Ocreatophasma modestum, 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 : 124-128

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/E52047BD-D9F9-40FF-B368-A53FBFACE341
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:E52047BD-D9F9-40FF-B368-A53FBFACE341
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Ocreatophasma modestum
status	gen. n., sp. n.

Treatment

Ocreatophasma modestum gen. n., sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E52047BD-D9F9-40FF-B368-A53FBFACE341

( Figs. 41D–E View FIGURE 41 , 42B, 42J–L View FIGURE 42 , 85L View FIGURE 85 )

HT, ♀: Museum Paris, Perou: Loreto, S. Poulain rec.; Río Ucayali, Genaro Herrera - XI–1981; 89 [ MNHN] .

Diagnosis. Females of this new species ( Figs. 42D–E View FIGURE 42 ) differ from O. elegans sp. n. by the smaller size, just very weakly and sparsely granulose mesonotum, much narrower and tapering anal segment ( Fig. 42 K View FIGURE 42 ), obtuse praeopercular organ ( Fig. 42L View FIGURE 42 ) and notably longer subgenital plate which slightly protrudes beyond the apex of the abdomen ( Figs. 42 View FIGURE 42 J-L).

Etymology. The name (modestus lat. = modest) is meant to refer to the smaller size and less elongate shape if compared to the other known species and type-species of the genus, O. elegans sp. n. Neuter.

Description. ♀♀ ( Figs. 42D–E View FIGURE 42 ): Rather smaller for the genus (body length including subgenital plate 133.5 mm) with an almost smooth mesonotum, a tapering anal segment that is longer than wide and a subgenital plate that slightly projects beyond the apex of the abdomen. General colour of the unique holotype greyish mid to dark brown and all over sparsely flecked with black; abdomen somewhat darker due to preservation, the head and pronotum dark ochreous. The medio-longitudinal carina of the meso- and metanotum and medio-longitudinal keel of the meso- and metasternum dull cream. Eyes chestnut brown, the antennae mid brown with a slight reddish wash.

Head ( Fig. 42B View FIGURE 42 ): Ovoid, somewhat flattened, 1.3x longer than wide, widest at the eyes and slightly gradually narrowing towards the posterior; vertex somewhat impressed anteriorly, otherwise very gently convex and with an impressed coronal line. Frons impressed and with two node-like swellings. Area between the eyes with a pair of obtuse, low swellings. A very few minute granules on vertex and a longitudinal row of about 5–6 somewhat more pronounced granules on genae. Eyes circular in outline and their diameter contained 2x in length of genae. Antennae reaching to posterior margin of metanotum. Scapus increasingly flattened dorsoventrally towards base, about 1.5x longer than wide and the lateral margins weakly convex in dorsal aspect. Pedicellus round in cross-section, sub-spherical and about half the length of scapus. Antennomere III slightly longer and much narrower than pedicellus.

Thorax: Pronotum about as long but notably narrower than head, basically rectangular in shape and 1.9x longer than wide; very slightly narrowed post-anteriorly and the anterior margin distinctly concave. Transverse median sulcus basically represented by a round impression on each side of the median line, that are connected by a very shallow straight groove; the median line rather distinctly impressed over entire length of segment. Just behind anterior margin with a distinct transverse furrow and the surface otherwise smooth. Mesothorax 7.1x longer than pronotum and uniform in diameter; the pleurae just weakly widened posteriorly. Mesonotum with a distinct medio-longitudinal carina and set with a very few irregularly dispersed minute granules; a fine longitudinal carina close and roughly parallel to lateral margins, which is set with some distant and rather pronounced node-like granules. Metanotum sculptured like mesonotum and about 0.38x of its length; the lateral carinae and granules less obvious. Meso- and metapleurae with a fine, longitudinal marginal carina that is set with a few small tubercles on mesopleurae. Meso- and metasternum with a very prominent and acute medio-longitudinal keel, and otherwise just with a few scattered minute granules near lateral margins; the mesosternum with a further much narrower carina close to lateral margins ( Fig. 85L View FIGURE 85 ).

