Medaurini, Hennemann & Conle, 2008

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2008, Revision of Oriental Phasmatodea: The tribe Pharnaciini Günther, 1953, including the description of the world's longest insect, and a survey of the family Phasmatidae Gray, 1835 with keys to the subfamilies and tribes (Phasmatodea: " Anareolatae ": Phasmatidae), Zootaxa 1906, pp. 1-316 : 72-73

5.3 Medaurini trib. nov.

( Figs. 26–28, 56)

Type genus: Medaura Stål, 1875: 69 .

Description: Small to medium-sized (body length 28.4–110.0 mm), robust to moderately slender Clitumninae with the legs very long in relation to the body. Sexual dimorphism moderate with ♂♂ more slender but just little shorter than ♀♀. Body surface smooth to granulose in ♂♂ or granulose, tuberculose or even spinose in ♀♀ (thorax in particular). Vertex set with a variable number of granules, tubercles or spines and usually with a pair of ± distinct spines or scale-like tubercles between the eyes. Antennae consisting of <28 segments and at best reaching to posterior margin of mesonotum. Scapus ± enlarged and dilated laterally. Mesothorax at best 2.5x (♀♀) or 3x (♂♂) longer than head and pronotum combined, in ♀♀ of certain taxa gently widening towards the posterior or swollen medially. Mesopleurae of ♀♀ granulose or tuberculose. Median segment wider than long, at best 1/3 as long as metanotum. Abdomen about as long as head and thorax combined; sometimes swollen medially. Abdominal segments II–IV distincly increasing in length, the longest segments (V and VI) at best 3x longer than wide (some ♂♂). In Cnipsomorpha all abdominal tergites bear a triangular posterolateral tooth or lobe. Abdominal tergite IX of ♀♀ with a ± distinct posteromedian tubercle or hump. Abdominal sternum VII of ♀♀ with a ± distinct praeopercular organ formed by a posterior pair of tubercles, spines or lobes. Anal segment of ♂♂ longitudinally split and consisting of two movable semi-tergites. These ± triangular in lateral aspect with the apex acute and the interior surface set with minute teeth (= “Dornenfeld”); lower margins cleft ventro-basally. Certain species of Parapachymorpha have an additional finger-like ventro-apical appendix on the lower margin. External vomer produced but rather small and slender, sometimes filiform or papillate ( Medauroidea and Parapachymorpha ). Cerci of both sexes small, distinctly shorter than the anal segment and oval in cross-section; the apex may be laterally compressed. Subgenital plate of ♀♀ rather small and scoop-shaped, longitudinally keeled and not reaching to apex of anal segment. Legs very long and slender. Profemora ± triangular in cross-section with the anterodorsal carina ± conspicuously raised. Medioventral carina distinct and acute, slightly lamellate and displaced towards anteroventral carina. Anterodorsal and posteroventral carinae may be serrate ( Medauroidea ). Mid and hind-legs mostly unarmed but sometimes with a few dorsal lobes ( Medaura and Medaurouidea) and in one case armed with several enlarged teeth ( Cnipsomorpha ). Medioventral carina of meso- and metafemora indistinct and unarmed. Tibiae often with dentations in apical portion. Tarsi rather short and simple.

Eggs (Fig. 56): Small (overall-length <4.0 mm) ovoid to almost spherical with the capsule minutely punctured or covered with a raised net-like structure. The operculum is either flat and slightly impressed in the centre or elevated and evaginated into a pseudocapitulum (Fig. 56a). The micropylar plate is small, oval or rhomboidal and covers less than half of the capsule length. Internally the plate exhibits a wide posteromedian notch and distinct median line (Fig. 56b).

Comments: Morphology of the ♂♂ genitalia and eggs has revealed two distinct generic groups within Clitumnini , which indicates the tribe as presently treated to be polyphyletic. The two genera Medaura and Medauroidea differ from all other representatives of Clitumnini by the produced and sclerotised external vomer of ♂♂ and ovoid to spherical eggs. Cliquennois (2004) critically discussed the tribe Gratidiini Bragg, 1995 and showed this taxon to be polyphyletic (→ 4.5.1). Cliquennois (2004) and other authors (e.g. Tilgner, 2002 & Whiting et al., 2003) suggested parts of Pachymorphinae : Gratidiini to be related to Clitumnini . Indeed, Gongylopus Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907 was misplaced in Gratidiini and is here transferred to Clitumnini . Three further genera, namely Parapachymorpha , Interphasma and Cnipsomorpha , are apparently closely related to Medaura and Medauroidea (formerly in Clitumnini ) and hence also misplaced in Pachymorphinae : Gratidiini or Clitumninae : Clitumnini . These five genera together share several common features (→ see above) which distinguish them from all other Clitumnini and consequently are transferred to another tribe, the Medaurini trib. nov..

Distribution ( Fig. 82): Continental SE-Asia ( Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Kampuchea, China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and E-India)