Mallinella fronto (Thorell, 1887)

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 : 242

The fronto -group

Our knowledge of the diversity within Mallinella increases by the description of several new species. The concept of the genus Mallinella is now well-defined and many monophyletic species-groups are proposed. As a result several species that do not belong to any of the species-groups treated above are provisionally considered members of Mallinella sensu lato or the fronto -group. Surprisingly these species form a paraphyletic clade supported by three homoplasies ( Fig. 3, clade 8): the pattern of pale spots on the dorsum of the opisthosoma (Ch. 19, state 1); the TA is not rostrated, usually with a bifid process (Ch. 83, state 0); the epigynal plate is rectangular, generally with anterior median incision (Ch. 91, state 3). Members can be further divided on the basis of morphological and genital characters.

Distribution. Africa, Indian subcontinent, Indochina and Sundaland.

Sub-group 1 accommodates species that share the following diagnostic characters: the smooth and shiny carapace (Figs 1094–1099); the opisthosomal pattern with peculiar posterior chevrons (Figs 1094–1099); the elevated retrolateral side of the male palpal tibia (Fig. 1121); the TA always carrying a bifid apico-prolateral process (Fig. 1115) and a well-developed meso-retrolateral fold pointing mesally (Fig. 1132); the lack of a tegular spine; the slightly excavated epigynal plate without distinct anterior median incision; the digitiform spermathecae always with obvious constriction on the lateral margin.