Mallinella renaria, Zhang & Zhang, 2018

Zhang, Bao-Shi & Zhang, Feng, 2018, Two new species of the spider Family Zodariidae from Laos, Zootaxa 4459 (2), pp. 285-300 : 294-300

Mallinella renaria sp. nov.

( Figs 9–11 )

Type material. Holotype male (Z-Laos-11-64), LAOS, Champasak Province: Pakse City, Tad Etu (N 15°11', E 106°06'), 22 Nov. 2011, Z.Z. Gao leg. P aratypes: 8 female (Z-Laos-11-65-Z-Laos-11-72), same data as holotype.

Diagnosis. According to Dankittipakul et al. 2012, this species should belong to the cryptocera species-group by the following characters: the dorsal opisthosoma with lanceolate dorsal scutum in the male and a pair of anterior reniform patches ( Figs 9A, C ) and the RTA with two apophyses ( Figs 10B, D , 11B ). The new species can be distinguished from other species of the cryptocera -group by the relatively broad embolus with subterminal process, the shorter median apophysis and the epigyne with almost quadrangular plate ( Figs 10A–C, E, F , 11A–E ).

Etymology. The specific name is from Latin word “ renarius ”, in reference to the reniform patches of dorsal opisthosoma; adjective.

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 5.66: prosoma 3.00 long, 2.18 wide; opisthosoma 2.48 long, 1.88 wide. Habitus as in Figs 9A, B . Carapace longer than wide, dark brown, tegument smooth and shiny. Clypeus 0.27 high, dark brown. Anterior eye row almost straight and posterior eye row strongly procurved in dorsal view. Each eye ringed with black. Eye diameters: AME 0.20, ALE 0.16, PME 0.14, PLE 0.09. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.21, ALE–ALE 0.88, AME–PME 0.06, PME–PME 0.13, PME–PLE 0.28, PLE–PLE 1.03, ALE–PLE 0.04. MOA 0.40 long, front width 0.41, back width 0.37. Chilum represented by a single sclerite. Chelicerae dark brown, without teeth on margins of fang furrows, terminal part with row of black setae; fangs short. Endites brown with apices paler and furnished with dense black scopula. Labium triangular, 0.41 long, 0.48 wide, dark brown. Sternum 1.26 long, 1.24 wide, orange-brown with lateral margin darker, with sparse black setae, lateral margin with inter- and intra-coxal triangles. Legs brown, coxae yelllow, femur darker. Leg measurements: leg?6.90 (1.34 + 0.71 + 1.81 + 1.82 + 1.22),? 6.08 (1.54 + 0.73 + 1.63 + 1.59 + 0.59),? 5.10 (0.95 + 0.84 + 1.36 + 1.73 + 0.58),? 8.10 (1.38 + 0.79 + 2.04 + 2.49 + 1.40). Leg formula: 4123. Opisthosoma oval, longer than wide, covered with black short hair, with wide and lanceolate dorsal scutum, with four pairs of white anterior patches, followed posteriorly by two transversal median bands; lateral part with white patches; anterior part of venter slightly sclerotized, yellow, median and posterior part pale with some black and white patches. Spinnerets ( Fig 9B ) yellow brown, ringed with blackish patches, with row of thin spines in front of spinnerets.

Male palp ( Figs 10A–D , 11A–D ): Tibia with meso-retrolateral side moderately elevated; RTA with two elongated, conical extensions, the dorsal one smaller; cymbium slightly curved, without terminal spine; median apophysis with apico-prolateral sharp protrusion directed mesad, with short and blunt apical process directed anteriad and with end of baso-retrolateral fold blunt, directed mesad; apex of conductor irregularly rolled; embolus originating posteriorly at 270°, with oval base and apically with rounded subterminal process.

Female. One of the specimens (Z-Laos-11-65) measured: Total length 6.29: prosoma 3.08 long, 2.06 wide; opisthosoma 2.95 long, 2.23 wide. Habitus as in Figs 9C, D . Clypeal height 0.26. Eye diameters: AME 0.12, ALE 0.08, PME 0.07, PLE 0.11. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.19, ALE–ALE 0.79, AME–PME 0.21, PME–PME 0.15, PME–PLE 0.31, PLE–PLE 0.98, ALE–PLE 0.05, MOA 0.40 long, front width 0.36, back width 0.32. Labium 0.41 long, 0.51 wide. Sternum 0.28 long, 0.27 wide. Leg measurements: I 5.78 (1.19 + 0.78 + 1.31 + 1.40 + 1.10), II 5.29 (1.37 + 0.75 + 1.25 + 1.14 + 0.78), III 4.72 (1.05 + 0.64 + 1.18 + 1.07 + 0.78), IV 7.71 (1.40 + 0.87 + 1.62 + 2.25 + 1.57). Leg formula: 4123. Opisthosoma without dorsal scutum. Color as in male.

Female genitalia ( Figs 10E, F , 11E, F ): Epigynal plate rectangular, anterior margin with shallow median incision, posterior margin straight. Spermathecae tubular, apex rounded and broad; copulatory ducts simple; slender fertilization ducts invisible in dorsal view.

Distribution. Laos (Champasak).

Figures

FIGURE 9. Mallinella renaria sp. nov., male holotype (A–B) and female paratype (C–D). A–D. Habitus (A, C, dorsal view; B, D, ventral view).

FIGURE 10. Mallinella renaria sp. nov., male holotype (A–D) and female paratype (E–F). A–C. Left male palp (A, ventral view; B, retrolateral view; C, prolateral view), D, tibia, retrolateral view; E. Epigyne, ventral view; F. Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURE 11. Mallinella renaria sp. nov., male holotype (A–C) and female paratype (D–E). A–C. Left male palp (A, ventral view; B, retrolateral view; C, prolateral view); D. Epigyne, ventral view; E. Vulva, dorsal view.