Phanocles acutecornutus, Hennemann & Conle, 2024

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2024, Studies on Neotropical Phasmatodea XXVI: Taxonomic review of Cladomorformia tax. n., a lineage of Diapheromerinae stick insects, with the descriptions of seven new genera and 41 new species (Phasmatodea: Occidophasmata: Diapheromerinae), Zootaxa 5444 (1), pp. 1-454 : 154-157

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5444.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5DE4A9DD-99F7-4E23-AD50-58DC491BB75E
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/E39A6956-D2F3-4342-9E4B-4875AA2BF029
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:E39A6956-D2F3-4342-9E4B-4875AA2BF029
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Phanocles acutecornutus
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Phanocles acutecornutus sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E39A6956-D2F3-4342-9E4B-4875AA2BF029

( Figs. 53F–G View FIGURE 53 , 54G View FIGURE 54 , 57A View FIGURE 57 , 64D View FIGURE 64 , 66J–L View FIGURE 66 , 97M View FIGURE 97 )

HT, ♀: Bolivia, Chapare , Villa Tunari, 320 m, 6.–20. Nov. 2002, leg. B. Bembé [ ZSMC] .

PT, 2 ♂♂: Bolivia, Chapare , Villa Tunari, 320 m, 6.–20. Nov. 2002, leg. B. Bembé [ ZSMC] .

PT, ♀ (nymph): Bolivia — Region Chapare — 400 m —leg. Zischka, 5.XI.54 [ ZSMC] .

PT, ♀: forêt de plateau / lisiéres; Prov. Napo, Stat. Rech “Yasuni”, cfft. rios Tiputini / Tivacuno, 1995; Museum Paris, Equateur, S. Poulain rec. [ MNHN] .

Diagnosis. Females of this fairly distinctive species ( Figs. 53F–G View FIGURE 53 ) are not particularly similar to those of any other known species in the genus that occurs in the eastern Amazon regions of Ecuador, Peru or Bolivia. They are well characterised by the combination of the following morphological characters: body smooth and slightly glossy; mesonotum with a distinct medio-longitudinal carina; head with a pair of very large and conical cephalad horns ( Fig. 57A View FIGURE 57 ); abdominal tergum VII with a distinct, rounded posterolateral lobe ( Fig. 64D View FIGURE 64 ); abdominal terga III–VI each with a scale-like posteromedian protuberance; subgenital plate long, with an obtusely rounded apex and extending beyond tip of abdomen by about the length of terga IX and X taken together ( Fig. 64D View FIGURE 64 ). Males ( Fig. 54G View FIGURE 54 ) most closely resemble those of P. maroniensis ( Chopard, 1911) from NE-Brazil, French Guiana and Suriname and P. fallax sp. n. from Ecuador, but differ from both by the longer alae (only reaching to abdominal segment III in fallax and maroniensis ), much more pronounced medio-longitudinal carina of the mesonotum, shorter cerci (almost as long as anal segment in fallax and maroniensis ) and lack of a spiniform central protuberance of the poculum ( Fig. 66J View FIGURE 66 ) and having the posterior margin of the poculum indented medially and bidentate ( Fig. 66L View FIGURE 66 ; entire in fallax and maroniensis ). From maroniensis they also differ by the less globose head, lack of a distinct black postocular stripe along the genae and lack of a black stripe along the lateral margins of the pronotum. From fallax the ♂♂ of this new species can also be separated by the bilobate posterior margin of the anal segment ( Fig. 66K View FIGURE 66 ; rounded in fallax ) and shape of the vomer, which is much shorter and notably less distinctly arched than in fallax .

Etymology. The name is a combination of acutus (lat. = acute) and cornutus (lat. = horned) and refers to the large, acutely pointed, conical horns on the head of ♀♀ ( Fig. 57A View FIGURE 57 ). Masculine.

Description. ♀♀ ( Figs. 53 View FIGURE 53 F-G): Fairly small (body length including subgenital plate 138.0–145.0 mm) and slender for the genus with a smooth body surface, large acutely pointed, conical cephalic horns and a long subgenital plate, that projects beyond the apex of the abdomen by more than the two terminal abdominal terga taken together. Colouration variable. General colour of the holotype from Bolivia ochreous dark brown with most of the abdomen darker due to the preservation. Abdominal terga II–IV each with a bold triangular greyish marking anteriorly. Lower portion of genae with a whitish longitudinal streak and a very faint darker brown postocular streak indicated and gradually terminating towards the eye. Pronotum with a faint ochre medio-longitudinal stripe. Eyes dark reddish brown. Meso- and metafemora with the base greyish and each with a single faint greyish sub-basal transverse band. All basitarsi with the base pale grey. Antennae dark reddish brown dorsally, blackish ventrally and towards the apex. Colour of the paratype from Ecuador basically ochreous mid green, the metathorax and the basal five segments of the abdomen considerably darkened due to the preservation and buff to brown. Head with two faint ochre stripes in posterior portion of vertex, a fine and very faint ochre postocular line and a broad but weakly defined white longitudinal streak along genae. Cephalic horns dark orange at the base with the apical half black ( Fig. 57A View FIGURE 57 ). The longitudinal median streak of the pronotum dark ochre and the medio-longitudinal line black. Medio-longitudinal carina of mesonotum ochre. All legs weakly flecked with dark grey. Basal two antennomeres green, rest of antennae drab to grey and blackish ventrally.

