Mallinella Strand, 1906

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

Genus Mallinella Strand, 1906

Diagnosis. The genus is characterised by the presence of a single row of ventral spines situated in front of the spinnerets, the palpal tibia with one or three apophyses, the conductor consisting of several parts, the embolic base connected to a tegulum via a thin membrane, the epigyne with a deep anterior median incision and the short and diverging copulatory ducts ( Dankittipakul et al. 2012).

Type species. Mallinella maculata Strand, 1906 , by monotypy.

Distribution. Africa, Asia, Central and South America ( World Spider Catalog 2024)

Key to the species of Mallinella known from Sri Lanka (males)

1. PVS tear-shaped; narrowed at base ( Fig. 2E )............................................................... 2

- PVS cylindrical or elongated gradually; broad at base ( Figs 1E , 3E , 4E , 5E )...................................... 3

2. MR and LR of embolus sharply pointed at apex................................... Mallinella redimita ( Simon, 1905)

- MR and LR blunt at apex ( Figs 2G , 8B )............................................. Mallinella milkyway sp. nov.

3. Embolus branched ( Figs 1F–G , 2F–G , 4F–G , 8A–B, 8D )..................................................... 4

- Embolus unbranched ( Figs 3F–G , 5F–G , 8C, 8E )........................................................... 5

4. TA hook-shaped; VTA beak-shaped; TS indistinct ( Figs 1F–H , 8A )..................... Mallinella dhanahami sp. nov.

- TA elongated; VTA modified as a triangular hump; sharp TS present ( Figs 4F–H , 8D )........... Mallinella oreo sp. nov.

5. TT large well developed; TS indistinct; BPF subtriangular ( Figs 3F–H , 8C )................. Mallinella moncheri sp. nov.

- TT indistinct; TS triangular; BPF indistinct ( Figs 5F–H , 8E )............................... Mallinella truffles sp. nov.

Key to the species of Mallinella known from Sri Lanka (females)

1. PVS tear-shaped, narrowed at base ( Fig. 2E ).................................................................2

- PVS cylindrical or elongated gradually, broad at base ( Figs 1E , 3E , 4E , 5E )....................................... 3

2. Anterior median depression present, globular spermathecae ( Figs 2C–D , 7B–G , 9C–D )...... Mallinella milkyway sp. nov.

- Anterior median depression absent, truncated spermathecae.......................... Mallinella redimita ( Simon, 1905)

3. V- shaped EP present ( Figs 1C , 3C , 9A, 9E )................................................................ 4

- Semi-circular or sub-rectangular EP present ( Figs 2C , 4C , 5C , 9A, 9E, 9G, 9I ).................................... 5

4. Digitiform LB, no anterior median depression of epigyne, highly sclerotized EF (1C, 9A)... Mallinella dhanahami sp. nov.

- Triangular LB, deep median depression of epigyne, weakly sclerotized EF (3C, 9E)......... Mallinella moncheri sp. nov.

5. Semi-circular EP, small median depression of epigyne, highly sclerotized EF (4C, 9G)............ Mallinella oreo sp. nov.

