Mallinella punctata, Dankittipakul & Jocqué & Singtripop, 2012

Dankittipakul, Pakawin, Jocqué, Rudy & Singtripop, Tippawan, 2012, Systematics and biogeography of the spider genus Mallinella Strand, 1906, with descriptions of new species and new genera from Southeast Asia (Araneae, Zodariidae) 3369, Zootaxa 3369 (1), pp. 1-327 : 223-229

Mallinella punctata sp. nov.

( Figs 990–992 , 998 –1005, 1007, 1018–1019, 1052–1055)

Material examined. Holotype: ♂, MALAYSIA, Borneo, Sabah State: West Coast Residency, Kinabalu NP, Mt. Kinabalu , 1,500 m, Liwagu Trail, section 2, 21 May 1987, leg. D. Burckhardt & I. Lobl ( MHNG, 34a) . Paratypes: 2♂, 2♀, same data as holotype ( MHNG, 34a). MALAYSIA, Borneo, Sabah State : 1♂, Kinabalu NP, park headquarters, Liwagu river , 1,505 m, FIT No. 3, 14 August – 1 September 1988, leg. A. Smetana ( MHNG, B–168) ; 1♂, Tambunan District, Crocker Range 1,600 m, km 51–52 route Kota Kinabalu – Tambunan, 18 May 1988, leg. D. Burckhardt & I. Lobl ( MHNG, 30a) .

Diagnosis. Mallinella punctata sp. nov. can be easily distinguished by the presence of four pairs of deep circular pits on the lateral margin of the shiny carapace ( Figs 990, 992 , 998 –1001). The general conformation of the male palp closely resembles that of M. adonis sp. nov. but differs in the details of the TA structure. Females can be easily recognized by their genital morphology, particularly by the strongly convoluted ducts in the anterior part of the spermathecae (Fig. 1018).

Etymology. The Latin epithet (punctatus) refers to the punctures of the carapace.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 5.35; prosoma 3.61 long, 3.00 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.20, ALE 0.16, PME 0.12, PLE 0.16, AME–AME 0.20, AME–ALE 0.28, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.32; MOQ: 0.52 long, 0.44 anterior width, 0.40 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 14.34 (3.44, 4.50, 3.60, 2.78), II 11.88 (2.80, 3.00, 2.8, 2.16), III 11.96 (3.14, 3.60, 3.22, 2.00), IV 16.52 (4.00, 4.86, 5.16, 2.48).

Coloration ( Figs 990–991 ). Carapace orange. Sternum orange, margin yellowish. Chelicerae orange. Legs yellowish. Dorsum of opisthosoma dark brown. Dorsal pattern: first and second pairs fused, forming paired reniform patches; third to fifth pairs round spots, third pair largest.

Palp (Fig. 1052). RTA digitiform, slightly curved in ventral view, apex blunt. TA rostrated, apico-prolateral fold triangular; apico-retrolateral ridge elevated; apico-prolateral process slender, sharply pointed, directed mesad; baso-retrolateral ridge rounded, slightly extended. Embolic base with broad triangular membranous area. Embolus bifurcated, branching medially; lateral ramus linear, gradually tapered distally; mesal ramus shorter, curved apically, apex truncated, directed backwards.

Female (paratype). Total length 5.68; prosoma 3.70 long, 3.10 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.20, ALE 0.18, PME 0.12, PLE 0.18, AME–AME 0.20, AME–ALE 0.30, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.34; MOQ: 0.52 long, 0.42 anterior width, 0.36 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 13.40 (3.22, 4.20, 3.36, 2.60), II 11.10 (2.80, 3.50, 2.78, 2.00), III 11.18 (2.94, 3.36, 3.00, 1.88), IV 15.44 (3.74, 4.54, 4.82, 3.32).

Coloration ( Fig. 992 ). Carapace orange. Sternum orange, margin yellowish. Chelicerae orange. Legs yellowish. Dorsum of opisthosoma dark brown. Dorsal pattern: first and second pairs fused, forming paired reniform patches; third and fourth pairs round spots, third pair larger; fifth pair medially connected.

Genitalia (Figs 1007, 1018–1019, 1053–1055). Epigynal plate ovoid, posterior margin protruded. Lateral borders sharply pointed. Spermathecae divided into two parts: apex subtriangular in anterior view, internal ducts convoluted, provided with 3 large coils; basal part widest, strongly modified, with distinct posterior swelling.

Natural history. This species was collected by sifting thick decomposing organic matter in humid evergreen forests at relatively high altitude. One male was collected by a flight intercept trap suggesting that this is an active species, roaming freely on the forest floor.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality on Borneo.

Figures

FIGURES 988–992. 988. Mallinella superba sp. nov., holotype. 989. M. superba sp. nov., paratype. 990–991. M. punctata sp. nov., holotype. 992. M. punctata sp. nov., paratype. 988–990, 992. Habitus, dorsal. 991. Ditto, ventral.

FIGURES 998–1001. 998–1001. Mallinella punctata sp. nov., male. 998. Carapace, dorsal. 999. Row of muscle points. 1000. First muscle point. 1001. Last muscle point.