Head ( Fig. 57A View FIGURE 57 ): Globose, scarcely longer than wide and broadest just behind the eyes; vertex rounded, smooth and in centre armed with two very large, conical and acutely pointed, somewhat lateral directed horns, that project by almost the height of head capsule (these somewhat more pointed in the paratype). Frons with two small impressions between bases of antennae and a granule in front; between the eyes with two shallow humps. Eyes of moderate size, almost circular in outline, projecting notably less than hemispherical and their length contained about 2x in that of genae. Antennae reaching about two-thirds the way along abdominal segment II. Scapus moderately compressed dorsoventrally (more distinct towards the base), rectangular in dorsal aspect, parallel-sided and 1.4x longer than wide. Scapus slightly oval in cross-section, three-fifth the length of scapus and weakly narrowing towards the apex.

Thorax: Pronotum roundly rectangular in dorsal aspect, 1.6x longer than wide, somewhat shorter and much narrower than head. Transverse median sulcus gently curved and expanding over complete width of segment, the anterior margin somewhat raised and with a pair of very shallow granules medially; the medio-longitudinal line impressed ( Fig. 57A View FIGURE 57 ). Mesothorax uniform in diameter and 7.2x longer than prothorax, just weakly widened posteriorly. Metanotum somewhat less than one-third the length of mesonotum, weakly constricted medially and almost 3.5x longer than wide; mesonotum with a distinct medio-longitudinal carina, the metanotum with the carina less defined and rather obtuse; both with an obtuse, slightly uneven carina along lateral margins. Meso- and metasternum with a distinct and fairly acute, granulose medio-longitudinal keel and otherwise set with a few small, irregularly dispersed granules.

Abdomen: Median segment 1.3x longer than metanotum, about 4.75x longer than width at anterior margin and with a weakly defined medio-longitudinal carina; the lateral margins distinctly concave medially. Segment II about three-quarters the length of median segment, II–V increasing and VI–VII decreasing in length with V longest segment and VII the shortest; II 3.5 and V about 4.2x longer than wide. Tergum VII somewhat narrowing towards the posterior with the lateral margins dilated into a distinct rounded lobe posteriorly ( Fig. 64D View FIGURE 64 ). Terga III–VI with an obtuse, transverse swelling at posterior margin, which is most pronounced and scale-like on VI. Praeopercular organ formed by a bold black posteromedian marking on sternum VII, which has an obtuse, peg-like, somewhat posterior directed tubercle in its centre. Terga VIII–X roughly uniform in width and narrower than all preceding and as a unity about as long as VII. VIII somewhat more than half the length of VIII, IX about two-thirds the length of VIII. Anal segment obtusely tectate longitudinally, about as long as IX and gradually narrowing in the posterior portion with the posterior margin roundly truncated. Epiproct small, roundly triangular, tectate and almost wholly concealed under anal segment. Cerci small, conical and slightly projecting beyond anal segment. Subgenital plate long and projecting over tip of abdomen by the combined length of two terminal terga ( Fig. 64D View FIGURE 64 ), the apical two-thirds acutely keeled medio-longitudinally; in dorsal aspect the lateral margins are somewhat sub-parallel with a slight widening sub-apically and the apex broadly triangular; apical portion slightly upcurved.

Legs: Moderately long and slender, wholly unarmed except for a rather small, rounded sub-basal lobe on the two outer ventral carinae of the mesofemora (these carinae in metafemora just weakly deflexed sub-basally). The two outer ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora at the apex protruded into a fairly distinct and acutely pointed, apical directed tooth. Medioventral carina of meso- and metafemora moderately distinct. Profemora slightly longer than mesothorax, mesofemora slightly longer than metathorax, metafemora reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment IV and metatibiae reaching about half the way along segment VII. All basitarsi with the dorsal carina with an obtusely triangular but rather low excrescence medially; ± as long as remaining tarsomeres taken together.