- Sub-rectangular EP, no median depression of epigyne, weakly sclerotized EF (5C, 9I)......... Mallinella truffles sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Mallinella dhanahami sp. nov. A, E–H holotype male (IFS_ZOD_234) and B–E paratype female (IFS_ZOD_235). A–B habitus, dorsal; C epigyne intact, ventral; D vulva, ventral; E posterior ventral spines, ventral; F left palp, prolateral; G idem, ventral; H idem, retrolateral. Abbreviations: APP = apicoprolateral process of tegular apophysis; C = conductor; Cy = cymbium; CF, cymbial fold; DB, dark bands; DS, dorsal scutum; E, embolus; EB, embolic base; EF, epigynal furrow; EP, epigynal plate; F, fovea; ID, insemination ducts, LB, lateral border of the epigyne; LR, lateral ramus of embolus; MR, mesal ramus of embolus; mEB, membranous area of the embolic base; pC, prolateral extension of conductor; PVS, posterior ventral spines; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; S, spermatheca; Sp, spinnerets; T, tegulum; TA, tegular apophysis; TT, tegular tubercle; VTA, ventral tibial apophysis. Scale lines: A–B = 0.5 mm; C–H = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 2. Mallinella milkyway sp. nov. A, E–H holotype male (IFS_ZOD_36) and B–E paratype female (IFS_ZOD_37). A–B habitus, dorsal; C epigyne intact, ventral; D vulva, ventral; E posterior ventral spines, ventral. F left palp, prolateral; G idem, ventral; H idem, retrolateral. Abbreviations: APP, apicoprolateral process of tegular apophysis; C, conductor; Cy, cymbium; CF, cymbial fold; DB, dark bands; DS, dorsal scutum; E, embolus; EB, embolic base; EF, epigynal furrow; EP, epigynal plate; F, fovea; ID, insemination ducts; LB, lateral border of the epigyne; LR, lateral ramus of embolus; MR, mesal ramus of embolus; mEB, membranous area of the embolic base; pC, prolateral extension of conductor; PVS, posterior ventral spines; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; S, spermatheca; Sp, spinnerets; T, tegulum; TA, tegular apophysis; TS, Tegular spine; VTA, ventral tibial apophysis. Scale lines: A–B = 0.5 mm; C–H = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 3. Mallinella moncheri sp. nov. A, E–H holotype male (IFS_ZOD_231) and B–E paratype female (IFS_ZOD_232). A–B habitus, dorsal. C epigyne intact, ventral. D vulva, ventral; E posterior ventral spines, ventral. F left palp, prolateral; G idem, ventral; H idem, retrolateral. Abbreviations: APP, apicoprolateral process of tegular apophysis; BPF, basoprolateral fold of tegular apophysis; C, conductor; Cy, cymbium; CF, cymbial fold; DB, dark bands; DS, dorsal scutum; E, embolus; EB, embolic base; EF, epigynal furrow; EP, epigynal plate; F, fovea; ID, insemination ducts; LB, lateral border of the epigyne; LR, lateral ramus of embolus; MR, mesal ramus of embolus; mEB, membranous area of the embolic base; pC, prolateral extension of conductor; PVS, posterior ventral spines; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; S, spermatheca; Sp, spinnerets; T, tegulum; TS, Tegular spine; VTA, ventral tibial apophysis. Scale lines: A–B = 0.5 mm; C–H = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 4. Mallinella oreo sp. nov. A, E–H holotype male (IFS_ZOD_137) and B–E paratype female (IFS_ZOD_138). A–B habitus, dorsal. C epigyne intact, ventral. D vulva, ventral; E posterior ventral spines, ventral. F left palp, prolateral; G idem, ventral; H idem, retrolateral. Abbreviations: APF, apicoprolateral fold of tegular apophysis; APP, apicoprolateral process of tegular apophysis; BPF, basoprolateral fold of tegular apophysis; C, conductor; Cy, cymbium; CF, cymbial fold; DB, dark bands; DS, dorsal scutum; E, embolus; EB, embolic base; EF, epigynal furrow; EP, epigynal plate; F, fovea; ID, insemination ducts; LB, lateral border of the epigyne; LR, lateral ramus of embolus; MR, mesal ramus of embolus; mEB, membranous area of the embolic base; pC, prolateral extension of conductor; PVS, posterior ventral spines; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; S, spermatheca; Sp, spinnerets; T, tegulum; TS, Tegular spine; VTA, ventral tibial apophysis. Scale lines: A–B = 0.5 mm; C–H = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 5. Mallinella truffles sp. nov. A, E–H holotype male (IFS_ZOD_43) and B–E paratype female (IFS_ZOD_230).A–B habitus, dorsal. C epigyne intact, ventral. D vulva, ventral; E posterior ventral spines, ventral. F left palp, prolateral; G idem, ventral; H idem, retrolateral. Abbreviations: APP, apicoprolateral process of tegular apophysis; C, conductor; Cy, cymbium; CF, cymbial fold; DB, dark bands; DS, dorsal scutum; E, embolus; EB, embolic base; EF, epigynal furrow; EP, epigynal plate; F, fovea; ID, insemination ducts; LB, lateral border of the epigyne; LR, lateral ramus of embolus; MR, mesal ramus of embolus; mEB, membranous area of the embolic base; pC, prolateral extension of conductor; PVS, posterior ventral spines; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; S, spermatheca; Sp, spinnerets; T, tegulum; TS, Tegular spine; VTA, ventral tibial apophysis. Scale lines: A–B = 0.5 mm; C–H = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 7. Mallinella spp., female genitalia: A, B, C, D, E, vulva ventral; F, G, H, I, J, vulva, retrolateral A–F Mallinella dhanahami sp. nov. B–G Mallinella milkyway sp. nov. C–H Mallinella moncheri sp. nov. D–I Mallinella oreo sp. nov. E–J Mallinella truffles sp. nov. Abbreviations: FD, fertilization duct; ID, insemination ducts; S, spermathecae. Scale lines = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 8. A–E. Mallinella spp., male left palps, ventral. A Mallinella dhanahami sp. nov. (IFS_ZOD_234). B Mallinella milkyway sp. nov. (IFS_ZOD_36). C Mallinella moncheri sp. nov. (IFS_ZOD_231). D Mallinella oreo sp. nov. (IFS_ZOD_ 137). E Mallinella truffles sp. nov. (IFS_ZOD_43). Abbreviations: APF, apicoprolateral fold of tegular apophysis; APP, apicoprolateral process of tegular apophysis; BPF, basoprolateral fold of tegular apophysis; C, conductor; E, embolus; EB, embolic base; LR, lateral ramus; MPF, meso prolateral fold; MR, mesal ramus; pC, prolateral extension of conductor; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; T, tegulum; TA, tegular apophysis; TS, tegular spine; TT, tegular tubercle; VTA, ventral tibial apophysis. Scale lines = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 9. Mallinella spp., female genitalia: A, C, E, G, I, epigyne, ventral; B, D, F, H, J, vulvae, ventral. A–B Mallinella dhanahami sp. nov. (IFS_ZOD_235). C–D Mallinella milkyway sp. nov. (IFS_ZOD_37). E–F Mallinella moncheri sp. nov. (IFS_ZOD_232).G–H Mallinellaoreo sp. nov. (IFS_ZOD_138).I–J Mallinellatruffles sp.nov. (IFS_ZOD_230).Abbreviations: EF, epigynal furrow; EP, epigynal plate; ID, insemination duct; LB, lateral border; S, spermatheca. Scale lines = 0.2 mm.