Abdomen: Median segment slightly more than one-third the length of metanotum, 1.5x longer than wide and slightly widening towards the posterior; lateral margins weakly concave and the median line indistinct. Segment II 1.8x longer than median segment and about 3x longer than wide. III and IV slightly decreasing in length, V as long as II and, VI as long as IV and VII shorter than all preceding segments and only 2.3x longer than wide; all roughly uniform in width. Terga II–VII smooth except for a fine longitudinal carina parallel and close to lateral margins and some minute granulations laterally; the medio-longitudinal line more pronounced and terminating in an obtuse, tubercle near posterior margin on terga VI–IX ( Fig. 42J View FIGURE 42 ). Sterna very minutely granulose, otherwise smooth. Praeopercular organ on sternum VII formed by an obtuse, transverse, verrucose swelling close to posterior margin ( Fig. 42L View FIGURE 42 ). Tergum VIII distinctly trapezoidal in dorsal aspect with posterior margin 1.4x wider than anterior margin and slightly more than half the length of VII; posterolateral angles protruded into a small and obtuse triangular tooth ( Fig. 42K View FIGURE 42 ). IX about four-fifths the length of VIII, wider than long, gradually narrowing towards the posterior and with the lateral margins slightly deflexed. Anal segment narrower than two preceding segments and about equal in width to II–VII, about as long as width of anterior margin and slightly narrowing towards the posterior; the posterior margin basically 4–dentate with the lateral angles slightly protruded and with a somewhat larger and obtuse protrusion on each side of the epiproct. Lateral margins somewhat deflexed and the dorsal surface with a very fine medio-longitudinal carina. Epiproct small, scale-shaped and just weakly projecting beyond posterior margin of anal segment. Cerci small, slightly narrowed towards an obtusely rounded apex and somewhat projecting beyond posterior margin of anal segment. Paraprocts enlarged and with the inner posterior angles protruded and slightly projecting over posterior margin of anal segment but not reaching to tip of cerci ( Fig. 42K View FIGURE 42 ). Gonapophyses VIII slender, gently upcurved and not reaching tip of subgenital plate. The subgenital plate moderately bulgy longitudinally with the basal portion strongly widened and apical portion gradually narrowing towards a rather obtuse rounded tip that notably projects beyond the apex of the abdomen ( Figs. 42J–L View FIGURE 42 ).

Legs: Profemora somewhat longer than mesothorax, mesofemora longer than metathorax and metafemora reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment IV. Posterodorsal carina of protibiae blade-like and strongly deflexed as typical for the genus and almost uniform in height along entire length of protibia. Dorsal carina of probasitarsus strongly raised, deflexed and forming a widely rounded lobe; about as long as remaining tarsomeres combined. Tarsomere II–IV also with dorsal carina just weakly rounded. Meso- and metabasitarsi slightly longer than following three tarsomeres combined.

Comments. Males and eggs unknown. Measurements in table 24.

Table 24: Measurements of Ocreatophasma spp.

5.17. Genus Otocrania Redtenbacher, 1908

( Figs. 43–44 View FIGURE 43 View FIGURE 44 , 86C View FIGURE 86 , 103D View FIGURE 103 )

Type-species: Bacteria aurita Burmeister, 1838: 565 , by subsequent designation of Brock, 1998c: 26.

Otocrania Redtenbacher, 1908: 423 View in CoL (in part).

Piza, 1939: 445, fig. 1.

Brock, 1998c: 26.

Bragg, 2001: 639.

Zompro, 2004a: 316.

Zompro, 2004b: 141.

Otte & Brock, 2005: 241 (in part).

Araujo & Garaffoni, 2012b: 235 (in part).

Robertson et al., 2018: 11. [From Cladomorphinae : Cladomorphini to Diapheromaerinae: Diapheromerini ] Brock & Büscher, 2022: 513 (in part)

Acanthoderus View in CoL ?, Westwood, 1859: 58 (in part).

Phibalosoma, Westwood, 1859: 73 , pl. 33: 1 (♀) (in part).

Saussure, 1872: 174.

