Mallinella robusta Dankittipakul & Jocqué & Singtripop 2012, sp. nov.

Mallinella robusta sp. nov.

(Figs 838, 850–851, 861, 907–909)

Material examined. Holotype: ♂, MALAYSIA, Johor State: Gunung Pulai (01°34'50.6"N, 103°30'36.5"E), 50 m, secondary forest, southwest of Kulai, 24 May 2004, leg. P.J. Schwendinger (MHNG, MAL –04/04). Paratypes: MALAYSIA, Johor State: 1♂, Layang-Layang, June 1979, leg. F. & J. Murphy (FJMC, coll. 7725). Pahang State: 1♀, 4 miles northeast of Cameron Highlands, 24 April 1977, leg. L.E. Watrous (AMNH, AL–1864).

Diagnosis. Mallinella robusta sp. nov. can be easily recognized by the short and stout embolus, and by the peculiar shape of the TA (Fig. 907).

Etymology. The Latin adjective robustus (= strong) refers to the robust embolus of the male palp.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 7.85; prosoma 4.68 long, 3.32 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.32, ALE 0.22, PME 0.20, PLE 0.22, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.32, PME–PME 0.24, PME–PLE 0.46; MOQ: 0.60 long, 0.56 anterior width, 0.52 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 19.04 (4.56, 5.98, 4.78, 3.70), II 15.80 (3.98, 4.96, 3.96, 2.88), III 15.88 (4.16, 4.78, 4.28, 2.66), IV 21.94 (5.30, 6.46, 6.86, 3.32).

Coloration (Fig. 838). Carapace dark reddish brown. Chelicerae dark brown. Sternum brown. Legs brown, except for coxae yellowish brown. Dorsum of opisthosoma sepia. Dorsal pattern: first pair represented by small pale spots; second to fourth pairs by pale round spots, second ones largest.

Palp (Figs 850–851, 907). Retrolateral margin of palpal tibia triangular, strongly pronounced. RTA digitiform, broad at base, gradually tapered towards sharply pointed apex. TA with enlarged, anteriorly rounded apico-retrolateral fold directed ectad; meso-prolateral tooth minute, sharply pointed, directed anteriad. Embolic base aligned in longitudinal direction; membranous area indistinct. Embolus truncated, short and stout, with deep longitudinal groove.

Female. Total length 7.90; prosoma 4.50 long, 3.40 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.28, ALE 0.22, PME 0.20, PLE 0.22, AME–AME 0.12, AME–ALE 0.34, PME–PME 0.22, PME–PLE 0.48; MOQ: 0.62 long, 0.52 anterior width, 0.50 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 18.08 (4.34, 5.66, 4.54, 3.52), II 15.00 (3.78, 4.72, 3.76, 2.88), III 15.08 (3.96, 4.54, 4.04, 2.52), IV 20.84 (5.04, 6.14, 6.50, 3.14).

Coloration. Carapace orange-brown. Chelicerae brown. Sternum yellowish brown. Legs yellowish, except coxae and proximal part of femora whitish. Dorsum of opisthosoma sepia, mottled with numerous minute spots. Dorsal pattern: with four pairs of pale patches.

Genitalia (Figs 861, 908–909). Epigynal plate triangular, margin rebordered. Lateral borders more or less digitiform, projecting inwards. Spermathecae reniform in dorsal view, oblong in anterior view.

Natural history. The male holotype was collected by means of sifting decomposed organic matter in a secondary forest.

Distribution. Malay Peninsula.