Mallinella dhanahami, Dayananda & Benjamin, 2025

Dayananda, Naruwan & Benjamin, Suresh P., 2025, Five new species of the genus Mallinella Strand, 1906 (Araneae: Zodariidae) from Sri Lanka, Zootaxa 5570 (1), pp. 100-118 : 101-103

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5570.1.4
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1995C18B-1993-4DC4-B8AB-E4891F148A1E
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14753580
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039D5914-FF96-FFAC-FF4D-F934FC84F947
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Mallinella dhanahami
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Mallinella dhanahami sp. nov.

Figs 1 View FIGURE 1 , 6A, 6F View FIGURE 6 , 7A, 7F View FIGURE 7 , 8A View FIGURE 8 , 9A–B View FIGURE 9 , 10C–E View FIGURE 10

Type material. Holotype ♂: SRI LANKA: Sabaragamuwa Province: Rathnapura District, Gilimale Forest Reserve , 06º45’51’’N 80º25’40’’E, 126 m, 25 March 2024, leg. SP. Benjamin et al. ( IFS_ZOD_234 ) GoogleMaps . Paratype: 1♀, with same data as for holotype ( IFS_ZOD_235 ) .

Etymology. This new species is named after the first author’s grandmother, Dhanahami. Used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Mallinella dhanahami sp. nov. share features such as inwardly projecting digitiform lateral borders of the epigyne, round proximal tubercle on anterior femora and pale oblong spots on the dorsum of opisthosoma with the members of the annulipes-group. Within the annulipes-group, males of M. dhanahami sp. nov. are most similar to the males of M. calilungae as both share bifurcated embolus and elongated TA but can be separated from it by beak shaped VTA (triangular shaped in M. calilungae ), and digitiform RTA (broad triangular ridge in M. calilungae ) (cf. Dankittipakul et al. 2012: figs. 757–759 and Figs 1F–H View FIGURE 1 , 8A View FIGURE 8 ). Females are most similar to the females of M. annulipes as both share V-shaped epigynal plate and the digitiform lateral border of the epigyne but can be separated from it by the anterior median depression (absent in M. annulipes ) and the highly sclerotized epigynal furrow of the epigyne (weakly sclerotized in M. annulipes ). (cf. Dankittipakul et al. 2012: figs. 733–734 and Figs. 1C View FIGURE 1 , 9A View FIGURE 9 ).

Description. Male in alcohol (holotype; Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ). Body length 4.92; carapace 2.70 long, 1.93 wide; opisthosoma 2.22 long, 1.67 wide. Habitus as in Figs 1A View FIGURE 1 , 10C–E View FIGURE 10 . Carapace ovoid, smooth and shiny; fovea straight, longitudinal, red-brown. Clypeus brown, 0.45 high. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.16, ALE 0.09, PME 0.12, PLE 0.09; AME–AME 0.11, AME–PME 0.17, AME–ALE 0.10, ALE–ALE 0.60, PME–PME 0.15, PME–PLE 0.20, PLE–PLE 0.77, ALE–PLE 0.08. MOA 0.45 long, front width 0.39, back width 0.43. Chilum unipartite, trapezoid. Chelicerae 0.92 long, light brown, without teeth. Endites yellow. Labium triangular, yellow-brown, 0.19 long, 0.38 wide. Sternum lateral margins with small semi-circular pits in front of each coxa of third and fourth pair of legs, furnished heavily with sparse black setae, 1.17 long, 0.95 wide ( Fig. 6F View FIGURE 6 ). Legs yellowish, round proximal tubercle on anterior femora ( Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ). Measurements of palp and legs: pedipalp (right) 3.45 (1.15 + 0.59 + 0.62 + 1.09), I 8.50 (2.10 + 0.70 + 1.90 + 1.95+ 1.85), II 7.40 (1.85 + 0.65 + 1.55 + 1.75 + 1.60), III 8.20 (2.05 + 0.70 + 1.60 + 2.15 + 1.70), IV 10.15 (2.30 + 0.60+ 2.25 + 3.25 + 1.75). Leg formula: 4132. Opisthosoma pear-shaped with lanceolate dorsal scutum ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ). Pattern on dorsum of opisthosoma with five pairs of spots: first pair is represented by minute pale spots; second pair is represented by oval spots obliquely arranged; third pair by transverse pale spots; fourth pair by paired spots medially connected; fifth pairs of the pattern on opisthosoma represented by minute pale spots distinctly smaller than anterior second and third pairs ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ). Posterior ventral spines elongated, gradually tapering with smoothly rounded apices. Spinnerets pale yellow ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ).

Palp ( Figs 1F–H View FIGURE 1 , 8A View FIGURE 8 ). RTA digitiform, tapered towards blunt apex; VTA beak shaped ( Figs 1G View FIGURE 1 , 8A View FIGURE 8 ); Retrolateral cymbial fold broad, slightly more than half the length of cymbium ( Fig. 1G View FIGURE 1 ). TA hook-shaped; apico-prolateral process of TA rod-shaped, directed posteromesad ( Figs 1G View FIGURE 1 , 8A View FIGURE 8 ). TS almost indistinct. TT rounded protrusion. Embolic base aligned in longitudinal direction, with narrow membranous area. Embolus medially bifurcated; mesal ramus slender, elongated, lateral ramus broad, blade-like ( Figs 1G View FIGURE 1 , 8A View FIGURE 8 ). Conductor an elevated mound with a groove to accommodate embolus ( Figs 1G View FIGURE 1 , 8A View FIGURE 8 ).

Female in alcohol (paratype; Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ). Body length 5.46; carapace 2.70 long, 1.96 wide; opisthosoma 2.76 long, 2.11 wide. Habitus and details as in male except for the following ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ). Clypeus 0.58 high. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.16, ALE 0.10, PME 0.13, PLE 0.11; AME – AME 0.09, AME – PME 0.14, AME – ALE 0.13, ALE – ALE 0.62, PME – PME 0.16, PME – PLE 0.24, PLE – PLE 0.80, ALE – PLE 0.08. MOA 0.46 long, front width 0.40, back width 0.42. Chelicerae 0.94 long, light brown. Labium 0.29 long, 0.45 wide. Sternum; 1.20 long, 1.06 wide. Measurements of palp and legs: pedipalp (right) 2.72 (0.91 + 0.47 + 0.49 + 0.85), I 7.40 (1.90 + 0.60 + 1.75 + 1.40 + 1.75), II 6.50 (1.60 + 0.55 + 1.55 + 1.30 + 1.50), III 7.35 (1.85 + 0.60+ 1.70 + 1.65 + 1.55), IV 9.05 (2.10 + 0.60 + 1.85 + 2.80 + 1.70). Leg formula: 4132. Opisthosoma oval-shaped; dorsum covered with dense black hairs; without dorsal scutum.

Genitalia ( Figs 1C–D View FIGURE 1 , 7A, 7F View FIGURE 7 , 9A–B View FIGURE 9 ). Epigynal plate narrowed, highly sclerotized, V-shaped, with anterior median depression. Lateral borders narrow, digitiform, terminally blunt. Epigynal furrow sclerotized. Spermathecae short, truncated. Insemination ducts shorter than the length of spermathecae. Fertilization ducts as in Fig. 7F View FIGURE 7 .

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 12 View FIGURE 12 ).