Mallinella moncheri, Dayananda & Benjamin, 2025

Mallinella moncheri sp. nov.

Figs 3 View FIGURE 3 , 6C, 6H View FIGURE 6 , 7C, 7H View FIGURE 7 , 8C View FIGURE 8 , 9E–F View FIGURE 9

Type material. Holotype ♂: SRI LANKA: Southern Province: Galle District, Kottawa Forest , 06°05’40’’N 80°19’25’’E, 152 m, 23 August 2023, leg. NG. Dayananda et al. ( IFS_ZOD_231 ). GoogleMaps Paratype: 1♀, leg. SP. Benjamin et al. with same data as for holotype ( IFS_ZOD_103 ). GoogleMaps

Other material examined. SRI LANKA: Southern province: Galle District, Hiyare Forest , 06°03’32’’N 80°19’15’’E, 121m, 2♀, 23 August 2023, leg. NG. Dayananda et al. (IFS_ZOD_232, 233) GoogleMaps .

Etymology. The new species is named after the chocolate ‘Mon Cheri’. Used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Mallinella moncheri sp. nov. s hare features such as triangular lateral border of the epigyne, V-shaped epigynal plate with the members of the annulipes-group. Within the annulipes-group, males of M. moncheri sp. nov. are most similar to the males of M. dhanahami sp. nov. as both share digitiform RTA, and black colour bands on either side of the carapace of both male and female but can be separated from it by slender, unbranched embolus (bifurcated embolus in M. dhanahami sp. nov.) and diagonally aligned emobolic base (aligned longitudinally in M. dhanahami sp. nov.) ( Figs 1G View FIGURE 1 , 8A View FIGURE 8 ; 3G View FIGURE 3 , 8C View FIGURE 8 ). Females are also most similar to the females of M. dhanahami sp. nov. as both share V-shaped epigynal plate but can be separated from it by deeper anterior depression of the epigyne and triangular lateral borders of the epigyne (digitiform lateral borders in M. dhanahami sp. nov.). ( Figs. 1C View FIGURE 1 , 7A, 7F View FIGURE 7 ; 3C View FIGURE 3 , 7C, 7H View FIGURE 7 ).

Description. Male in alcohol (holotype; Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 )). Body length 3.57; carapace 2.16 long, 1.49 wide; opisthosoma 1.41 long, 1.08 wide. Habitus as in Fig. 5A View FIGURE 5 . Carapace ovoid, smooth and shiny, orange-brown, with two longitudinal lateral dark bands ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ); fovea red-brown. Clypeus light brown, 0.44 high. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.17, ALE 0.10, PME 0.11, PLE 0.11; AME–AME 0.04, AME–PME 0.09, AME–ALE 0.08, ALE–ALE 0.45, PME– PME 0.08, PME–PLE 0.20, PLE–PLE 0.60, ALE–PLE 0.03. MOA 0.39 long, front width 0.30, back width 0.35. Chilum unipartite, trapezoid. Chelicerae 0.79 long, light brown, without teeth. Endites yellow. Labium triangular, yellow-brown, 0.20 long, 0.35 wide. Sternum yellow, furnished with sparse black setae, 0.89 long, 0.74 wide. Lateral margins of sternum with small semi-circular pits in front of each coxa of third and fourth pair of legs. Legs yellow-brown, except pale yellowish coxae, proximal tubercle on anterior femora. Measurement of palp and legs: pedipalp (right) 1.93 (0.70 + 0.33 + 0.35+0.55), I 4.62 (1. 25 + 0.52 + 1.20 + 0.75+ 0.90), II 4.35 (1.20 + 0.50 + 0.80 + 0.95 + 0.90), III 4.60 (1.20 + 0.50 + 0.90 + 1.15 + 0.85), IV 6.21 (1.55 + 0.51+ 1.35 + 1.85 + 0.95). Leg formula: 4132. Opisthosoma oval, covered with black short setae, Dorsum of opisthosoma dark sepia, with lanceolate scutum. Pattern on dorsum of opisthosoma with anterior paired patch followed by medially connected large transverse patches ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ). Posterior ventral spines cylindrical, with blunt apices ( Fig. 3E View FIGURE 3 ). Spinnerets pale yellow ( Fig. 3E View FIGURE 3 ).

Palp ( Figs 3F–H View FIGURE 3 , 8C View FIGURE 8 ). VTA moderately developed, subtriangular, with curved apex ( Fig. 8C View FIGURE 8 ). RTA digitiform in retrolateral view, broad at base, gradually tapered towards acute apex ( Fig. 3H View FIGURE 3 ). Cymbial fold deep, more than half the length of the cymbium. Apicoprolateral process of TA with, sharply pointed, elongated, slender flange, directed posteromesad ( Figs 3G View FIGURE 3 , 8C View FIGURE 8 ). Tegulum with large, well developed tegular tubercle ( Fig. 8C View FIGURE 8 ). Basoprolateral fold of TA, subtriangular ( Fig. 8C View FIGURE 8 ). Embolic base aligned diagonally; membranous area of embolic base narrow. Embolus slender, unbranched, elongated, with blunt apex ( Figs 3G View FIGURE 3 , 8C View FIGURE 8 ). Tegular spine absent. Conductor triangular, apex blunt.

Female in alcohol (paratype; Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ). Body length 4.51; carapace 2.41 long, 1.70 wide; opisthosoma 2.10 long, 1.62 wide. Habitus and details as in male except for the following ( Fig. 5B View FIGURE 5 ). Clypeus 0.46 high. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.10, PME 0.11, PLE 0.10; AME–AME 0.07, AME–PME 0.14, AME–ALE 0.08, ALE–ALE 0.53, PME–PME 0.14, PME–PLE 0.18, PLE–PLE 0.68, ALE–PLE 0.06. MOA 0.42 long, front width 0.32, back width 0.35. Chelicerae 0.81 long, Labium 0.30 long, 0.44 wide. Sternum: 1.00 long, 0.96 wide. Measurements of palp and legs: pedipalp (right) 1.68 (0.63 + 0.27 + 0.29 + 0.49), I 6.00 (1.50 + 0.50 + 1.45 + 1.30 + 1.25), II 5.75 (1.35 + 0.45 + 1.30 + 1.45 + 1.20), III 5.80 (1.35 + 0.50+ 1.20 + 1.55 + 1.20), IV 7.85 (1.75 + 0.50 + 1.85 + 2.25 + 1.50). Dorsum of pear-shaped opisthosoma, covered with dense black setae. Dorsal scutum on opisthosoma absent ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ). Pattern on dorsum of opisthosoma with a pair of anterior small oblique patches, followed by numerous pale spots ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ).

Genitalia ( Figs 3C–D View FIGURE 3 , 7C, 7H View FIGURE 7 , 9E–F View FIGURE 9 ). Epigynal plate, V-shaped, with deep anterior median invagination. Lateral borders triangular, terminally blunt. Epigynal furrow highly sclerotized ( Figs 3C View FIGURE 3 , 7C View FIGURE 7 , 9E View FIGURE 9 ). Insemination ducts longer than spermathecal length. Spermathecae globular in shape. Fertilization ducts as in Fig. 7H View FIGURE 7 .

Distribution. Known only from the collecting localities ( Fig. 12 View FIGURE 12 ).