Mallinella elegans, 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 : 219-220

Mallinella elegans sp. nov.

(Figs 984–985, 1009, 1014–1015, 1037–1044)

Material examined. Holotype: ♂, MALAYSIA, Perak State: Chenderiang, north of Tapah , 330–400 m, 15–22 January 1995, leg. P.J. Schwendinger ( MHNG, PM – SP3 ) . Paratypes: MALAYSIA, Perak State: 1♂, Ulu Groh, east of Gopeng , 500 m, 21 January 1994, leg. P.J. Schwendinger ; 1♂, 1♀, Maxwell Hill , 1,100 m, 21 November 1999, leg. G. Cuccodoro & I. Löbl ( MHNG, 11 = PM – SP3 E) .

Diagnosis. Mallinella elegans sp. nov. is closely related to M. adonis sp. nov. but can be distinguished from the latter species by the spermathecae being larger, with slightly divergent apical parts (Fig. 1014); in males by the possession of a filiform embolus instead of a bifurcated one (Fig. 1037).

Etymology. The specific epithet, an adjective, refers to the beautiful male palpal conformation and to the elegant spermathecae which are smooth and simple.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 7.60; prosoma 4.50 long, 3.10 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.32, ALE 0.22, PME 0.20, PLE 0.22, AME–AME 0.28, AME–ALE 0.40, PME–PME 0.22, PME–PLE 0.56; MOQ: 0.62 long, 0.50 anterior width, 0.48 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 16.96 (4.08, 5.32, 4.26, 3.30), II 14.08 (3.56, 4.42, 3.54, 2.52), III 14.15 (3.72, 4.26, 3.80, 2.38), IV 19.56 (4.72, 5.76, 6.10, 2.90).

Coloration (Fig. 984). Carapace dark chestnut-brown. Chelicerae dark brown. Sternum brown. Legs yellowish. Dorsum of opisthosoma dark brown. Dorsal pattern: first and second pairs fused, forming reniform patches; third and fourth pairs represented by paired oval spots, fifth pair by transverse chevron.

Palp (Figs 1037–1039). Retromargin of palpal tibia slightly elevated, bluntly pointed. RTA digitiform, broad at base, gradually tapered anteriorly, slightly bent inwards anteriad. TA rostrated, apico-prolateral fold triangular; apico-prolateral process slender, curved anteriorly; baso-retrolateral ridge slightly elevated, visible only in lateral view. Embolic base triangular, membranous area with irregular shape. Embolus filiform, without branching.

Female (paratype). Total length 7.80; prosoma 4.45 long, 3.30 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 16.58 (3.98, 5.20, 4.16, 3.26), II 13.76 (3.48, 4.34, 3.46, 2.50), III 13.84 (3.64, 4.16, 3.72, 2.32), IV 19.10 (4.62, 5.64, 5.96, 2.88).

Coloration (Fig. 985). Carapace dark chestnut-brown. Chelicerae dark brown. Sternum brown. Legs yellowish orange. Dorsum of opisthosoma dark brown, mottled with numerous minute spots. Dorsal pattern: first and second pairs fused, forming reniform patches; third to fifth pairs represented by paired oval spots, fifth pair with a median spot in between.

Genitalia (Figs 1009, 1014–1015, 1040–1044). Epigynal plate lenticular, posterior margin convex, anteriorly with shallow median incision, with elevated basolateral lobes. Lateral borders parallel, terminally blunt. Spermathecae tubercular, parallel at base, subterminally divergent, apex rounded.

Natural history. The type specimens were collected by means of sifting in evergreen lowland rainforest and evergreen hill forests (330–1,100 m asl).

Distribution. Perak State on the Malay Peninsula.