Mallinella zebra (Thorell, 1881)

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 : 100-101

The zebra -group

The monophyly of the zebra -group is supported by the morphology of the female genitalia: the openings of the secretory glands on the spermathecae (Ch. 97, state 1) ( Figs 441, 443 ).

All the species treated show significant reduction of a pattern on the opisthosoma. In adults, the first and second pairs of pale spots are greatly reduced or completely absent. In males the triangular posterior ventral spines are short, their apex is sharply pointed; the TA has a bifid apical process and a broad, triangular apico-retrolateral fold; the embolus is branching proximally, its mesal ramus is shorter than the filiform lateral ramus; the dorsal scutum appears to merge with a dark opisthosomal background and is difficult to be distinguished from the surrounding soft tissue. Females are recognized by the distal part of spermathecae provided with broad internal coils; the epigynal plate is narrow and flanked with bluntly pointed lateral borders.

Species account. Nine species: Mallinella apodysocrina sp. nov., M. beauforti (Kulczyṅski, 1911) comb. nov., M. cryptomembrana sp. nov. M. mucocrina sp. nov., M. axillocrina sp. nov., M. proboscidea sp. nov., M. vulparia sp. nov., M. vulpina sp. nov., and M. zebra ( Thorell, 1881) .

Distribution. Wallacea and Melanesian Islands.

Figures

FIGURES 440–446. 440–442. Mallinella cryptomembrana sp. nov., holotype. 443–444. M. mucocrina sp. nov., holotype. 445–446. M. vulpina sp. nov., paratype. 440, 443, 445. Internal genitalia, anterior. 441. Ditto, posterior. 442, 444, 446. Ditto, dorsal.