Mallinella oblonga, Zhang, Bao-Shi & Zhu, Ming-Sheng, 2009

Zhang, Bao-Shi & Zhu, Ming-Sheng, 2009, Three new species of the ant spider genus Mallinella Strand, 1906 (Araneae: Zodariidae) from China, Zootaxa 2212, pp. 62-68 : 63-65

Mallinella oblonga sp. nov.

( Figs 1–6 )

Type material: Male holotype from Daqing Mts. Longzhou County (22°18΄N, 106°42΄E), Pingxiang City, Guangxi Province, China, 14 May 2006, M.S. Zhu leg. ( MHBU). Paratypes: China: 1 female, same data as holotype; 1 female, Shilin County (24°46΄N, 103°16΄E), Kunming City, Yunnan Province, 30 June 1983, M.S. Zhu leg. ( MHBU); 1 male, Nanhan village, Wuming County (23°09΄N, 108°16΄E), Nanning City, Guangxi Province, 1 May 2006, M.S. Zhu leg. ( MHBU); 1 male, Lingao County (19°55΄N, 109°41΄E), Hainan Province, 27 July 2007, F. Zhang leg. ( MHBU); 1 male, Bawang Mts. (19°07΄N, 109°04΄E), Hainan Province, 31 July 2007, F. Zhang leg. ( MHBU); 3 males, 2 females, Jianfeng Mts. (19°07΄N, 109°13΄E), Hainan Province, 5 August 2007, F. Zhang leg. ( MHBU); 1 female, Datian Town (19°10΄N, 108°52΄E), Dongfang City, Hainan Province, 6 August 2007, F. Zhang leg. ( MHBU); 1 female, Jianfeng Mts. (19°07΄N, 109°13΄E), Hainan Province, 8 August 2007, F. Zhang leg. ( MHBU); 1 male, Bawang Mts. (19°07΄N, 109°04΄E), Hainan Province, 5 November 2008, M.S. Zhu leg. ( MHBU). Thailand: 19 males, 10 females, Chiang Mai Province, Chom Thong District, Doi Inthanon NP, Doi Inthanon, dry deciduous dipterocarp forest, 510 m, pitfall trap; 25 April–23 May 2000, P. Dankittipakul leg. ( MHNG, TNHM). Chiang Mai Province and District, Doi Suthep-Pui NP, Doi Khum, dry deciduous dipterocarp forest, 310 m, 1 male, leaf litter sample; 20 August 2002, M. & P. Dankittipakul leg. ( MHNG, TH sp 4B). Doi Suthep-Pui NP, Mae Hia, southwest of Chiang Mai city, dry deciduous dipterocarp forest, 350 m: 1 female, 23–30 June 1987 ( MHNG, TH sp 4C); 1 female, 16– 23 June 1987 ( MHNG); 1 female, 7–13 July 1987 ( MHNG, TH sp 4D); 2 males, 1 female, 9–16 June 1987 ( THNM); 1 male, 2–9 June 1987 ( MHNG); 1 male, 19–30 July 1987 ( MHNG); 2 females, 19 October, 19 November 1986 ( MHNG); 1 female, 14–19 July 1987 ( TNHM); 1 female, 1–8 July 1987 ( MHNG); 1 male, 16–23 June 1987 ( TNHM). Lamphun Province, Mae Tha District, Doi Khunthan NP, 1100 m, 24 September 1990. All latter P.J. Schwendinger leg. ( TNHM).

Diagnosis: Males resemble those of Mallinella etindei (van Hove & Bosmans, 1984) (van Hove & Bosmans, 1984: 89, f. 3d–e) from Cameroon in the general structure of the palpal organ, but differs by: (1) the top of retrolateral apophysis of tibia thin, the latter wind; (2) the embolic ramus wide and short, not bifurcate at the end, the end of the latter bifurcate; (3) the retrolateral tip of median apophysis on tegulum smooth, the latter with a acute apophysis ( Figs 2–4 ). Females resemble those of Mallinella hoosi (Kishida, 1935) ( Ono & Tanikawa, 1990: 103, f. 1–9) from Japan in the general structure of the epigyne, but differs from the latter species by: (1) the epigynal plate big, the latter small; (2) the pattern of venter different from the latter ( Figs 5–6 ).

Etymology: The specific name refers to the shape of the female epigynal plate.

Description: Male. Total length 6.12–6.53. Holotype total length 6.53: prosoma 3.24 long, 2.45 wide; opisthosoma 3.26 long, 2.24 wide.

Colour. Carapace ( Fig. 1 ) dark brown. Each eye ringed with black. Chelicerae and endites reddish-brown, the end white. Labium and sternum reddish-brown. Coxae, trochanters, patellae and tibia of legs gray brown; femora black brown; metatarsi and tarsi brown. Dorsum of opisthosoma black brown with six pairs of little white patches, the first pair biggest, anterior median reddish-brown, lateral margin and posterior median yellow brown; venter with widely distributed round spots.

Prosoma ( Fig. 1 ). Carapace longer than wide with a longitudinal median furrow. Eyes: both the eye rows procurved in dorsal view. Diameters of eyes: AME 0.10, ALE 0.08, PME 0.06, PLE 0.06. Interdistances of eyes: AME–AME 0.04, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.05, PME–PLE 0.14, ALE–PLE 0.03. MOA 0.23 long, front width 0.20, back width 0.18. Clypeus height 0.61 and furnished with few hair. Endites end armed with dense black hair. Labium triangular, 0.25 long, 0.30 wide. Sternum 1.43 long, 1.33 wide and furnished with sparse black hair, its lateral margin with small, pointed extensions fitting in coxal concavities of legs.