Description. ♀, ♂ ( Figs. 43–44 View FIGURE 43 View FIGURE 44 ): Very large (body length: ♂♂ 142.5 mm, ♀♀ including subgenital plate 230.5– 270.0 mm), elongate and slender Cladomorphini with very large cephalic horns, prominent leg armature and dorsally lobes basitarsi. Females with median segment slightly longer than metanotum, ♂♂ alate. Colour various shades of ochre and brown, the pronotum often with a black longitudinal median line or streak. Body smooth except for single thoracic spines in ♀♀; entire ventral surface with a distinct medio-longitudinal keel. Head strongly globose, hardly longer than wide but higher than long, with vertex strongly convex and armed with a very large pair of posteriad directed, laterally compressed and apically pointed (♂♂, Fig. 44D View FIGURE 44 ) or expanded and crenulate (♀♀, Figs. 44 View FIGURE 44 B-C) horns, which extend by more than height of head capsule. Frons with a transverse swelling or ridge, which is sixdentate in ♀♀ ( Fig. 44C View FIGURE 44 ). Eyes very large and projecting more than hemispherical in ♂♂; smaller in ♀♀ but their diameter contained less than 1.5x in in length of genae. Antennae long, very slender, filiform and projecting over posterior margin of mesonotum (♀♀) or median segment (♂♂). Scapus oval in cross-section, pedicellus round in cross-section and somewhat ovoid, III hardly longer than pedicellus. Terminal ten antennomeres considerably shorter than preceding, the median antennomeres very elongate. Pronotum shorter and much narrower than head; roundly rectangular in basic shape. Mesothorax very elongate, uniform in diameter and about 8x (♀♀) to 8.6x (♂♂) longer than prothorax. Mesonotum unarmed in ♂♂ and usually with 2–6 slender paired spines in ♀♀ (may be unarmed). Mesosternum of both sexes acutely carinated medio-longitudinally ( Fig. 86C View FIGURE 86 ). Metanotum in ♀♀ with a very large and strong, forward directed acuminate spine at the posterior margin and with a pair of very slender but long, needle-like spines in the median portion ( Fig. 44E View FIGURE 44 ). Meso- and metapleurae smooth. In ♀♀ median segment slightly longer than metanotum. Tegmina of ♂♂ ovate and with a rounded central protuberance; alae reaching about one-third along abdominal segment IV, anal region hyaline. Abdominal segments II–VII parallel-sided and about 3x (♀♀) to 7.5x (♂♂) longer than wide; all terga unarmed. Sternum VII of ♀♀ with an indistinct praeopercular organ that is formed by a pair of low protuberances close to posterior margin ( Fig. 44H View FIGURE 44 ). Terminalia of ♀♀ ( Figs. 44F–H View FIGURE 44 ): Terga VIII–IX much shorter then preceding and their combined length less than length of VII. Anal segment with posterior margin almost straight a with only a very small and shallow concave posteromedian indention. Epiproct very small and completely concealed by anal segment. Cerci small, conical and with an acutely pointed apex. Gonapophyses VIII enormously elongated, filiform and slightly upcurved in the apical portion; projecting over apex of abdomen by almost 2x the length of terga VIII–X combined but not reaching to apex of subgenital plate ( Figs. 44F–G View FIGURE 44 ). Subgenital plate very long (length 39.5–47.0 mm), canaliculate longitudinally, narrowly scaphiform with the lateral margins weakly sub-undulate, sub-parallel and gradually diverging towards the apex, which is broadly angular and obtusely tridentate; projecting over abdomen by almost the combined length of four terminal terga VII–X. Terminalia of ♂♂ ( Figs. 44J–K View FIGURE 44 ): Terga VIII and IX trapezoidal in dorsal aspect and broader than all preceding segment, VIII widening and IX narrowing towards the posterior; both almost equal in length, the lateral margins not deflexed. lightly narrowed towards the posterior, lateral margins not deflexed. Anal segment shorter than two preceding terga, with apical one-third narrowing and the posterior margin broadly and concavely emarginate; the outer angles fairly obtuse und set with a few minute denticles ventrally. Epiproct small and mostly concealed by anal segment. Cerci very elongate, slender, slightly constricted toward the apex, gently incurved and slightly longer than anal segment ( Fig. 44J View FIGURE 44 ). Vomer elongate and gradually narrowed towards a single, pointed and upcurved apex. Poculum elongate, spatulate with the apex protruded, gradually decreasing in width towards a narrowly rounded tip and notably projecting over posterior margin of anal segment ( Figs. 44J–K View FIGURE 44 ); the basal portion weakly convex and the flattened apical half tri-carinate. Legs of moderate length with the meso- and metafemora and corresponding tibiae gently (♂♂) to distinctly (♀♀) arcuate and downcurved; all distinctly carinate with at least the outer ventral carinae lamellate (more pronounced in ♀♀). Profemora longer than mesothorax, mesofemora slightly shorter (♀♀) or longer (♂♂) than metathorax, metafemora reaching to abdominal segment IV. Medioventral carina of profemora lamellate and strongly displaced towards anteroventral carina, of meso- and metafemora roughly centrally on ventral surface; unarmed. All legs unarmed in ♂♂ except for a small apical spine on the two outer ventral carinae of the femora and a ± prominent, obtusely triangular apical tooth or lobe. In ♀♀ both outer ventral carinae of meso and metafemora with a distinct lobe-like apical tooth and a ± prominent, tooth-like to foliaceous appendage about one-third off the base (metafemora may be unarmed). Profemora unarmed except for a lobe-like apical tooth on posteroventral carinae. Two outer ventral carinae of meso- and metatibiae roundly expanded pre-apically and the posterodorsal carinae sometimes weakly undulate. All basitarsi with the dorsal carina prominently raised and rounded; slightly longer than following three tarsomeres combined (♀♀) or longer than combined length of remaining tarsomeres (♂♂). Eggs unknown.

