Mallinella simillima, 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 : 143-146

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3369.1.1
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5254233
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/933EDA4C-B9AB-FF0C-CBC2-F9A1FD303BCC
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Mallinella simillima
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Mallinella simillima View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs 610–611 View FIGURES 608–611. 608 , 617 View FIGURES 615–624. 615 , 631 View FIGURES 625–633. 625 , 648–655 View FIGURES 648–655. 648–651 )

Material examined. Holotype: ♂, MALAYSIA, Pahang State: Tioman Islands , pied du Gunung (02º47'181"N, 104º07'892"E), rain forest, 160 m, 2 October 2001, leg. L. Monod ( MHNG, TM –17) . Paratypes: MALAYSIA, Pahang State: 1♂, 1♀, Tioman Islands , near Kg. Genting, 100–250 m (2°46’N, 104°08’E), 20 August 2004, leg. A. Schulz ( MHNG, GoogleMaps AS –04/04).

Diagnosis. Mallinella allorostrata sp. nov., M. fasciata comb. nov., and M. simillima sp. nov. are closely related and resemble each other in both somatic and genitalic morphology. M. simillima sp. nov. can be easily distinguished by the different shape of its spermathecae which are situated at the end of distinctly long insemination ducts ( Fig. 631 View FIGURES 625–633. 625 ); males differ by the shape of lateral ramus and the slightly elevated median ridge on the TA ( Fig.648 View FIGURES 648–655. 648–651 ) (ridge strongly pronounced in M. allorostrata sp. nov. and M. fasciata comb. nov.).

Etymology. The specific epithet is the superlative of similis (= similar) and refers to the close resemblance between this new species and M. fasciata comb. nov.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 5.70; prosoma 3.50 long, 2.24 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.26, ALE 0.18, PME 0.18, PLE 0.18, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.22, PME–PME 0.16, PME–PLE 0.34; MOQ: 0.56 long, 0.50 anterior width, 0.46 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 14.38 (3.46, 4.36, 4.04, 2.47), II 13.68 (3.25, 3.71, 3.44, 3.25), III 12.05 (3.06, 3.50, 3.52, 1.94), IV 16.16 (3.55, 4.74, 5.30, 2.50).

Coloration ( Fig. 610 View FIGURES 608–611. 608 ). Carapace yellowish brown. Chelicerae brown. Sternum pale brown. Legs yellowish, except for coxae pale, almost white. Dorsum of opisthosoma pale brown, without distinctive pattern.

Palp ( Figs 648–651 View FIGURES 648–655. 648–651 ). Retrolateral side of palpal tibia slightly elevated, blunt terminally. RTA digitiform, gradually tapered towards round apex. TA rostrated; apico-retrolaterally with broad triangular fold directed mesad; apico-prolateral process slender, sharply pointed, directed mesad; mesal ridge poorly elevated in ventral view. Tegular spine broad at base. Embolic base in transverse direction; anterior membranous area almost indistinct. Embolus provided with longitudinal groove; lateral ramus longer than mesal ramus, rounded distally, subterminally narrowed; mesal ramus with lanceolate apex.

Female (paratype). Total length 5.76; prosoma 3.54 long, 2.26 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.28, ALE 0.18, PME 0.18, PLE 0.18, AME–AME 0.11, AME–ALE 0.18, PME–PME 0.16, PME–PLE 0.34; MOQ: 0.56 long, 0.50 anterior width, 0.47 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 14.50 (3.50, 4.41, 4.08, 2.48), II 13.78 (3.28, 3.74, 3.47, 3.26), III 12.15 (3.09, 3.53, 3.55, 1.96), IV 16.29 (3.58, 4.78, 5.37, 2.55).

Coloration ( Fig. 611 View FIGURES 608–611. 608 ). Carapace brown. Sternum orange-brown. Chelicerae dark brown. Legs yellowish brown. Dorsum of opisthosoma dark sepia, without distinctive pattern.

Genitalia ( Figs 617 View FIGURES 615–624. 615 , 631 View FIGURES 625–633. 625 , 652–655 View FIGURES 648–655. 648–651 ). Epigynal plate provided with shallow anterior median incision, posterior margin straight. Spermathecae distally rounded, apices divergent.

Natural history. Mallinella simillima sp. nov. inhabits a small island predominantly covered with lowland evergreen rainforests and secondary forests.

Distribution. Known only from Tioman Island.