Bull. Natn. Sci. Mus., Tokyo, Ser. A, 30(2), pp. 67–75, June 22, 2004

Spiders of the Family Zodariidae (Araneae) from Dambri,
Lam Dong Province, Southern Vietnam
Hirotsugu Ono
Department of Zoology, National Science Museum, 3–23–1 Hyakunin-cho,Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169–0073 Japane-mail: ono@kahaku.go.jp

Abstract Zodariid spiders of the genera Asceua Thorell, 1887, Mallinella Strand, 1906, andAkyttara Jocqué, 1987, obtained from Dambri in Lam Dong Province, southern Vietnam, are reported. Four new species are described under the names, Asceua piperata, Mallinella momoina,
Mallinella dambrica and Akyttara odorocci. The holotype (female) of Asceua torquata (Simon,
1909) described from Hanoi, northern Vietnam, was re-examined and illustrated for a comparison
with the new species. Both the Asceua species closely resemble each other in the shape of epigynum. Mallinella dambrica seems to be related to M. klossi (Hogg, 1922) known from Lang Biang,
about 100 km apart from Dambri in a northeastern direction, while M. momoina shows peculiar
characters in the genus, especially those of the structure of female genitalia. The genus Akyttara
was discovered in Asia for the first time.
Key words : Taxonomy, Araneae, Zodariidae, new species, Vietnam

Introduction
Through entomological expeditions to Vietnam (1995–2003) made by the National Science
Museum, Tokyo (NSMT), in partnership with theInstitute of Ecology and Biological Resources(IEBR), Hanoi, many specimens of spiders wereobtained from various places in the country for
taxonomical studies. On the basis of this material
two reports were published on the family Zodariidae (Ono, 2003, 2004), including seven speciesof the genus Mallinella Strand, 1906, describedas new. Of these, five species, Mallinella paradisea Ono, 2003 (Mt. Phang Si Pang in Lai
Chau Province), M. nomurai Ono, 2003, and M.
vietnamensis Ono, 2003 (Tam Dao in Vinh Phu
Province), and M. flammea Ono, 2004, and M.
septemmaculata Ono, 2004, (Cuc Phuong National Park in Ninh Binh Province), were recorded from northern Vietnam, while the other two
species, M. karubei Ono, 2003, and M. thinhi
Ono, 2003, were described from Bach Ma National Park in Thua Thien Hue Province situatedin the central part of the country.
Acting as a third part of the series of study, thepresent paper deals with zodariid spiders collected from Dambri (11°30N, 108°E, ca. 800 m inelevation), Lam Dong Province in the southernpart of Vietnam. Although Dambri (Dam B’ri) is
a holiday resort in a mountainous area used fortea production, fortunately like an oasis in thedesert, some primary forests have been preserved
around a waterfall and build a rich spider fauna
including a primitive species of Mesothelae,
Songthela australis, recently discovered (Ono,
2002).
Four new species are recognized in the genera
Asceua Thorell, 1887, Mallinella, Strand, 1906,
and Akyttara, Jocqué, 1987. A new species of
Akyttara is the most interesting one in the four
species, serving as the first representative of thegenus in Asia. For the determination of the new
species of Asceua, I examined the type specimenof Asceua torquata described by Simon (1909)
from Hanoi, northern Vietnam, at the Muséum
National d’Histoire Naturell, Paris (MNHN).

