Mallinella oculobella, 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 : 232-235

Mallinella oculobella sp. nov.

(Figs 1058–1064, 1066, 1071–1078)

Material examined. Holotype: ♂, THAILAND, Chiang Rai Province: Phan District, Doi Luang NP, Poo Kaeng Waterfall , mixed deciduous dipterocarp forest near a waterfall, 800 m, 10.v.2002, leg. P. Dankittipakul ( MHNG) . Paratypes: 2♂, 3♀, same data as holotype ( MHNG, TNHM) . THAILAND, Chiang Mai Province: 1♀, Sankamphaeng District , 410 m, 9 January – 18 February 1986, leg. P.J. Schwendinger ( MHNG, THW05 ) . Phetchabun Province: 1♂, 1♀, Lom Sak District , Nam Nao NP, forests around park headquarters, 11 June 2005, leg. P. Dankittipakul ( MHNG) . Prathumthani , Chainat, Saraburi Provinces : 1,558 ♂, 352♀, 1990–1992, pitfall trapping in citrus orchards, leg. W. Vungsilabutr ( MHNG, TNHM, EZTH) .

Diagnosis. Males of M. oculobella sp. nov. possess a modified TA and an embolic base that is almost entirely membranous (Fig. 1071). Females can be recognized by a simple, transverse epigynal plate with a pair of circular genital orifices (Fig. 1066).

Etymology. The specific epithet ‘ oculobella’ is a combination of Latin words and derived from oculus (noun = eye) and bellus (adjective = beautiful) in view of the large pearly white AME in males of this new species.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 6.70; prosoma 3.42 long, 3.10 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.32, ALE 0.18, PME 0.16, PLE 0.18, AME–AME 0.26, AME–ALE 0.38, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.54; MOQ: 0.86 long, 0.72 anterior width, 0.60 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 12.90 (3.10, 4.05, 3.24, 2.52), II 10.72 (2.70, 3.38, 2.68, 1.94), III 10.78 (2.84, 3.24, 2.88, 1.80), IV 14.88 (3.60, 4.38, 4.62, 2.24).

Coloration (Fig. 1058). Carapace uniform dark brown, finely punctuated. Chelicerae brown. Sternum orangebrown. Coxae and trochanters almost whitish; femora bi-colored: yellowish proximally; brown distally; patellae, tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi yellowish, slightly darker distally. Dorsum of opisthosoma dark brown. Dorsal pattern:

first pair represented by round spots; second pair by paired oblique bands, connected anteriorly by narrow stripe; third to fifth pairs forming chevrons situated medially. Dorsal scutum brown, coriaceous, excavated mesally, occupying half length of opisthosoma.

Palp (Figs 1060–1061, 1071–1073). Retrolateral margin of palpal tibia well-developed, distinctly elevated, apex blunt, pointing posterirorly. RTA digitiform, apex bluntly pointed. Cymbial fold broad, less than half length of cymbium. TA strongly modified: mesal tooth sharply pointed; meso-prolateral tooth blunt; apical process elongated, sharply pointed, curved ventrad; longitudinal fold situated medially, apex directed anteriad; retrolateral margin expanded in ventral view. Embolic base aligned in transverse direction; membranous area occupying nearly entire embolic base, merged with sclerotized part on posterior margin. Embolus spiniform, elongated, gradually tapered towards sharply pointed apex.

Female (paratype). Total length 7.30; prosoma 3.90 long, 3.52 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.20, ALE 0.18, PME 0.16, PLE 0.18, AME–AME 0.24, AME–ALE 0.32, PME–PME 0.18, PME–PLE 0.40; MOQ: 0.52 long, 0.42 anterior width, 0.40 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 15.32 (3.66, 4.80, 3.84, 2.96), II 12.70 (3.20, 3.98, 3.18, 2.30), III 12.78 (3.34, 3.84, 3.42, 2.14), IV 17.64 (4.26, 5.20, 5.50, 2.66).

Coloration (Fig. 1059). Carapace orange-brown. Legs bi-colored: coxae, trochanters and proximal part of femora almost white; distal part of femora, tibiae and metatarsi on anterior legs yellowish, on posterior legs pale brown. Dorsum of opisthosoma dark brown; background mottled with numerous minute pale spots. Dorsal pattern: anteriorly with three pairs of oblique bands; second pair largest; fourth and fifth pairs represented by chevron and short median band, respectively.

Genitalia (Figs 1066, 1074–1076). Epigynal palte rectangular, with two circular genital orifices situated medially. Lateral borders parallel. Insemination ducts cylindrical. Spermathecae heavily sclerotized, reniform, diverging, internal duct large.

Variability. Specimens from central Thailand appear to be smaller in size than those of the northern populations.

Natural history. Mallinella oculobella sp. nov. is a common species found in lowland dipterocarp forests as well as agricultural plantations.

Distribution. Northern and central Thailand.