Mallinella montana, 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 : 259-262

Mallinella montana sp. nov.

(Figs 1102, 1151, 1178, 1185–1186, 1199–1202, 1210–1215)

Material examined. Holotype: ♂, THAILAND, Chiang Mai Province: Chiang Mai City, Doi Suthep-Pui NP, San Ku, 1,400–1,450 m, near the summit of Doi Pui , evergreen hill forest, pitfall trap, 12–22 October 2004, leg. P. Dankittipakul ( MHNG, TH Sp –2A) . Paratypes: 1♂, 1♀, same data as holotype ( MHNG, TH Sp –2B). THAI- LAND, Chiang Mai Province: from type locality : 1♂, 1♀, 8–12 November 2004 ( MHNG, TH Sp –2D) ; 1♂ (left palp decayed), 2♀, 27 September – 1 October 2004 ( MHNG, TH Sp –2E) ; 1♂, 18–12 September 2004 ( MHNG, TH Sp –2H); all leg. P. Dankittipakul ; 1♀, Doi Pui , 1,650 m , near the summit, pine forest, 8 March 1986, leg. P.J. Schwendinger ( MHNG, TH Sp –2X). Doi Suthep, Huay Kok Ma : 2♂, evergreen hill forest, 1,200 m, leaf litter sample, 5 January 1996, leg. P. Dankittipakul ( MHNG, TH Sp –2G). Doi Suthep, Thum Ryssie : 1♂, 1♀, evergreen hill forest near a creek, 1,180 m, pitfall trap, 4 October – 5 November 1987, leg. P.J. Schwendinger ( MHNG, TH Sp –2F chosen for SEM) ; 1♀, 28 January 1986, leg. P.J. Schwendinger ( MHNG) ; 1♀, 18 January – 19 February 1986, leg. P.J. Schwendinger ( TNHM); Monthatarn Waterfall , 600 m , 16–28 October 1984, leg. Karsholt et al. ( ZMUC). Chomthong District, Doi Inthanon NP, Doi Inthanon , evergreen hill forest, 1,600 –1,680 m : 1♂, pitfall trap, 25 September – 25 October 1999, leg. P. Dankittipakul ( MHNG, TH Sp –2I) ; 1♂, 5–12 October 2006 leg. P. Dankittipakul ( TNHM) ; 2♀, 10–15 August 2005, leg. P. Dankittipakul ( TNHM). Chiang Mai Province, Chiang Dao District, Doi Chiang Dao : 1♀, Pha Tang, gallery evergreen forest at the foot of limestone massif, 510 m, pitfall trap; 25 October –23 November 1990, leg. P.J. Schwendinger ( MHNG, TH Sp –2C); Hauy Mae Kok , 1,500 m : 1♀, 27 January 1996, leg. P.J. Schwendinger ( MHNG TH Sp –2AW); Chiang Dao Wildlife Research Station , gallery evergreen forest along a stream, 450–550 m : 1♂, leaf litter sample; 22 August 2002, leg. P. Dankittipakul ( MHNG, TH Sp –2J). Fang District, Mae Fang NP, Doi Pha Hom Pok : 1♀, evergreen hill forest along a stream, 2,000 –2,200 m, near the summit (2,285 m asl), leaf litter sample; 16–17 December 2002, leg. P.J. Schwendinger & P. Dankittipakul ( MHNG, TH Sp –2Y). Nan Province : 1♀, 1 penultimate male, 1 juvenile, Tah Wang Pha District, Nanthaburi NP which covers Tha Wangpha District, Baan Luang District and Nan City , Doi Wao , evergreen hill forest, 1,280 m , 22 May 2002, leg. P. Dankittipakul ( MHNG, TH Sp –2Z). Mae Hong Son Province : 2♀, Pang Ma Pa District , 700 m asl , 1 December 2002, leg. P. Dankittipakul ( MHNG TH Sp –2 XXX) .