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Two new species of Mallinella, a common zodariid genus in Asia, were also found in the material. Descriptions of the new species will begiven in the following pages.
The abbreviations of morphological terms
used in the present paper are as follows: ALE,
anterior lateral eye; AME, anterior median eye;
PLE, posterior lateral eye; PME, posterior median eye. Type specimens of the new species described herein are for the moment preserved in
the collection of the Department of Zoology, National Science Museum, Tokyo, in the joint ownership between NSMT and IEBR.
Before going further, I wish to express myhearty thanks to the following persons for theirvarious aid in my field research at Dambri in the
periods of May–June, 2002 and April–May,
2003, and in preparing the manuscript of thispaper: Dr. Ta Huy Thinh and Mr. Hoang Vu Tru(IEBR), Dr. Satoshi Shinonaga (Tokyo), Dr. Yutaka Arita (Meijo University), Dr. Haruki Karube(Kanagawa Prefectural Museum), the late Dr.
Jaqueline Heultault and Dr. Christine Rollard(MNHN, Paris), Dr. Mamoru Owada, Dr. Shuhei
Nomura and Ms. Yoshimi Watanabe (NSMT).
This study was supported in part by the Grantsin-aid No. 13575015 and No. 16540431 of the
Monbukagakusho Research Programs, Japan.
Descriptions of New Species
Family Zodariidae
Asceua piperata sp. nov.
(Figs. 1–5)

Diagnosis. This new species seems to be related to Asceua torquata (Simon, 1909) describedfrom Hanoi, northern Vietnam. The type specimen of Asceua torquata deposited in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris was reexamined and herewith illustrated (Figs. 6–7).
Both the Vietnamese species are similar to eachother in the structure of female genitalia, but the
new species can be distinguished from the known
one by the markings on opisthosoma (cf. Figs. 1
and 6) and the details of female genitalia (cf.
Figs. 3–4 and 7).

Type specimen. Female holotype from Dambri
800 m in elevation, Lam Dong Province, southern Vietnam, from 29–V to 1–VI–2002, by flightintercept trapping in forest, S. Nomura leg.
(IEBR and NSMT-Ar 5476).
Comparative material. Storena (Asceua)
torquata Simon, 1909 (Figs. 6–7), female holotype from Hanoi, Tonkin, Vauloger leg. (MNHN
1564): body length 3.25 mm.
Description (based on the female holotype;male unknown). Measurement: Body length 2.96mm; prosoma length 1.44 mm, width 1.04 mm;
opisthosoma length 1.41 mm, width 1.04 mm;
lengths of legs [total length (femurpatella
tibiametatarsustarsus)]: I 4.39 mm (1.19
0.381.001.240.58), II 3.41 mm (0.90
0.380.740.880.51), III 3.67 mm (0.98
0.390.751.050.50), IV 4.77 mm (1.25
0.411.011.500.60).
Prosoma. Carapace longer than wide (length/
width 1.38), with a median furrow. Eyes: anterior
eye row slightly recurved, posterior row procurved
in dorsal view, PLEPMEAMEALE (10 :7.5 : 6 : 3.5 in size), PLE the largest, AME–
AMEAME–ALE, PME–PMEPME–PLE,
clypeus not much longer than the anterior widthof median ocular area (3 : 2), median ocular area
longer than wide (length/width 1.08), wider behind than in front (anterior width/posterior width0.67). Labium triangular, as long as wide, sternum slightly longer than wide (length/width
1.15), its lateral margin with small, pointed extensions fitting in coxal concavities of legs. Chelicera without teeth on margins of fang furrow,fang very short. Palps thick and short. Legs withshort spines on femora I–IV (I 1–1–0, II–IV
1–1–1) and on tibiae III–IV (1ap), long trichobothria on all tibiae, and ventral hair tufts inthe apical part of all metatarsi; upper claws oflegs with 6–7 teeth.
Opisthosoma oval, longer than wide (length/
width 1.35). Posterior spinnerets shorter than theanterior ones and not visible in ventral view (Fig.
2).
Female genitalia (Figs. 3–5): Opening part situated in the anterior part of epigynum, epigynal

