Mallinella limushan 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 : 249-253

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.10169340
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03840E45-6856-FFA0-4D8D-FBC2FAA073B9
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Mallinella limushan Lu & Li
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Mallinella limushan Lu & Li , sp. nov.

Figs 3 View FIGURE 3 , 4 View FIGURE 4 , 5B View FIGURE 5 , 6E–H View FIGURE 6

Type material. Holotype: male ( IZCAS-Ar 44641 ), Quling Ancient Forest Park (19°10.686′N, 109°44.490′E, elevation 655 m), Limushan Nature Reserve, Hainan, China, 12 August 2007, C. Wang leg. GoogleMaps Paratypes: 1 male ( IZCAS-Ar 44642 ), Jianfengling National Forest Park (18°44′39.3′′N, 109°50′33.7′′E, elevation 977 m), Ledong, Hainan, China, 26 April 2009, G. Tang leg GoogleMaps ; 1 female ( IZCAS-Ar 44643 ), same data as previous, but (18°44.415′N, 108°51.802′E, elevation 819 m), 16 May 2011, Y. Zhou leg. GoogleMaps

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

Diagnosis. Mallinella limushan sp. nov. resembles M. lisongi Lin & Li, 2023 (cf. Figs 3 View FIGURE 3 , 4 View FIGURE 4 , 5B View FIGURE 5 , 6E–H View FIGURE 6 and Lin et al. 2023: 90, figs 76A–B, 77A–C, 82A, 84E–F) in that the males have similar apically pointed conductor and filiform embolus ( Fig. 3A–B View FIGURE 3 ), and the females have similar cylindrical spermathecae ( Fig. 4B–C View FIGURE 4 ). Males can be distinguished by the cymbial fold approximately total length of cymbium ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ; vs. cymbial fold approximately 2/3 length of cymbium), by the tegular apophysis ear-shaped in ventral view, with triangular apico-prolateral fold, indistinct transverse mesal ridge and elevated basal ridge ( Figs 3A–B View FIGURE 3 , 5B View FIGURE 5 ; vs. tegular apophysis with anterior-prolateral flange blunt at tip and triangular anterior-prolateral tooth, with broad base), and by the retrolateral tibial apophysis without dorsal ramus ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ; vs. dorsal ramus of retrolateral tibial apophysis present, shorter and dentiform); females can be distinguished by the median plate relatively narrow, excavated medially on both anterior and posterior margins, posterior margin with semi-circular tubercle at center ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ; vs. median plate broad, posterior edge slightly recurved, posterior margin slightly protruding over epigastric furrow), and by the spermathecae with 9 spirals, base of spermathecae seperated ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ; vs. spermathecae stout, with 8 spirals, base of spermathecae connected). The new species can also be easily distinguished from other sobria -group species by the shape of tegular apophysis and spirals of spermathecae.

Description. Male (holotype; Fig. 6E–F View FIGURE 6 ): Total length 6.57; prosoma 3.43 long, 2.36 wide; opisthosoma 3.14 long, 2.16 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.21, ALE 0.15, PME 0.13, PLE 0.16, AME-AME 0.06, AME-ALE 0.17, PME-PME 0.14, PME-PLE 0.34; MOQ: 0.66 long, 0.96 anterior width, 0.41 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 8.03 (2.03, 0.84, 1.84, 1.79, 1.53), II 6.86 (1.83, 0.88, 1.48, 1.58, 1.09), III 6.82 (1.84, 0.84, 1.31, 1.68, 1.15), IV 8.89 (2.20, 0.91, 1.78, 2.48, 1.52). Spination: femora I–II p001, d111, III p001, d111, r001, IV d1111, r001; patellae III–IV 101; tibiae I p11, v112, II p11 v22122, III p11, d01, r121, v2222, IV p2211, d11, r121, v2122; metatarsi I v212, IIv222, III p112, r112, v222, IV p012, r012, v2222.

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

Palp ( Fig. 3A–B View FIGURE 3 ). Retrolateral tibial apophysis digitiform, broad at base, gradually tapering towards its bluntly pointed apex. Cymbial fold occupying more than half the length of cymbium but never reaching its apex. Tegular apophysis rostrated and ear-shaped in ventral view; apico-prolateral fold triangular, directed mesad (APF in Fig. 5B View FIGURE 5 ); transverse mesal ridge indistinct (MR in Fig. 5B View FIGURE 5 ); basal ridge elevated (BR in Fig. 5B View FIGURE 5 ). Conductor thick, apex sharp in retrolateral view, pointing anteriorly; base of conductor with sclerotized plate sitting in membranous area. Embolic base oval, originating at 180° position, with membranous area anteriorly. Embolus elongated and filiform.

Female (paratype; Fig. 6G–H View FIGURE 6 ): Total length 7.60; prosoma 3.32 long, 2.25 wide; opisthosoma 4.28 long, 2.91 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.14, ALE 0.13, PME 0.13, PLE 0.13, AME-AME 0.11, AME-ALE 0.23, PME-PME 0.14, PME-PLE 0.37; MOQ: 0.59 long, 0.93 anterior width, 0.36 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 6.70 (1.80, 0.83, 1.45, 1.31, 1.31), II 6.07 (1.62, 0.82, 1.22, 1.24, 1.17), III 6.02 (1.62, 0.82, 1.10, 1.37, 1.11), IV 7.92 (2.03, 0.83, 1.57, 2.08, 1.41). Spination: femora I–II p001, d1111, III p001, d211, r001, IV d1111, r001; patellae III–IV 101; tibiae I v2112, II v2222, III p11, d010, r11, v2222, IV p111, d11, r111, v2222; metatarsi I v2122, II v2222, III p1121, r111, v222, IV p112, r1111, v222.

Pattern and colouration ( Fig. 6G–H View FIGURE 6 ). Colour and somatic morphology as in male, except as noted. Carapace reddish-brown. Endites yellowish to brown. Legs brown to reddish-brown, femora I–II, IV with distinct dorsal swelling.

Genitalia ( Fig. 4A–C View FIGURE 4 ). Median plate excavated medially on both anterior and posterior margins, posterior margin provided with semi-circular tubercle at center. Spermathecae heavily sclerotized, three times longer than wide, with 9 spirals. Fertilization ducts originating posteriorly between boundary of insemination ducts and spermathecae.

Variation: Male: total body length 6.41.

Natural history. The species was found in leaf litter.

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

Note. The new species Mallinella limushan sp. nov. can be classified into the sobria species group based on the following characteristics: the elongated posterior ventral spines are sharply pointed; the retrolateral tibial apophysis is widest at half its length and laterally constricted at base; the embolic base is round, the filiform embolus is bladelike; the triangular ventral sclerite of the conductor is sharply pointed and directed anteriad; the epigynal plate is broad and slightly excavated anteriorly; the modified distal part of spermathecae is strongly convoluted.