Mallinella cryptocera, 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 : 48-50

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3369.1.1
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5254114
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/933EDA4C-B90A-FFAC-CBC2-F93FFB7D3AAC
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Mallinella cryptocera
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Mallinella cryptocera View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs 156–157 View FIGURES 156–161. 156 , 164–168 View FIGURES 162–165. 162–163 View FIGURES 166–169. 166–167 , 170–173 View FIGURES 170–173. 170–173 , 186–193 View FIGURES 186–193. 186–189 )

Material examined. Holotype: ♂, THAILAND, Mae Hong Son Province: Pang Ma Pha District, evergreen forest at km 133.2 off Pai – Mae Hong Son Road , 830 m, 13 October 1995, leg. P.J. Schwendinger ( MHNG TH–9A) . Paratypes: 2♂, 3♀, 1 juvenile, same data as holotype ( MHNG, TH–9B; TNHM) .

Diagnosis. Males of M. cryptocera sp. nov. can be recognized by the filiform embolus ( Fig. 186 View FIGURES 186–193. 186–189 ) and the presence of a mesal tooth on the TA ( Figs 186–188 View FIGURES 186–193. 186–189 ). This new species is similar to M. callicera sp. nov. in possessing a peculiar triangular elevation on the retrolateral side of the male palpal tibia. Females can be distinguished from those of M. platycera sp. nov. by the shorter spermathecae, their unmodified apex are distinctly wider.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a latinized combination of the Greek words (κρʋπτος = hidden, secret; κƐρας = horn, antler), and refers to the second RTA which is found only in this species-group. Noun in apposition.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 6.23; prosoma 3.06 long, 2.51 wide; opisthosoma 3.16 long, 2.32 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.12, ALE 0.14, PME 0.15, PLE 0.14, AME–AME 0.14, AME–ALE 0.23, PME–PME 0.18, PME–PLE 0.33; MOQ: 0.52 long, 0.38 anterior width, 0.48 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 8.46 (2.32, 2.60, 1.86, 1.67), II 8.27 (2.13, 2.60, 1.04, 1.48), III 8.18 (2.23, 2.51, 2.13, 1.30), IV 9.96 (2.32, 3.25, 3.06, 1.32).

Coloration ( Fig. 156 View FIGURES 156–161. 156 ). Carapace uniform orange-brown. Sternum brown. Chelicerae dark brown. Legs yellowish; coxae whitish; femora and tibiae dark brown proximally. Dorsum of opisthosoma dark sepia. Dorsal pattern: first and second pairs fused, forming reniform patches; third and fourth pairs represented by paired oblong bands; fifth pair by transverse chevron. Dorsal scutum orange-brown, edge sharply defined.

Palp ( Figs 166–167 View FIGURES 166–169. 166–167 , 186–188 View FIGURES 186–193. 186–189 ). RTA digitiform, lateral margins parallel, apex terminally bluntly pointed. Second RTA triangular, slightly curved ventrally, shorter than RTA. Meso-retrolateral side of tibia strongly elevated, perpendicular to RTA in ventral view. TA with short, sharply pointed apico-prolateral fold; apico-prolateral process absent; mesal tooth triangular, situated prolaterally; basal ridge slightly elevated. Embolic base oval; membranous area indistinct. Embolus filiform, originating at 270°.

Female (paratype, MHNG, TH–9B). Total length 7.84; prosoma 3.72 long, 2.45 wide; opisthosoma 4.11 long, 2.41 wide. AME 0.13, ALE 0.14, PME 0.16, PLE 0.14, AME–AME 0.14, AME–ALE 0.26, PME–PME 0.14, PME–PLE 0.33; MOQ: 0.54 long, 0.36 anterior width, 0.48 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 8.13 (2.35, 2.45, 2.05, 1.27), II 8.55 (2.31, 2.69, 2.05, 1.48), III 8.17 (2.37, 2.60, 1.92, 1.27), IV 8.76 (2.45, 2.52, 2.35, 1.43).

Coloration ( Fig. 157 View FIGURES 156–161. 156 ). Similar to males but slightly larger in size; dorsum of opisthosoma mottled with numerous pale spots.

Genitalia ( Figs 168 View FIGURES 166–169. 166–167 , 170–173 View FIGURES 170–173. 170–173 , 190–193 View FIGURES 186–193. 186–189 ). Epigynal plate rectangular, anterior margin with shallow median incision, posterior margin straight. Spermathecae short, digitiform, apex rounded and broad.

Natural history. Mallinella cryptocera sp. nov. inhabits evergreen forest in northern Thailand.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Thailand, Mae Hong Son Province).