Mallinella milkyway Dayananda & Benjamin, 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Dayananda, Naruwan
name: Benjamin, Suresh P.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Zodariidae
Mallinella
Mallinella milkyway

description: Mallinella milkyway sp. nov.
Figs 2, 6B, 6G, 7B, 7G, 8B, 9C–D
Type material. Holotype ♂: SRI LANKA: Central Province: Kandy District, Corbett’s Gap, Knuckles Range, 07°21’40’’N 80°50’00’’E, 1360 m, 2 February 2010, leg. S. Batuwita et al. (IFS_ZOD_36). Paratypes: 2♂ 1♀, with same data as for holotype (IFS_ZOD_34, 35, 37).
Other material examined. SRI LANKA: Central province: Matale District, NIFS arboretum, 07°51’34’’N 80°40’28’’E, 180 m, 1♂, 7 July 2013, leg. SP. Benjamin et al. (IFS_ZOD_25); 3♂, 24 August 2010, NP. Athukorala et al. (IFS_ZOD_41, 210, 211); 3♀, 20 January 2016, leg. NP. Athukorala et al. (IFS_ZOD_132, 133, 134); 1♂ and 1♀, 16 February 2019, leg. NP. Athukorala et al. (IFS_ZOD_182, 183); 1♂, 28 May 2015, leg. NP. Athukorala et al. (IFS_ZOD_209). North Western Province: Puttalam District, Wanatha Villu, 08°10’15’’N 79°52’30’’E, 30 m, 6♀, 24 May 2010, leg. NP. Athukorala et al. (IFS_ZOD_23, 53, 142, 143, 144, 145). North Central Province: Anuradhapura District, Padaviya, 08°48’00’’N 80°45’00’’E, 56 m, 3♀, 10 January 2012, leg. NP. Athukorala et al. (IFS_ZOD_158,159,160). Eastern Province: Trincomalee District, Arisimale Beach Side, 08°56’12’’N 81°00’23’’E, 9 m, 2♀ and 2♂, 26 September 2023, leg. NG. Dayananda et al. (IFS_ZOD_205, 206, 207, 208). Nothern Province: Jaffna District, Mandaitivu, 09°37’30’’N 79°59’50’’E, 4 m, 1♀ and 1♂, 20–22 September 2016, leg. SP. Benjamin et al. (IFS_ZOD_180, 181); 4♂, 03 October 2023, NG. Dayananda et al. (IFS_ZOD_224, 225, 226, 227); Chettypulam Road side, 09°37’48’’N 79°54’45’’E, 6 m, 1♀ and 3♂, 04 October 2023, leg. NG. Dayananda et al. (IFS_ZOD_220,221,222,223); Allaipiddy, 09°37’12’’N 79°58’41’’E, 6 m, 3♀ and 3♂, 04 October 2023, leg. NG. Dayananda et al. (IFS ZOD_214, 215, 219, 216, 217, 218).
Etymology. The new species is named after the chocolate ‘MilkyWay’. Used as a noun in apposition.
Diagnosis. Mallinella milkyway sp. nov. s hare features such as U-shaped epigynal plate, tear-shaped PVS, and tremendously lengthened insemination ducts with the members of the redimita-group. Within the redimita-group, males of M. milkyway sp. nov. are most similar to the males of M. redimita as both share flange-like RTA, bifurcated embolus, sharp apical ridge directed posteromesad and a triangular apico-retrolateral fold with a blunt apex but can be separated from it by the rami of the embolus with blunt apices (sharply pointed in M. redimita) and lanceolate dorsal scutum (cf. Dankittipakul et al. 2012: figs. 706–707 and Figs. 2A, 2F–H, 8B). Females are also most similar to the females of M. redimata as both share U-shaped epigynal plate, and elongated insemination ducts but can be separated from it by globular spermathecae (truncated spermathecae in M. redimita) (cf. Dankittipakul et al. 2012: figs. 694–699, 701-703 and Figs. 2C–D, 7B–G, 9C–D).
