Mallinella pecularis, 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 : 239

The pecularis -group

This is a monotypic species-group that possesses a peculiar somatic morphology. The pecularis -group is supported by five synapomorphies. It is considered an extremely autapomorphic clade within Mallinella . The epigastric region of M. pecularis sp. nov. is heavily sclerotized, extending beyond the anterior edge of the dorsum to form an anteroventral ring which extends dorsally and encircles the petiole (Ch. 16, state 1) (Figs 1089–1090). The AER is slightly procurved and the PER is almost straight (Ch. 11, state 0). The baso-retrolateral side of the cymbium greatly extends posteriorly, almost reaching the middle part of the palpal tibia (Ch. 57, state 1). The expanded tegulum of the male palp is easily recognizable by a membranous depression surrounded by elevated ridges (Ch. 61, state 1) (Fig. 1092). The coxae of leg I and IV are all white, whereas other leg coxae are yellowish brown (Ch. 35, state 2). All of these characters are absent from any other group of Mallinella .

A few undescribed African species are similar to M. pecularis sp. nov. in having an ovoid, heavily sclerotized dorsal scutum which occupies more than half the length of the opisthosoma (Fig. 1091). In other species-groups, the dorsal scutum appears to merge with a dark opisthosomal background and is difficult to be distinguished from the surrounding soft tissue (the zebra -, sciophana -, fasciata -, melanognatha -group) or is represented by a narrow, longitudinal band (the annulipes -, fronto -group). The dorsal pattern on the opisthosoma is very similar: the first pair of pale markings is obscured, located underneath a dorsal scutum; the second pair is represented by discontinuous bands; the third to fifth pairs are recognized as pairs of short, transverse median bands. The reduction or complete absence of a dorsal pattern on the opisthosoma seems to be secondarily derived in other African species.

Species account. Only a single species.

Distribution. Northern Thailand.