♀ Nymph: The immature ♀ paratype appears to be a sub-penultimate instar nymph. The colouration mostly corresponds to that of the Ecuadorian paratype in the collection of MNHN, being mid green with the base of the cephalad horns dark orange basally and black at the tip. The cephalad horns, posteromedian swellings of abdominal terga III–VI and the dorsal crest of the basitarsi are relatively more developed than in the two adult examples.

♂♂ ( Fig. 54G View FIGURE 54 ): Moderately sized (body length 126.0–132.0 mm), very slender and delicate for the genus with well-developed alae, that reach about half way along abdominal tergum IV (length 48.0–50.0 mm), and a fairly globose, prominently bi-cornute head. General colour of body ochre pale to mid brown. Lower portion of genae whitish and pronotum with a weakly defined but broad ochre medio-longitudinal stripe, that is on both sides accompanied by a washed whitish line. Eyes dark reddish brown. Tegmina and costal region of alae plain pale to mid brown, the anterior margin broadly white. Anal region of alae transparent grey with brown veins. Dorsal surface of abdominal tergum IX and great parts of anal segment white; IX furthermore with a brown medio-longitudinal line. Vomer ochre. Meso- and metafemora with three and all tibiae with two broad, but very faint whitish transverse bands. Antennae dark reddish brown, scapus and pedicellus coloured like head.

Head: Shape generally as in ♀♀ but vertex considerably less convex and the cephalad horns proportionally smaller, less acute and with the apex compressed laterally. Frons with two distinct, obtuse swellings just before the eyes and vertex with a fine impressed coronal line. Eyes large, circular in outline and projecting hemispherical from head capsule, their length contained 1.6x in length of genae. Antennae at least reaching to abdominal segment IV. Scapus and pedicellus as in ♀♀.

Thorax: Pronotum as long but considerably narrower than head, rectangular in dorsal aspect with the lateral margins weakly concave and roughly 1.8x longer than wide. Surface smooth and with an impressed longitudinal median line; the transverse median sulcus as in ♀♀. Mesothorax 8.1x longer and a little narrower than prothorax. Mesonotum with a fine but distinct and acute medio-longitudinal carina and set with a very few low, white granules. A fairly uneven lateral carina parallel to lateral margins and in anterior portion with an additional medio-lateral longitudinal carina that gradually terminates some distance before mid of segment- Mesopleurae with a longitudinal median carina. Mesosternum slightly tectate longitudinally and metasternum simple. Tegmina elongate-oval and gradually narrowed in the anterior portion; central protuberance moderately developed and obtusely rounded. Alae reaching about half way along abdominal tergum IV.

Abdomen: Median segment over 6x longer than metanotum, very gently narrowed towards the posterior. Abdominal segment II scarcely more than half the length of median segment. II–V uniform in width and almost uniform in length, on average 4.5x longer than wide. VI and VII slightly decreasing in length with VII two-thirds the length of II–V and only 3x longer than wide. All sterna smooth. Tergum VIII about half the length of VII and gradually widening towards the posterior and trapezoidal in dorsal aspect with posterior margin 1.3x wider than anterior margin. IX about as long as VIII, constricted medially and with the lateral margins moderately deflexed and weakly rounded (Fig, 66J). Anal segment 1.2x longer than IX and almost rectangular in dorsal aspect, the posterior margin slightly narrowed and obtusely bilobate with a distinct triangular median indention ( Fig. 66K View FIGURE 66 ); the outer angles rounded and set with several minute black teeth ventrally. Vomer elongate, slender, gradually narrowing towards a slender and straight terminal hook and strongly upcurved; ventral surface with a distinct medio-longitudinal furrow and the lateral margins somewhat inflated ( Fig. 97M View FIGURE 97 ). Cerci round in cross-section, somewhat shorter than anal segment, slender and gently incurved in the apical portion. Poculum convex, cup-shaped and rectangular in lateral aspect ( Fig. 66J View FIGURE 66 ), medio-longitudinally carinate in the vertical posterior portion but without a basal protuberance and with the posterior margin indented medially and bidentate; noticeably projecting over posterior margin of tergum IX ( Fig. 66L View FIGURE 66 ).

Legs: All moderately long and slender, wholly unarmed. Profemora a little longer and mesofemora somewhat shorter than head, pro- and mesothorax combined, metafemora reaching half way along abdominal segment V and metatibiae projecting notably over apex of abdomen. Two outer ventral carinae of mesofemora may be very slightly deflexed sub-basally. All basitarsi longer than remaining tarsomeres combined; the dorsal carina very weakly deflexed in probasitarsi.

Comments. The distribution of this new species in Bolivia and Ecuador is quite astounding and thus it must be estimated that it also occurs throughout the eastern regions of Peru. Eggs unknown.

Table 29: Measurements of Phanocles acutecornutus sp. n.