opisthosoma brown, mottled with numerous pale spots. Venter pale, with pair of dark stripes laterally. Posterior ventral spines thin and short, apices bluntly pointed, arranged in single row. Spinnerets yellowish.

Palp ( Fig. 1A–B View FIGURE 1 ). Tibia with two retrolateral tibial apophyses: ventral apophysis smaller, bifurcated in retrolateral view; dorsal apophysis large, triangular, with weakly sclerotized apex. Cymbium with pointed retro-proximal cymbial outgrowth, and without cymbial fold. Tegulum with triangular membranous area in middle. Tegular apophysis apically bifurcated (arrow 1 in Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ); apico-retrolateral flange pointed in ventral view, apex semi-transparent (ARF in Fig. 5A View FIGURE 5 ); meso-retrolateral tooth small (MRT in Fig. 5A View FIGURE 5 ); baso-retrolateral flange triangular, semi-transparent (BRF in Fig. 5A View FIGURE 5 ). Conductor elongate and stripe-shaped, with pointed apex. Embolic base elliptical, originating at 270° position, with large membranous area anteriorly. Embolus filiform, curved and tapered apically.

Female (paratype; Fig. 6C–D View FIGURE 6 ): Total length 5.65; prosoma 2.67 long, 1.84 wide; opisthosoma 2.98 long, 1.95 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.09, ALE 0.11, PME 0.10, PLE 0.13, AME-AME 0.08, AME-ALE 0.20, PME-PME 0.09, PME-PLE 0.30; MOQ: 0.56 long, 0.74 anterior width, 0.32 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 6.14 (1.66, 0.69, 1.38, 1.25, 1.16), II 5.54 (1.46, 0.68, 1.14, 1.23, 1.03), III 5.40 (1.46, 0.63, 1.00, 1.28, 1.03), IV 7.64 (1.83, 0.72, 1.67, 2.14, 1.28). Spination: femora I p001, d111, II p11, d111, III–IV p11, d111, r01; patellae III–IV 101; tibiae I v212, II v122, III–IV p11, d11, r11, v222; metatarsi I–II v222, III p112, r010, r112, v222, IV p1111, d010, r111, v222.

Pattern and colouration ( Fig. 6C–D View FIGURE 6 ). Colour and somatic morphology as in male, except as noted. Carapace dark brown. Legs with darker annuli on femora. Dorsum of opisthosoma dark brown. Venter with one pair of triangular dark marks centrally.

Genitalia ( Fig. 2A–C View FIGURE 2 ). Median plate slightly excavated medially on anterior margins, posterior margin slightly protruding. Spermathecae spherical, as long as wide. Fertilization ducts originating posteriorly between boundary of insemination ducts and spermathecae.

Variation: Male: total body length 4.17.

Natural history. The species was found in leaf litter.

Distribution. China (Hainan, type locality; Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 ).

Note. According to the classification of species groups in Dankittipakul et al. (2012), the new species Mallinella ledong sp. nov. currently can not be placed in any species group.