Mallinella fronto Thorell 1887
Creators: name: Dankittipakul, Pakawin
name: Tavano, Maria
name: Singtripop, Tippawan
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2011
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Zodariidae
Mallinella
Mallinella fronto

description: Mallinella fronto (Thorell, 1887)
(Figs 1–6, 17–22, 24–26)
Storena fronto Thorell. Thorell, 1887: 65, description of female
Storena exornata Thorell. Thorell, 1897: 193 (description of female, misplaced)
Material examined. Holotype: ♀, BURMA, Schwegoo-myo: leg. L. Fea, 1885 (MSNG, examined). Other material examined. BURMA, Carin Cheba, Bia-po: 1Ƥ, no date, leg. L. Fea (MSNG); 1♂, 1Ƥ, leg. L. Fea, 1885–1889 (MSNG, originally identified as S. exornata). Carin Asciuii Ghecu: 1Ƥ, leg. L. Fea, 1885–1889 (MSNG). Palon: 1Ƥ, leg. L. Fea, 1885–1889 (MSNG, originally identified as S. exornata). Mons-karin [misspelling for Carin which was commonly used in other labels]: 1Ƥ, leg. L. Fea, 1885–1889 (ZMUC, originally identified as S. exornata).
Taxonomic remarks. The female holotype of M. fronto comb. nov. was collected from Schwegoo-myo. One male and one female were collected from Bia-po, misidentified as S. exornata by Thorell. The epigyne of this specimen (Fig. 5) closely resembles the holotype (Fig. 21). As the male is collected together with the female it is most likely that this is the male of S. fronto which is described here for the first time.
Diagnosis. The male palpal structure significantly differs from that of the male holotype of S. exornata, particularly in the shape of the tegular apophysis and its filiform embolus (Figs 12 vs. 17). Females can be separated from S. exornata in having a narrowed, gently curved epigynal plate with concave posterior margin and heavily sclerotized epigastric region (Figs 3–6).
Redescription. Female (holotype): Prosoma pear-shaped, widest between coxae II and III, in profile highest just behind PME. Carapace reddish brown. Sternum pale brown. Legs yellowish. Opisthosoma oval, posteriorly pointed. Dorsum of opisthosoma faint (from preservation). Dorsal pattern represented by two pairs of pale spots, first pair round, second pair obliquely oval, larger than the first one, followed by a broad transverse band and a short triangular band. Genitalia (Figs 1, 21). Median plate of epigyne narrowed, represented by a narrow plate; its posterior margin with more or less triangular median projection protruding over epigastric furrow. Margin of epigastric region heavily sclerotized. Internal genitalia with short insemination ducts and widely separated spermathecae; internal ducts simple, provided with broad apical coils.
Male (from Bia-po, MSNG): Prosoma pear-shaped, widest between coxae II and III, in profile highest just behind PME. Carapace dark reddish brown. Sternum and chelicerae brown. Legs yellowish, distal potion distinctly pale. Opisthosoma oval, covered with fine pubescence. Dorsum of opisthosoma reddish brown, with longitudinal dorsal scutum occupying approximately 1/3 opisthosomal length. Dorsal pattern represented by two pairs of pale, round spots, followed by a series of broad, transverse median bands. Palp (Figs 17–20). RTA short and stout, abruptly bent subterminally, apex truncated. TA distinctly elongated, terminally with bifid apical process, its mesal branch elongated, sharply pointed, directed posteriad, its lateral branch short and blunt, almost indistinct; mesoprolateral tooth triangular, sharply pointed; baso-prolateral flange broad, more or less triangular, its posterior margin slightly excavated. Embolic base triangular, anterior membrane board. Embolus filiform, elongated.
Distribution. Northern and Central Burma (Schwegoo-myo, Carin Cheba Bia-po, Carin Ghecu, Mt. Karin, Palon).
description: Published as part of Dankittipakul, Pakawin, Tavano, Maria & Singtripop, Tippawan, 2011, Notes on Burmese spiders formerly attributed to the genus Storena (Zodariidae, Araneae), pp. 53-61 in Zootaxa 3048 on pages 57-58, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.203503