Mallinella adonis, 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 : 218-219

Mallinella adonis sp. nov.

(Figs 1012–1013, 1032–1036)

Material examined. Holotype: ♂, MALAYSIA, Perak State: Maxwell Hill, 6 km east of Taiping , 700–800 m (4°52’N, 100°47’E), 23 December 2004, leg. A. Schulz. ( MHNG, AS–04/26) . Paratypes: MALAYSIA, Perak State: 2♀, Maxwell Hill , 1,100 m, 21 October 1999, leg. G. Cuccodoro & I. Löbl ( MHNG, 11) .

Diagnosis. Males of this new species closely resemble those of M. elegans sp. nov. in having a TA adorned with a conspicuously large, triangular apico-prolateral fold and a slender apico-prolateral process (Fig. 1032). They can be distinguished by the bifurcated embolus (embolus filiform in M. elegans sp. nov.). Females have similar spermathecae but can be recognized by the more or less parallel lateral sides and the apical part bending outwards in a wider angle (Fig. 1012).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition, referring to a prominent figure in Greek mythology, Adonis, for the beautiful TA of the male palp.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 7.50; prosoma 4.00 long, 3.00 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.30, ALE 0.22, PME 0.20, PLE 0.22, AME–AME 0.26, AME–ALE 0.38, PME–PME 0.22, PME–PLE 0.50; MOQ: 0.60 long, 0.46 anterior width, 0.42 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 16.72 (4.02, 5.26, 4.20, 3.26), II 13.86 (3.50, 4.26, 3.48, 2.52), III 13.96 (3.66, 4.20, 3.76, 2.34), IV 19.28 (4.66, 5.68, 6.02, 2.90).

Coloration. Carapace brown, margin with dark brown marking. Chelicerae dark brown. Sternum brown. Legs yellowish brown. Dorsum of opisthosoma dark brown. Dorsal pattern: first and second pairs fused, forming reniform patches; third to fifth pairs represented by paired oval spots.

Palp (Fig. 1032). RTA broad at base, gradually tapered anteriorly, apex bluntly pointed. TA with relatively broad triangular apico-prolateral fold situated anterior to smaller semi-circular medial ridge; apico-prolateral process slender, sharply pointed; basal tooth blunt, situated retrolaterally. Embolic base elongate-ovoid, aligned in transverse direction; membranous area narrowed, triangular. Embolus bifurcated, branching proximally; apex of mesal ramus dilated distally, partially semi-transparent; lateral ramus widest medially, tapered towards blunt apex.

Female (paratype). Total length 7.76; prosoma 4.10 long, 3.25 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.30, ALE 0.22, PME 0.20, PLE 0.22, AME–AME 0.28, AME–ALE 0.40, PME–PME 0.24, PME–PLE 0.50; MOQ: 0.60 long, 0.46 anterior width, 0.42 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 15.53 (3.72, 4.86, 3.90, 3.00), II 12.88 (3.26, 4.06, 3.22, 2.34), III 12.96 (3.40, 3.90, 3.48, 2.00), IV 17.90 (4.32, 5.26, 5.60, 2.70).

Coloration. Carapace brown. Sternum brown. Chelicerae dark brown. Legs orange-brown, except for coxae yellowish. Dorsum of opisthosoma dark brown. Dorsal pattern: first pair indistinct; second pair represented by irregular shaped patches; third to fifth pairs by transverse bands.

Genitalia (Figs 1012–1013, 1033–1036). Epigynal plate trapezoidal, anterior margin slightly wider than posterior margin, provided with shallow anterior median incision; posterior margin convex. Lateral borders blunt, parallel sides. Spermathecae cylindrical, abruptly diverging sub-apically, apex blunt.

Natural history. Mallinella adonis sp. nov. was collected from an evergreen forests at moderate altitude (700–1,100 m asl).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.