Opisthosoma ( Fig. 1 ). Oval, longer than wide. Posterior spinnerets much shorter than anterior ones.

Legs. Metatarsi II–IV with ventral hair tufts in the apical part. Dorsum of tibiae and metatarsi armed with trichobothria. Leg spination: Femora: I d 0-1-0-1-1, pl 1(ap); II d 0-1-0-1-1, pl 1(ap); III d 0-1-0-1-1, pl 1-0-1, rl 1(ap); IV d 0-1-0-1-1-1, pl 0-1-0-0-0-1, rl 1(ap); patellae: II–III pl 1-1; IV pl 1-1, rl 1; tibia: I vp1-1-0-1, vr1-0-1-1; II pl 1-1, vp1-1-0-1, vr1-0-1-1; III d1-1-1-1, pl 1-1-1-1, rl 0-1-1-1, v2-2 -2; IV d1-1-1-1, pl 1-1-0-1- 1, rl 1-1-0-1-1, v2-2 -2; metatarsi: I pl 1(ap), vp0-1-1, vr1-1-1; II pl 1(ap), dp0-1-1, vp1-1-0-1, vr0-1-1-1; III pl 1(ap), dp0-1-1-1-1, dr0-1-1-0-1, v2-2 -2; IV pl 1(ap), dp1-1-0-1-1, dr1-1-1, vp0-1-1-1-1, vr 0-1-1-1. Measurements of legs: leg I 8.32 (2.24, 0.98, 1.84, 1.73, 1.53), II 7.44 (2.04, 0.82, 1.53, 1.73, 1.32), III 7.34 (2.04, 0.92, 1.43, 1.73, 1.22), IV 10.11 (2.45, 0.92, 2.04, 2.86, 1.84). Leg formula: 4123.

Male palp ( Figs 2–4 ). Retrolateral apophysis of tibia digitiform, wide at the base; median apophysis on tegulum large, rostrated and point to prolateral, embolic division very thick, embolus with extension edge pleat-shape, embolic ramus wide and short.

Female. Total length 6.32–8.47. One paratype total length 6.83: prosoma 3.37 long, 2.35 wide; opisthosoma 3.37 long, 2.14 wide.

Colour. As in male but generally larger in size. Labium, endites and sternum brown, the end of endites white. Legs yellow brown except trochanters brown and femora gray brown.

Prosoma. Eyes: both the eye rows procurved in dorsal view. Diameters of eyes: AME 0.09, ALE 0.08, PME 0.05, PLE 0.06. Interdistances of eyes: AME–AME 0.04, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.06, PME–PLE 0.16, ALE–PLE 0.03. MOA 0.21 long, front width 0.20, back width 0.18. Clypeus height 0.38. Labium 0.23 long, 0.30 wide. Sternum 0.61 long, 0.68 wide.

Legs. Metatarsi II–IV with ventral hair tufts in the apical part. Dorsum of tibiae and metatarsi armed with trichobothria. Leg spination: Femora: I d 0-1-0-1-1, pl 1(ap); II d 0-1-0-1-1, pl 1(ap); III d 0-1-0-1-1, pl 1-0-1, rl 1(ap); IV d 0-1-0-1-1-1, pl 0-1-0-0-0-1, rl 1(ap); patellae: II–III pl 1-1; IV pl 1-1, rl 1; tibia: I vp1-1-0-1, vr1-0-1-1; II pl 1-1, vp1-1-0-1, vr1-0-1-1; III d1-0-1-1, pl 1-1-1-1, rl 0-1-1-1, v2-2 -2; IV d1-1-1-0-1, pl 1-1-0- 1-1, rl 1-1-0-1-1, v2-2 -2; metatarsi: I pl 1(ap), v2-2 -2; II pl 0-1-1, v2 /0-2-2; III pl 1(ap), dp0-1-1-1-1, dr0-1-1- 1, v2-2 -2; IV pl 1(ap), dp0-1-1-1-1, dr0-1-1-1, vp0-1-1-1-1, vr 0-1-1-1. Measurements of legs: leg I 7.35 (2.04, 0.82, 1.63, 1.53, 1.33), II 5.71 (1.53, 0.71, 1.22, 1.33, 0.92), III 6.94 (1.84, 0.82, 1.33, 1.73, 1.22), IV 9.07 (2.24, 0.92, 1.73, 2.55, 1.63). Leg formula: 4132.

Female genitalia ( Figs 5–6 ). Opening part narrow, epigynal plate nearly rectangle?anteriorly relative straight, wider than long, posterior margin usually with posterior median projection overhanging epigastric furrow; spermathecae tightend and spiral, extending dorsad, with short, tubular intromittent canals; spermathecae distant from each other by twice the diameter of a spermatheca.

Distribution: China (Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan), Thailand (Chiang Mai, Lamphun).

Remark: During the refereeing process of this paper, the referee also examined the species of M. oblonga sp. nov. collected in Thailand. Here adopts the referee’s suggestion that add the material collected in Thailand as paratypes of M. oblonga sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Mallinella oblonga sp. nov., 1 – 4, male holotype. 1, body, dorsal view; 2, left palpal organ, ventral view; 3, same, retrolateral view; 4, the distal part of embolic division, ventral view; 5 – 6, female paratype. 5, epigyne, ventral view; 6, vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1 – 3, 5 – 6, 1 mm; 4, 0.5 mm.