Pulchriphyllium scythe (Gray, 1843) stat. rev., comb. nov.
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publication ID |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1173.104413 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5704F5B5-AE7B-4A79-A5DC-0B6592A77837 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1DBF40AA-AFB2-57B4-BED0-AAF3BC428082 |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Pulchriphyllium scythe (Gray, 1843) stat. rev., comb. nov. |
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Pulchriphyllium scythe (Gray, 1843) stat. rev., comb. nov.
Figs 16 View Figure 16 , 17 View Figure 17 , 18 View Figure 18 , 21C View Figure 21
Material examined.
(♀): “Silhet” (OUMNH; Fig. 16 View Figure 16 ), herein designated as the lectotype. See Suppl. material 1 for additional non-type specimens reviewed.
Differentiation.
Presently, Pulchriphyllium scythe stat. rev., comb. nov. is one of the species we lack molecular data for, but thankfully there are consistent morphological differences which allow differentiation from congenerics. At the moment, the morphology of the freshly hatched nymph and the egg are not known, which would likely yield additional features for differentiation. The female Pulchriphyllium scythe stat. rev., comb. nov. are the easiest to consistently differentiate, and when coupled with their geographic isolation, are the reason why we are reinstating this population as a valid species.
From all other Pulchriphyllium bioculatum -like species, Pulchriphyllium scythe stat. rev., comb. nov. females can be differentiated by their notably larger size (10.8 to 11.0 cm (vs the other Pulchriphyllium bioculatum -like species which range from 6.7 to 9.5 cm long). Females of Pulchriphyllium scythe stat. rev., comb. nov. are so large they actually fall within the size range of Pulchriphyllium giganteum (Hausleithner, 1984) (but can easily be differentiated by the mesopleural spination as Pulchriphyllium scythe stat. rev., comb. nov. does not have the notable medial projection like in Pulchriphyllium giganteum ). Male Pulchriphyllium scythe stat. rev., comb. nov. are poorly known (few males have been located in museum collections and few living observations have been located, coupled with the original male syntype specimen being lost), therefore, differences have been difficult to identify as consistent. At the moment the most notable feature we have been able to identify is that the profemoral exterior lobe appears to be slightly narrower than in most Pulchriphyllium bioculatum -like species, giving the exterior lobe a more obtuse angle appearance.
Distribution.
Thanks to iNaturalist (Figs 17 View Figure 17 , 18 View Figure 18 ) and review of museum collections, the distribution for this species is beginning to be clarified, as well as the geographic disconnect from the other " Pulchriphyllium bioculatum "-like species adjacent to this species range. At the moment we are aware of records for Pulchriphyllium scythe stat. rev., comb. nov. from India (provinces of Bengale Occidental, Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram) and from the Slyhet division of Bangladesh (Fig. 15A View Figure 15 ). This species is geographically separated by the drier Eastern Ghats, Deccan Plateau, and the Central Highlands from Pulchriphyllium anangu sp. nov. (which is found in the heavily forested and wetter southwestern India; Fig. 15A View Figure 15 ). The geographic separation from Pulchriphyllium bioculatum from southern mainland Asia is not as clearly defined as there are some potential " Pulchriphyllium bioculatum -like" records from central Myanmar which would be useful to compare in a molecular phylogeny one day. A potential geographic barrier between the northern extreme of Pulchriphyllium bioculatum and Pulchriphyllium scythe stat. rev., comb. nov. is the high elevation Rakhine Mountains (Burmese: Rakhine Yoma).
Remarks.
The only remaining syntype female (Fig. 16 View Figure 16 ) is herein designated as the lectotype. In the original description male and female morphology was described, suggesting that there were syntypes of both sexes (although the exact number of which were not recorded). Unfortunately, male specimens upon which the description was based could not be located within the OUMNH collection. If any male specimens or additional female specimens can ever be located, they should be considered paralectotypes.
Pulchriphyllium scythe stat. rev., comb. nov. is an uncommonly recorded taxon, which has mostly been recognized as a valid species by some authors, and as a synonym or subspecies/form by others ( Brock et al. 2022). Some of this confusion likely is due to the lack of examination of the type material, which has never been illustrated to date, and it appears that this taxon has not been extensively reviewed and compared with other populations by past authors. As the types have not yet been illustrated, they first had to be identified within the OUMNH collection (which received the F. W. Hope collection which the type specimens were deposited within ( Gray 1843)). Near one large female specimen was a label which reads "Possibly a ♀ Syntype of Phyllium scythe Gray. Only specimen with exactly correct size and locality data. C. O’Toole 13-xii-1979". We agree with this assessment by C. O’Toole and based upon the style of the label (Fig. 16D View Figure 16 ) and the pin used for this specimen, this appears to match the era correctly. Unfortunately, even though at least one male syntype was described and noted by Gray (1843) as being within the same collection, a specimen could not be located which might be an original male. Unfortunately, any male specimens appear to be lost, but thanks to the remaining female specimen, to help remove uncertainty surrounding this species, we herein designate the female as the lectotype specimen for Pulchriphyllium scythe stat. rev., comb. nov. (Fig. 16 View Figure 16 ).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.