Description. Male in alcohol (holotype; Fig. 2A). Body length 3.96; carapace 2.25 long, 1.76 wide; opisthosoma 1.71 long, 1.36 wide. Habitus as in Figs 2A, 11A–B. Carapace ovoid, granulate, brown, slightly darker anteriorly; fovea red-brown (Fig. 2A). Clypeus light brown, 0.42 high. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.12, PME 0.12, PLE 0.12; AME–AME 0.08, AME–PME 0.15, AME–ALE 0.12, ALE–ALE 0.55, PME–PME 0.12, PME–PLE 0.20, PLE–PLE 0.68, ALE–PLE 0.06. MOA 0.41 long, front width 0.34, back width 0.38. Chilum unipartite, trapezoid. Chelicerae 0.78 long, brown, without teeth. Endites yellow-brown. Labium triangular, yellow-brown, 0.23 long, 0.38 wide. Sternum brown, with sparse black setae, 1.01 long, 0.93 wide. Lateral margins of sternum with small semi-circular pits in front of each coxa of third and fourth pair of legs (Fig. 6G). Legs generally yellowish, except for brown femora, proximal tubercle on anterior femora (Fig. 6B). Measurements of palp and legs: pedipalp (right) 2.78 (0.97 + 0.45 + 0.47 + 0.89) I 6.70 (1.60 + 0.50 + 1.75 + 1.50+ 1.35), II 5.90 (1.45 + 0.45 + 1.30 + 1.40 + 1.30), III 6.25 (1.40 + 0.35 + 1.25 + 1.35 + 1.90), IV 8.17 (1.95 + 0.50+ 1.85 + 2.15 + 1.72). Leg formula: 4132. Opisthosoma oval, covered with black short setae, with lanceolate dorsal scutum. Dorsum of opisthosoma dark sepia. Pattern on dorsum of opisthosoma represented by a paired of large anterior patches followed by irregular arrangement of pale spots. Posterior ventral spines short, tear-shaped (Fig. 2E). Spinnerets yellow-brown (Fig. 2E).
Palp (Figs 2F–H, 8B). RTA flange-like in retrolateral view, broad at base, gradually tapered towards sharply pointed apex (Figs 2G, 8B). VTA subtriangular blunt apex. Tegular spine minute (Fig. 8B). Cymbial fold shallow, less than half the length of cymbium (Fig. 2G). TA with sharply pointed apical ridge directed posteromesad with triangular apicoprotrolateral process having blunt apex, directed mesad (Fig. 8B). Embolic base aligned in retrolateral direction, anterior membranous part broad, triangular (Figs 2G, 8B). Embolus blade-like, broadest medially, subterminally divided, both rami slender, with blunt tips (Fig. 8B). Conductor beak-shaped, sharply pointed apex.
Female (paratype; Fig. 2B). Body length 4.98; carapace 2.24 long, 1.54 wide; opisthosoma 2.74 long, 1.91 wide. Habitus and details as in male except for the following (Figs 2B, 10A–B). Carapace with smooth tegument. Clypeus 0.50 high. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.09, PME 0.09, PLE 0.09; AME–AME 0.08, AME–PME 0.14, AME–ALE 0.12, ALE–ALE 0.41, PME–PME 0.12, PME–PLE 0.16, PLE–PLE 0.58, ALE–PLE 0.05. MOA 0.36 long, front width 0.27, back width 0.31. Chelicerae 0.75 long. Labium 0.25 long, 0.39 wide. Sternum with shallow semi-circular pits, 0.94 long, 0.89 wide Legs with proximal tubercle on anterior femora. Measurements of palp and legs: palp (right) 1.94 (0.64 + 0.36 + 0.39 + 0.55), I 4.85 (1.25 + 0.50 + 1.10 + 1.15 + 0.85), II 4.75 (1.15 + 0.45 + 1.05 + 1.15 + 0.95), III 5.00 (1.25 + 0.45+ 1.00 + 1.35 + 0.95), IV 6.25 (1.50 + 0.55 + 1.80 + 1.25 + 1.15). Leg formula: 4132. Dorsum of opisthosoma without scutum (Fig. 2B).
Genitalia (Figs 2C–D, 7B, 7G, 9C–D). Epigynal plate; narrow, U-shaped, prominent anterior median depression, weakly sclerotized. Lateral borders retracted (Figs 2C, 7B, 9C). Insemination ducts elongated, slightly curving inwardly (Figs 7G, 9D). Spermathecae globular in shape, slightly widened distally. Insemination ducts short and straight extend posteriorly from the copulatory openings. Fertilization ducts as in Fig. 7G.
Variation. Male (n=22): body length 3.90–4.02. Female (n=21): body length 5.00–5.19.
Distribution. Sri Lanka (Matale District, Jaffna District, Anuradhapura District, Trincomalee District, Puttalam District, Kandy District) (Fig. 12). Possibly also present in India.
description: Published as part of Dayananda, Naruwan & Benjamin, Suresh P., 2025, Five new species of the genus Mallinella Strand, 1906 (Araneae: Zodariidae) from Sri Lanka, pp. 100-118 in Zootaxa 5570 (1) on pages 103-106, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5570.1.4, http://zenodo.org/record/14734655