Brachyphisis Chopard, 1957

Hugel, Sylvain, 2010, New and little known predatory katydids from Mascarene islands (Ensifera: Meconematinae and Hexacentrinae), Zootaxa 2543, pp. 1-30 : 16-18

Genus Brachyphisis Chopard, 1957

Type species. Brachyphisis viettei Chopard, 1957: 38 .

Distribution. Indian Ocean, Mascarene archipelago, Mauritius, Réunion.

Until the present work, males of Brachyphisis type species were unknown and the genus definition/ description was based on male characters of the species described as Phisis vissenda Bolivar, 1912 ( Jin & Kevan, 1992) . Male characters of this latter species are strongly differing with those now available of Brachyphisis type species, suggesting that both species are not directly related and might represent distinct colonisation events (Warren, Hugel & Strasberg, in prep.). Two species are included in this genus: B. viettei Chopard, 1957 and B. nattecantor n. sp.. The peculiar case of the species described as Phisis vissenda Bolivar, 1912 will be processed in the second article dealing with species from Seychelles and Comoros. Until the release of this second article and only for convenience purpose, the species described as Phisis vissenda Bolivar, 1912 is left in the genus Brachyphisis .

Diagnosis. As Paradecolya and Rodriguesiophisis n. g., Brachyphisis is characterised by the fore leg with a coxal process; the mid leg with trochanter spine, and tibia with dorsal subbasal spur. As Rodriguesiophisis n. g., Brachyphisis has no dorsal apical spur on mid tibia. This genus is moreover characterised by the following: Lateral lobe of pronotum deep. Thoracic auditory opening large. Prosternal and mesosternal processes distinct; metasternal processes indistinct. FW and HW only slightly exceeding the hindknee. Male epiproct not fused with last tergum; cerci and paraprocts without distinct process; subgenital plate with a distinct distal emargination, with short but well distinct styli; epiphallus simple, not bifurcated, with numerous ventral tubercles. Female subgenital plate with a distinct distal notch.

Description. Size moderate to large for the tribe (16.5–20.5). Thorax. Pronotum disc flat and smooth; anterior margin weakly concave, posterior margin strait; lateral lobes deep with a distinct rim. Prosternal processes modelately long and sharp; mesosternal processes short, wide and rounded; metasternal processes indistinct, forming a small bulge. Thoracic auditory opening large. Wings. FW and HW only slightly exceeding the hindknee. Legs. Robust and short for the tribe. Front coxal spine present. Femoral ventral spurs 5/4. Tibial ventral subapical spurs 6/6. Tympanal area of fore tibia not inflated. Mid trochanter armed with a small spine. Mid femora ventrally with 5 / 1–2 spurs; ventral posterior margin with numerous spinules. Tibial spurs 6–7 / 6–7; dorsal sub-basal spur present, dorsal apical spur absent.

Male. Male epiproct semicircular. Paraprocts well developed, clearly exceeding the epiproct (paraprocts visible from above). Paraprocts simple, without process. Epiphallus simple, not bifurcated, with numerous ventral tubercles. Subgenital plate with a distinct emargination, styli short. Female. Subgenital plate notched. Ovipositor gradually curved upwards with serrated margins apically. Color green or yellowish with yellow lateral carinae on the pronotum, in the continuation of a yellow retroocular line.