Mallinella tricuspida, 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 : 187-190

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3369.1.1
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/933EDA4C-B99F-FF20-CBC2-FB47FDC5396F
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Mallinella tricuspida
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Mallinella tricuspida sp. nov.

( Figs 836–837 View FIGURES 836–843. 836 , 844, 846, 848–849 View FIGURES 844–849. 844–846, 848 , 859 View FIGURES 856–865. 856 , 866–873 View FIGURES 866–873. 866–869 )

Material examined. Holotype: ♂, MALAYSIA, Pahang State: Fraser’s Hill, Maxwell Trail (03°42'59.1"N, 101°44'18.9"E), 1,350 m, evergreen hill forest, 12–16 May 2004, leg. P.J. Schwendinger ( MHNG, MAL –04/01) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: 2♀, same data as holotype ( MHNG) GoogleMaps ; 1♂, 2♀, Genting (Highland?), July 1979, leg. F. & J. Murphy ( FJMC, coll. 15043) ; 2♂, 1♀, 26 November 1990, leg. F. & J. Murphy ( FJMC, coll. 19359) .

Diagnosis. Males of M. tricuspida sp. nov. are recognized by the rostrated TA carrying three processes and by a rather broad embolus ( Fig. 866 View FIGURES 866–873. 866–869 ). Females are easily recognized by a short, digitiform tubercle situated on the upper part of the spermathecae visible in anterior view ( Fig. 871 View FIGURES 866–873. 866–869 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun referring to the TA which carries three processes.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 7.88; prosoma 4.60 long, 3.21 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.32, ALE 0.22, PME 0.22, PLE 0.22, AME–AME 0.12, AME–ALE 0.30, PME–PME 0.26, PME–PLE 0.42; MOQ: 0.64 long, 0.54 anterior width, 0.52 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 19.10 (4.58, 6.00, 4.80, 3.72), II 15.84 (4.00, 4.98, 3.98, 2.88), III 15.94 (4.18, 4.80, 4.28, 2.66), IV 22.02 (5.32, 6.48, 6.88, 3.32).

Coloration ( Figs 836 View FIGURES 836–843. 836 , 844, 846 View FIGURES 844–849. 844–846, 848 ). Carapace dark brown. Sternum orange-brown. Chelicerae brown. Legs yellowish brown, except for coxae and patellae yellowish orange. Dorsum of opisthosoma sepia, mottled with numerous minute pale spots; cardiac region pale. Dorsal pattern: first and second pairs fused, forming pale reniform patches; third and fourth pairs represented by two oblique pale patches, and a small round spot in between; fifth pair by transverse chevron.

Palp ( Figs 866–869 View FIGURES 866–873. 866–869 ). Retrolateral margin of palpal tibia triangular, distinctly elevated. RTA digitiform, margins parallel in ventral view, apex bluntly pointed. TA rostrated; apico-prolateral process slender, apex sharply pointed, directed mesad; apico-prolateral fold beak-shaped; meso-prolateral fold triangular, directed mesad. Axis of embolic base in transverse position, with shallow anterior median incision; membranous area broad, triangular,

situated anteriorly. Embolus broad, bifurcated, branching subterminally; mesal ramus strongly modified: broad semi-transparent flange situated posterior to smaller, triangular flange and digitiform extremity.

Female (paratype). Total length 7.98; prosoma 4.36 long, 3.42 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.30, ALE 0.22, PME 0.22, PLE 0.22, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.28, PME–PME 0.24, PME–PLE 0.40; MOQ: 0.60 long, 0.52 anterior width, 0.50 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 17.80 (4.26, 5.58, 4.46, 3.46), II 14.76 (3.72, 4.64, 3.70, 2.68), III 14.85 (3.90, 4.46, 3.98, 2.48), IV 20.50 (4.96, 6.02, 6.40, 3.00).

Coloration ( Fig. 837 View FIGURES 836–843. 836 ). Carapace reddish brown. Sternum orange-brown. Chelicerae yellowish brown. Legs yellowish, except for coxae and patellae pale yellowish. Dorsum of opisthosoma sepia, mottled with numerous minute pale spots. Dorsal pattern: first and second pairs fused, forming pale reniform patches; third and fourth pairs represented by two oblique pale patches, and a small round spot in between; fifth pair by transverse chevron.

Genitalia ( Figs 859 View FIGURES 856–865. 856 , 870–873 View FIGURES 866–873. 866–869 ). Epigynal plate trapezoidal, longer than wide, anterior margin wider than posterior one. Spermathecae divided into two lobes, clearly visible in anterior view: upper lobe with digitiform tubercle; lower lobe subspherical in dorsal view.

Natural history. Mallinella tricuspida sp. nov. inhabits evergreen forests at high altitude (approximately 1,350 m asl).

Distribution. Malay Peninsula.