Zodariid Spiders from Vietnam

69

Figs. 1–5. Asceua piperata Ono, sp. nov., female holotype (NSMT-Ar 5476). —— 1, Pro- and opisthosomata,dorsal view; 2, spinnerets, ventral view; 3, epigynum, ventral view; 4, female genitalia, dorsal view; 5, left intromittent canal and spermatheca, lateral view. [Scales: Fig. 1, 1 mm; Figs. 2-5, 0.1 mm.]plate with a central guide pocket weakly sclerotized; spermathecae large and globular, with very
long and winding, tubular intromittent canals.
Coloration and markings (Fig. 1). The thoracic
part of carapace chestnut brown, shiny, and the
cephalic part yellowish brown with a bow tie likeblack marking. Chelicera chestnut brown, maxillae yellowish white, labium and sternum lightbrown, palps and legs yellow, with black rings in
the distal part of femora, the distal part of patella,proximal and distal parts of tibiae, and with black
stripes in the ventral side of femora and metatarsi. Opisthosoma dorsally black, with white spots,
ventrally white, spinnerets yellowish brown.
Distribution. Southern Vietnam (at present
known only from the type locality).
Remark. This spider is named with a Latin
word meaning pepper derived from its small
body size like a seed of Japanese pepper, Zanthoxylum piperitum.

Mallinella momoina sp. nov.
(Figs. 8–10)

Diagnosis. This new species shows uniquecharacters of the structure of female genitalia in
known zodariids, for instance, absence of epigynal plate in the opening part, tubular intromittent
canals with enlarged gland, and small and reniform spermathecae. However, I put this species
in the genus Mallinella, sensu lato, because theopenings of genitalia are situated in the posterior
part of epigynum and intromittent canals are notso long as in the next genus Asceua. The generalappearance and coloration of the new species resemble those of Mallinella flammea Ono, 2004,
described from Ninh Binh Province, northern
Vietnam.
Type specimen. Female holotype from Dambri
800 m in elevation, Lam Dong Province, southern Vietnam, 1–VIII–2001, by sifting, S. Nomura
leg. (IEBR and NSMT-Ar 5480).
Description (based on the female holotype;

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Hirotsugu Ono

Figs. 6–7. Asceua torquata (Simon, 1909), female holotype (MNHN 1564); 8–10, Mallinella momoina Ono, sp.
nov., female holotype (NSMT-Ar 5480). —— 6, 8, Pro- and opisthosomata, dorsal view; 7, 9, epigyna, ventral view; 10, female genitalia, dorsal view. [Scales: Figs. 6, 8, 1 mm; Figs. 7, 9–10, 0.1 mm.]male unknown). Measurement: Body length 4.96mm; prosoma length 2.44 mm, width 1.63 mm;
opisthosoma length 2.37 mm, width 1.70 mm;
lengths of legs [total length (femurpatella
tibiametatarsustarsus)]: I 5.92 mm (1.70
0.671.481.190.88), II 5.07 mm (1.44
0.631.111.110.78), III 4.92 mm (1.37
0.590.961.260.74), IV 6.99 mm (1.85
0.591.631.921.00).
Prosoma. Carapace longer than wide (length/
width 1.50), with a median furrow. Eyes: boththe eye rows procurved in dorsal view, PLE
ALEAMEPME (6 : 6 : 5 : 5 in size), AME–
AMEAME–ALE (1 : 3), PME–PMEPME–
PLE (2 : 5), clypeus much longer than the anterior width of median ocular area (14 : 6), medianocular area longer than wide (length/width 1.14),
wider behind than in front (anterior width/posterior width 0.86). Labium triangular, as long as

wide, sternum slightly wider than long (length/
width 0.93), its lateral margin with small, pointed
extensions fitting in coxal concavities of legs.
Chelicera without teeth on margins of fang furrow, fang very short. Palps thick and short. Legs
with short spines, ventral hair tufts present in theapical part of all metatarsi, upper claws of legswith 4–5 teeth. Spination of legs: Femora: dorsal
I 1–0–0–0, II 1–0–1–0, III–IV 1–1–1, prolateral I
0–0–1; patellae: prolateral III–IV 1; tibiae: prolateral III 1–1, IV 1–0–1, retrolateral III–IV 1,
ventral I 2, II–III 1–2–2ap, IV 2–1–2ap; metatarsi: prolateral III–IV 1–1–0–1ap, retrolateral III
0–1–0–1ap, IV 0–1–0–0, ventral I and III 0–2–
2ap, II 1–2–2ap, IV 2–2–2ap.
Opisthosoma oval, longer than wide (length/
width 1.39). Posterior spinnerets shorter than theanterior ones.
Female genitalia (Figs. 9–10): Opening part