Diagnosis. Males of M. montana sp. nov. are recognized by the very broad and bifurcated embolus. The males are somewhat similar to those of M. shuqiangi sp. nov. but differ by the shorter, lanceolate lateral ramus of the embolus and by a round, subterminal notch on the mesal ramus (Figs 1210–1211, 1246–1247 cf. 1244). Females can be distinguished by the bi-lobed epigynal plate (Fig. 1178); the rather simple internal genitalia, the spermathecae of which are short and stout (Fig. 1151).

Etymology. The specific epithet is the Latin adjective (montanus), meaning from the mountain.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 9.00; prosoma 4.65 long, 3.70 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.30, ALE 0.22, PME 0.22, PLE 0.22, AME–AME 0.20, AME–ALE 0.58, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.70; MOQ: 0.70 long, 0.62 anterior width, 0.62 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 17.32 (4.16, 5.42, 4.34, 3.36), II 14.36 (3.62, 4.52, 3.60, 2.60), III 14.44 (3.78, 4.34, 3.88, 2.42), IV 19.96 (4.82, 5.88, 6.22, 3.00).

Coloration (Fig. 1185). Carapace chestnut-brown. Chelicerae and sternum brown. Coxae yellowish; other leg segments yellowish brown; femora slightly darker distally. Dorsum of opisthosoma dark brown, mottled with numerous minute spots. Dorsal pattern: first pair indistinct; second pair represented by pale round spots aligned in transverse position; third to fifth pairs by a series of thin transverse bands.

Palp (Figs 1210–1212). RTA digitiform, broad at base, gradually tapered towards distally blunt apex. TA rostrated; apical process bifid, mesal branch slightly longer than lateral one; apico-retrolateral fold triangular, apex blunt, directed mesad in lateral view; baso-prolateral tooth enlarged. Tegular spine absent. Embolic base in transverse direction, anterior margin more or less straight, posterior margin with deeply excavated incision. Embolus broad, branching subterminally: mesal ramus notched, with two triangular semi-transparent flanges; lateral ramus shorter, extremity lanceolate.

Female (paratype). Total length 8.70; prosoma 4.40 long, 3.35 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.22, ALE 0.22, PME 0.22, PLE 0.22, AME–AME 0.20, AME–ALE 0.50, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.50; MOQ: 0.66 long, 0.60 anterior width, 0.62 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 16.72 (4.00, 5.24, 4.20, 3.26), II 13.86 (3.50, 4.36, 3.48, 2.52), III 13.94 (3.66, 4.20, 3.74, 2.32), IV 19.26 (4.66, 5.68, 6.02, 2.90).

Coloration (Fig. 1186). Carapace chestnut-brown. Chelicerae and sternum brown. Coxae pale yellowish; other leg segments yellowish. Dorsum of opisthosoma dark brown. Dorsal pattern: first pair strongly reduced, represented by obliquely oval spots; second pair by pale round spots in transverse position; third to fifth pairs by a series of thin transverse bands.

Genitalia (Figs 1151, 1178, 1213–1215). Epigynal plate bi-lobed, with large V-shaped anterior median incision. Lateral borders parallel. Internal genitalia with cylindrical insemination ducts. Spermathecae truncated, short and stout, apex strongly curved backwards.

Natural history. Most of the specimens examined were collected from evergreen hill forests (1,200 –2,200 m asl), except for those collected from Chiang Dao where they were found in a gallery evergreen forest at the foot of a huge limestone massif covering approximately 1,150 square km.

Distribution. Northern Thailand, the provinces of Chiang Mai and Nan. Mallinella montana sp. nov. is likely to occur in evergreen hill forests at altitude above 1,200 m asl in northern Thailand. However, only a few mountain peaks reaching such altitude can be found between Chiang Mai (the Tennesserim Range) and Nan (the Phi Phan Nam Range); this explains the disjunct distribution pattern of this species.