Differentiation. This very striking genus is readily separated from all other members of the tribe by the very large posterior spine on the metanotum of ♀♀ ( Fig. 44E View FIGURE 44 ) and apically elongated, spatulate poculum of ♂♂, which projects over the apex of the abdomen ( Figs. 44J–K View FIGURE 44 ). There morphologically most similar and supposedly most closely related genera are Phanoclocrania gen. n. from Central America and Globocrania gen. n., which like Otocrania is geographically restricted to the Atlantic Forest of East-Brazil. The large horns of the head and distinct medio-longitudinal carina or keel of the ventral body surface of both sexes are shared with Phanoclocrania gen. n., but in addition to the characteristic features mentioned, Otocrania differs from that genus by having the median segment longer than the metanotum, the indistinct praeopercular organ and much longer, spatulate subgenital plate of ♀♀, that extends over the apex of the abdomen by considerably more than the combined length of the three terminal abdominal segments. Males can at first glance be separated by the presence of well-developed alae, much more prominent dorsal lobe of the basitarsi and flattened, rather scoop-shaped poculum (strongly convex and with a huge central projection in Phanoclocrania ). From Globocrania gen. n. the ♀♀ of Otocrania may also be distinguished by the having the median segment longer than the metanotum, relatively shorter, stockier and lobate legs, much longer and spatulate subgenital plate and enormously elongated gonapophyses VIII (hardly projecting over apex of anal segment in Globocrania ), while ♂♂ readily differ by the presence of wings ( Fig. 44A View FIGURE 44 ). For a detailed distinction between these three genera also see table 8.

Comments. Robertson et al. (2018) have removed Otocrania from what these authors referred to as Cladomorphinae (now Haplopodinae → 4.2.) and transferred the genus to Diapheromerinae but based on a misidentification. The species that these authors sampled in their molecular analyses is not a member of Otocrania but is a species of Phanocloidea Zompro, 2001 (→ see Parotocrania panamae gen. n., sp. n.).

Otocrania is here shown to be a monotypic genus, because all other species previously included are either synonyms of the type-species or were misplaced in the genus. As a result, O. aurita ( Burmeister, 1838) remains as the only known species in this remarkable genus. Otocrania extensa ( Bates, 1865) was misplaced in Otocrania by Redtenbacher (1908: 424) and belongs in the South African genus Bactricia Kirby, 1896 , hence is not even a member of Cladomorphinae . Unfortunately, the type-locality is not known, but it only differs from the type-species B. bituberculata (Schaum, 1857) by the broader cephalad horns and leg armature (comb. n.). Scrutiny of the type material however is needed for clarifying the validity of Bactricia extensum ( Bates, 1865) . Otocrania pleuracantha was originally placed in Otocrania by Redtenbacher (1908: 424) but is not congeneric with O. aurita , nor is Bostra imperialis Redtenbacher, 1908 which was erroneously placed in Otocrania by Zompro (2005: 267). Both species are here transferred to Globocrania gen. n. (comb. n.).

The females of the variable type-species O. aurita ( Burmeister, 1838) are the longest of all New World Phasmatodea and reach a maximum body length of 270.0 mm if the long subgenital plate is included.

Distribution ( Fig. 103D View FIGURE 103 ). Eastern Brazil (States of Bahía and Espírito Santo). Restricted to the Atlantic Forest (Portugese Mata Atlântica) and according to Morrone (2006) the known distribution corresponds to the biogeographical province Caatinga of the Chacoan subregion.

Species included: