Mallinella acanthoclada, 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 : 57

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3369.1.1
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/933EDA4C-B91D-FFA5-CBC2-FD3AFDD13FBD
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Mallinella acanthoclada
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Mallinella acanthoclada View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs 213 View FIGURES 212–215. 212 , 218 View FIGURES 216–220. 216–217, 219 , 224–225 View FIGURES 221–226. 221–223 , 232 View FIGURES 227–234. 227 , 242 View FIGURES 235–242. 235 , 265–272 View FIGURES 265–272. 265–268 )

Material examined. Holotype: ♂, THAILAND, Chumphon Province: Lang Suan District, Khao Kai Jae Waterfall (95º50'4.6"N, 98º56'33.7"E), semi-evergreen rain forest, 80 m, 17–18 July 2002, leg. P.J. Schwendinger ( MHNG, TH–02/08) . Paratypes: THAILAND, Prachuab Khiri Khan Province: 2♂, 2♀, Hua Hin District , Kaeng Krachan NP, Pala-U Waterfall (12º32'16.8''N, 99º27'47.2''E), evergreen gallery forest, 300 m ca. 65 km west of Hua Hin, 19 August 2004, leg. P.J. Schwendinger ( MHNG, TH–04/03) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. The male of M. acanthoclada sp. nov. bears a close resemblance to that of M. elongata sp. nov. but can be distinguished by the different embolic shape ( Figs 265 View FIGURES 265–272. 265–268 cf. 278). The female can be distinguished from all other members of the hilaris -group by the simple epigynal plate lacking modification on its anterior margin ( Fig. 232 View FIGURES 227–234. 227 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet, acanthocladus, is a latinized combination of the Greek words (ακανƟα = thorn; κλαδος = branch, shoot) and refers to the modified tegular spine of male palp.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 8.24; prosoma 4.05 long, 3.32 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.22, ALE 0.22, PME 0.18, PLE 0.20, AME–AME 0.12, AME–ALE 0.22, PME–PME 0.18, PME–PLE 0.40; MOQ: 0.54 long, 0.52 anterior width, 0.50 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 11.19 (3.07, 3.44, 2.46, 2.21), II 10.94 (2.82, 3.44, 2.70, 1.69), III 11.07 (2.95, 3.32, 2.95, 1.84), IV 13.18 (3.07, 4.30, 4.06, 1.74).

Coloration ( Fig. 213 View FIGURES 212–215. 212 ). Carapace yellowish brown, margin orange-brown. Sternum and chelicerae brown. Legs yellowish. Dorsum of opisthosoma sepia. Dorsal pattern: first pair represented by large pale spots fusing medially; second to fifth pairs by transverse chevrons.

Palp ( Figs 224–226 View FIGURES 221–226. 221–223 , 265–268 View FIGURES 265–272. 265–268 ). Retrolateral margin of palpal tibia moderately elevated, apex bluntly pointed. RTA digitiform, gradually tapered towards blunt apex. TA with bifid apico-prolateral process; meso-retrolateral ridge triangular, sharply pointed, directed mesad; baso-prolateral tooth sharply pointed, directed anteriad. Tegular spine pronounced, terminally blunt. Embolic base originating at 270°. Embolus unbranched, with thin subapical flange, apex dilated.

Female (paratype). Total length 9.74; prosoma 4.80 long, 3.88 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.28, ALE 0.26, PME 0.20, PLE 0.22, AME–AME 0.12, AME–ALE 0.24, PME–PME 0.18, PME–PLE 0.46; MOQ: 0.58 long, 0.56 anterior width, 0.52 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 11.88 (3.46, 3.60, 3.02, 1.80), II 10.56 (3.40, 3.58, 2.14, 1.44), III 11.20 (3.30, 3.32, 2.80, 1.78), IV 12.70 (3.60, 3.70, 3.38, 2.02).

Coloration. Carapace orange-brown. Sternum and chelicerae brown. Legs yellowish. Dorsum of opisthosoma sepia. Dorsal pattern: first pair represented by large pale spots fusing together; second to fifth pairs by broad transverse chevrons.

Genitalia ( Figs 232 View FIGURES 227–234. 227 , 242 View FIGURES 235–242. 235 , 269–272 View FIGURES 265–272. 265–268 ). Epigynal plate subrectangular, slightly excavated posteromedially. Lateral borders retracted, terminally rounded. Spermathecae constricted mesolaterally, apically rounded.

Natural history. Mallinella acanthoclada sp. nov. inhabits evergreen lowland forest.

Distribution. Southern Thailand.