Zodariid Spiders from Vietnam

situated in the posterior part of epigynum, epigynal plate absent; spermathecae very small andreniform, with long and tubular intromittent
canals.
Coloration and markings (Fig. 8). Carapace
shiny dark pink, with indistinct markings at the
middle, both the sides dark wine red. Chelicera
reddish brown, maxillae and labium yellowish
brown, sternum light reddish brown, palps andlegs light reddish brown, not annulated. Opisthosoma dorsally black, with white spots, ventrally
between epigastric furrow and spinnerets black,marginated with white, spinnerets yellowish
brown.
Distribution. Southern Vietnam (at present
known only from the type locality).
Remark. The specific name is made with aJapanese word “momo” which means peach or
pink-colored, derived from the color of carapace.
Mallinella dambrica sp. nov.
(Figs. 11–18)

Diagnosis. This new species seems to beclosely related to Mallinella klossi (Hogg, 1922)
described from Mt. Lang Biang about 100 kmapart from Dambri in a northeastern direction.
However, the new species can be distinguishedfrom the latter by the shape of epigynum of female genitalia and the markings on opisthosomal
dorsum (cf. Figs. 15–16 and Hogg, 1922, p. 286,
fig. 1). Mallinella klossi has five pairs of yellowish grey spots on opisthosoma, while M. dambrica has three pairs of white spots.
Type specimens. Male holotype from Dambri,
800 m in elevation, Lam Dong Province, southern Vietnam, from 29–V to 1–VI–2002, by flightintercept trapping in gloomy broad-leaved forest,
S. Nomura leg. (IEBR and NSMT-Ar 5477); one
female paratype from same locality in the same
period, H. Ono leg. (IEBR and NSMT-Ar 5478).
Other specimens examined. Three immature
females with the same data as for the holotype(IEBR and NSMT-Ar 5479).
Description (based on the male holotype andthe female paratype). Measurement: Female:71

Body length 6.59 mm; prosoma length 2.89 mm,
width 2.15 mm; opisthosoma length 3.41 mm,
width 2.22 mm; lengths of legs [total length(femurpatellatibiametatarsustarsus)]: I
9.07 mm (2.070.702.412.191.70), II 7.99mm (2.000.701.742.071.48), III 7.40 mm(1.810.631.632.001.33), IV 10.44 mm(2.370.702.303.261.81). Male: Body
length 6.67 mm; prosoma length 3.15 mm, width
2.15 mm; opisthosoma length 3.11 mm, width
2.00 mm; lengths of legs [total length (femur
patellatibiametatarsustarsus)]: I 13.18 mm(3.070.812.933.632.74), II 10.18 mm(2.670.812.072.701.93), III 9.94 mm(2.590.842.002.811.70), IV 13.18 mm(2.960.892.964.152.22).
Prosoma. Carapace longer than wide (length/
width female 1.34, male 1.46), with a medianfurrow. Eyes: both the eye rows procurved in dorsal view, AMEALEPLEAME (9 : 6 : 5 : 4.5
in size) in female, AMEPLEALEPME (9 :7 : 6 : 5 in size) in male, AME the largest in boththe sex, AME–AMEAME–ALE, PME–PME
PME–PLE (6 : 9 in female, 7 : 11 in male), clypeus
much longer than the anterior width of medianocular area (13 : 10 in female, 17 : 10 in male),median ocular area wider than long (length/width
0.89 in female, 0.95 in male), wider in front thanbehind (anterior width/posterior width 1.19 in female, 1.31 in male), Labium triangular, slightly
wider than long (length/width 0.87 in female,
0.91 in male), sternum slightly longer than widein female (length/width 1.04), as long as wide in
male, its lateral margin with small, pointed extensions fitting in coxal concavities of legs. Chelicera with a denticle on retromargin of fang furrow, fang very short. Legs with long spines on
femora, patella, tibiae and metatarsi as following
spination. Female: Femora: dorsal I 1–0–1–1–1,
II 1–1–1–1, III 1–0–1–1–1, IV 1–1–1–1–1–0–1,
prolateral I 0–0–1–1–0, II–IV 1–1–1, retro-lateral I 0–1–0–0–0, II–IV 0–1–1; patellae: prolateral
II–IV 1, tibiae: prolateral I–III 1–1, IV 1–1–0–1,
retrolateral III 1–1, IV 1–1–0–1, ventral I–II
2–2–1–2ap, III–IV 1–1–1–2ap; metatarsi: prolateral II 1, III 1–1–0–1ap, IV 1–1–1–0–1ap, retro-

