Mallinella sena Lin & Li, 2023

Lin, Yejie, Li, Shuqiang & Pham, Dinh-Sac, 2023, Taxonomic notes on some spider species (Arachnida: Araneae) from China and Vietnam, Zoological Systematics 48 (1), pp. 1-99 : 97

Mallinella sena Lin & Li , sp. nov. ( Figs 80–81 , 83 , 84I–J )

Etymology. The species is named after Sena, a character in the Nintendo game Xenoblade Chronicles 3; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished from all other hilaris -group species by the male having small white spots and the female lacking spots on dorsum of opisthosoma (vs. big white spots in other species), the conductor with serration and the U-shaped anterior margin of the epigynal plate.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 6.43; carapace 3.12 long, 2.29 wide, opisthosoma 3.31 long, 2.16 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.12, ALE 0.11, PME 0.11, PLE 0.15, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.10, PME–PME 0.14, PME–PLE 0.24, AME–PME 0.17, ALE–PLE 0.05. Leg measurements: I 8.37 (2.19, 2.57, 1.83, 1.78), II 7.73 (2.01, 2.24, 1.86, 1.62), III 7.51 (1.95, 2.00, 2.20, 1.36), IV 10.26 (2.47, 2.75, 3.29, 1.75).

Coloration ( Fig. 84I ). Carapace dark reddish brown, margin dark brown. Sternum and chelicerae reddish brown. Legs yellowish. Dorsum of opisthosoma sepia. Pattern on dorsum: first pair of spots indistinct, followed by two pale transverse bands, first one largest.

Palp ( Figs 80 , 83 ). Retrolateral tibial apophysis digitiform, blunt tip. Tegular spine digitiform, blunt tip. Tegular apophysis rostrated; mesal ridge with blunt tip; baso-prolateral tooth triangular; with broad base. Embolus relatively broad, bifurcated subterminally, mesal ramus longer than lateral ramus.

Female (IZCAS-Ar44096). Total length 6.19; carapace 2.98 long, 2.04 wide, opisthosoma 3.21 long, 1.96 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.15, PME 0.11, PLE 0.15, AME–AME 0.09, AME–ALE 0.15, PME–PME 0.12, PME–PLE 0.24, AME–PME 0.16, ALE–PLE 0.05. Leg measurements: I 6.72 (1.92, 2.14, 1.35, 1.30), II 6.29 (1.78, 1.96, 1.36, 1.19), III 6.28 (1.64, 1.88, 1.73, 1.03), IV 8.66 (2.17, 2.53, 2.57, 1.39).

Coloration ( Fig. 84J ). Similar to that of male except paler and spots absent.

Epigyne ( Fig. 81 ). Epigynal plate strongly elevated, with deep anterior median incision and nearly straight posterior margin. Lateral border terminally bluntly. Spermathecae enlarged, rounded apically.

Material examined. Holotype ♂ (IZCAS-Ar44086), Vietnam: Ninh Binh, Cuc Phuong National Park, Natural Forest , (21.3536°N, 105.6170°E, elev. 436 m), 3 March 2008, Dinh-Sac Pham leg. Paratypes. 5♂ 5♀ (IZCAS-Ar44087–Ar44096), same data as holotype .

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Funding The study was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (31972869).

Acknowledgements The manuscript benefitted greatly from comments by Yuri M. Marusik (Magadan, Russia). Theo Blick (Hummeltal, Germany) checked etymology. Sarah C. Crews (San Francisco, USA) checked English. Chengbin Wen (Hainan, China), Fan Gao (Jiangsu, China), Guyu Lou (Chongqing, China), Haocong Yang (Beijing, China), Li Wan (Sichuan, China), Lingling Liu (Jilin, China), Longfei Wang (Beijing, China), Neng Guo (Hainan, China), Pingzhou Zhu (Beijing, China), Qianhui Zeng (Fujian, China), Run Wen (Hainan, China), Shuangren Liu (Guangxi, China), Shuo Qi (Guangdong, China), Song Li (Yunnan, China), Yi Zheng (Fujian, China), Yilin Hu (Sichuan, China), Zelun Li (Beijing, China) helped in field. Chang Chu (Beijing, China) and Ying Lu (Beijing, China) help measurements. Fan Gao (Jiangsu, China) and Yi Zheng (Fujian, China) helped photograph.

Figures

Figure 80. Mallinella sena Lin & Li, sp. nov., holotype male. A. Left palp, ventral view; B. Same, retrolateral view. Abbreviations: C—conductor; EB—embolic base; E—embolus; PC—prolateral extension of conductor; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; TA— tegular apophysis; TT—tegular tubercle. Scale bars=0.5mm.

Figure 81. Mallinella sena Lin & Li, sp. nov., paratype female. A. Epigyne, ventral view; B. Vulva, dorsal view; C. Same, anterior view. Abbreviations: MP—median plate; S—spermatheca. Scale bars=0.5mm.

Figure 83. Mallinella sena Lin & Li, sp. nov., embolus and tegular apophysis, dorsal view. A. Embolus; B. Tegular apophysis. Abbreviations: AP—apical process; BT—Baso-prolateral tooth; C—conductor; LRE—lateral ramus of embolus; MF—mesoretrolateral fold; MRE—mesal ramus of embolus; MR—mesal ridge. Scale bars=0.1mm.

Figure 84. Habitus, dorsal view, male (A, C, E, G, I) and female (B, D, F, H, J). A–B. Asceua shuangreni Lin & Li, sp. nov.; C–D. Cydrela likui Lin & Li, sp. nov.; E–F. Mallinella lisongi Lin & Li, sp. nov.; G–H. M. pingzhoui Lin & Li, sp. nov.; I–J. M. sena Lin & Li, sp. nov. Scale bars: A–B=0.5mm; C–J=1.0mm.