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Hirotsugu Ono

Figs. 11–18. Mallinella dambrica Ono, sp. nov.: 11–14, male holotype (NSMT-Ar 5477); 15–18, female
paratype (NSMT-Ar 5478). —— 11, 15, Pro- and opisthosomata, dorsal view; 12, palpal organ, ventral view;
13, palpal organ, retrolateral view; 14, median apophysis, ventral view; 16, epigynum, ventral view; 17, female genitalia, dorsal view; 18, female genitalia, posterior view. [Scales: Figs. 11, 15, 1 mm; Figs. 12–13,
16–18, 0.25 mm; Fig. 14, 0.1 mm.]

Zodariid Spiders from Vietnam

lateral III–IV 1–1–0–1ap, ventral I–II 2–2–2ap,
III–IV 0–2–2–2ap. Male: Femora: dorsal I–III
1–0–1–1–0–1, IV 1–1–1–1–1–1–1, prolateral I
0–1–1–1, II 0–0–1–1, III 1–1–0–0, IV 0–0–0–1,
retrolateral I 1, II–III 0–1–1, IV 0–0–1; patellae:
prolateral II–IV 1; tibiae: prolateral I–IV 1–1–1,
retrolateral III–IV 1–1–1, ventral I–II 2–2–2–
2ap, III 2–2–1–2ap, IV 2–1–2–2ap; metatarsi:
prolateral II 1, III–IV 1–1–1–1–1ap, retrolateral
II 1, III–IV 1–1–1–1–1ap, ventral I–II and IV
1–2–2–2ap, III 2–2–2–2ap. Upper claws of legswith 6–8 teeth.
Male palp (Figs. 12–14): Retrolateral apophysis of tibia digitiform, wide at the base, ventral
apophysis indistinct; median apophysis on tegulum large, its distal part twisted (Fig. 9), embolus
filiform, without embolic apophysis (Fig. 14).
Opisthosoma oval, longer than wide (length/
width female 1.54, male 1.56). Posterior spinnerets shorter than the anterior ones. Male
opisthosoma with a sclerotized plate much longer
than wide.
Female genitalia (Figs.16–18): Opening part
situated in the posterior part of epigynum, epigynal plate indistinct and both the intromittent orifices clearly separated; spermathecae large andreniform, strongly sclerotized, and with very
short intromittent canals.
Coloration and markings (Figs. 11, 15). Female: carapace chestnut brown, lighter at the
middle, chelicerae reddish brown, maxillae, labium, sternum and palps yellowish brown, coxae oflegs yellow, other segments light yellowish brown;
opisthosoma dorsally purplish brown with threepairs of white spots and several bars, ventrally
beige with three black stripes, spinnerets yellowish brown. Male: carapace dark, blackish brown,chelicerae brown, maxillae and labium yellowish
brown, sternum chestnut brown, palps yellowish
brown, femora of legs blackish brown, other segments yellowish brown; opisthosoma dorsally
beige, with indistinct white spots and black
markings, the dorsal plate light brown, ventrally
beige with three black stripes, spinnerets lightbrown.
Distribution. Southern Vietnam (at present

73

known only from the type locality).
Remark. The species name is derived from thetype locality.
Akyttara odorocci sp. nov.
(Figs. 19–24)

Diagnosis. Although spiders of the genus
Akyttara Jocqué, 1987, have been known to be
distributed in Africa, this small Vietnamese spider is regarded as a member of the genus in having scutate opisthosoma, weak femoral organ andthe same arrangement of eyes. Because the structure of its male palpal organ is unique, the new
species seems to be independent under the fragmental situation of our knowledge of zodariid
fauna in Asia.
Type specimen. Male holotype from Dambri
800 m in elevation, Lam Dong Province, southern Vietnam, 1–VIII–2001, by sifting, S. Nomura
leg. (IEBR and NSMT-Ar 5481).
Description (based on the male holotype; female unknown). Measurement: Body length 2.26mm; prosoma length 1.13 mm, width 0.81 mm;
opisthosoma length 0.96 mm, width 0.74 mm;
lengths of legs [total length (femurpatella
tibiametatarsustarsus)]: I 3.27 mm (0.88
0.290.810.750.54), II 2.72 mm (0.78
0.290.560.640.45), III 2.60 mm (0.73
0.300.530.680.36), IV 3.74 mm (1.00
0.300.851.100.49).
Prosoma. Carapace longer than wide (length/
width 1.40), with a median furrow. Eyes: the anterior eye row straight and the posterior row
procurved in dorsal view, AMEPLEPME
ALE (8 : 6 : 5.5 : 5 in size), anterior eyes close toeach other, PME–PMEPME–PLE (5 : 7),
clypeus slightly longer than the anterior width ofmedian ocular area (11 : 9), median ocular area
longer than wide (length/width 1.22), wider infront than behind (anterior width/posterior width
1.13). Labium triangular, wider than long(length/width 1.13), sternum as long as wide,
punctulate, its lateral margin with small, pointed
extensions fitting in coxal concavities of legs.
Chelicera with two teeth on promargin of fang

74

Hirotsugu Ono

Figs. 19–24. Akyttara odorocci Ono, sp. nov., male holotype (NSMT-Ar 5481). —— 19, Pro- and opisthosomata, dorsal view; 20, spinnerets, ventral view; 21, spinnerets, posterior view; 22, palpal organ, ventral view; 23,
same, retrolateral view; 24, same, prolateral view. [Scales: Fig. 19, 0.5 mm; Figs. 20–24, 0.1 mm.]furrow, and a denticle on retromargin, fang very
short. All femora of legs with 1–0–0–0 dorsal
spine, respectively, other segments spineless, tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi with long trichobothria,
upper claws of legs with some teeth.
Male palp (Figs. 22–24): Retrolateral apophysis of tibia spiniform and pointed, ventral
apophysis developed, wide and with spiniform
tips, intermediate apophysis present (Fig. 23);

median apophysis on tegulum simple and spiniform (Fig. 22), embolus filiform and long, without embolic apophysis, distally curved (Fig. 24).
Opisthosoma oval, longer than wide (length/
width 1.30), with a large sclerotized plate. All the
spinnerets relatively short, especially the medianand posterior ones very short and hardly visible(Figs. 20–21).
Coloration and markings (Fig. 19). Carapace

Zodariid Spiders from Vietnam

chestnut brown, chelicerae, maxillae, labium andsternum yellowish brown, palps and legs yellowish brown, except for femora and tibiae of legs
reddish brown. Opisthosoma dorsally covered
with a large plate yellowish brown, two pairs oflarge white spots and several white bars visible
through the plate; the anterior half of venter covered with a yellow plate, the posterior half white,spinnerets light yellowish brown.
Distribution. Southern Vietnam (at present
known only from the type locality).
Remark. The spider is named with a Japaneseword “odoroki” meaning a wonder.
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75

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