Phobaeticus palawanensis, 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 : 169-170

Phobaeticus palawanensis spec. nov.

( Figs. 122, 263, 311, 347, 388)

HT, ♂: Philippinen, Palawan, Napsan, Salakot Pass , 350 m, 7. IX. 1997, ex coll. FH, No. 0410-1 ( ZSMC) .

PT, 2 ♂♂: Philippinen, Palawan, Napsan, Salakot Pass , 350 m, 7.IX.1997 (coll. OC) .

Diagnosis: This new species is related to Ph. philippinicus (Hennemann & Conle, 1997) from the Philippines and the Bornean Ph. redtenbacheri ( Dohrn, 1910) , but ♂♂ (the only sex known) differ from those of both species by the strongly globose, almost spherical head (Fig. 311). From the first it additionally differs by: the long median segment, which is longer than the metanotum; presence of small, vestigial tegmina and alae; shape of the semi-tergites of the anal segment (Fig. 263) and the more spine-like dentations of mid and hind legs. Ph. redtenbacheri is easily distinguished from Ph. palawanensis spec. nov. by the well developed tegmina and alae. The globose head also resembles the Bornean Ph. kirbyi Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907 but this species differs in a number of features such as the presence of well developed tegmina and alae and a conspicuous black ventrolateral marking on the cheeks.

Etymology: The specific name refers to the geographic distribution of this new species, which is the so far only known representative of Phobaeticus Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907 in Palawan.

Description: ♂♂ ( Fig. 122): Medium sized (body length 140.0–162.0 mm) and slender species (maximum body width 2.5 mm), with a long median segment and small, vestigial tegmina (2.5–3.0 mm) and alae (1.5–2.1 mm). General colouration greenish to yellowish brown (possibly dull green when alive), legs pale greenish. Armature of the legs dull orange, the dorsal serrations of the profemora dark brown. Eyes creamish orange brown with irregular sepia brown mottling. Scapus and pedicellus pale brown, remaining parts of antennae black.

Head (Fig. 311): Strongly globose and almost spherical, indistinctly longer than wide; vertex with two impressed longitudinal lines. Eyes large, circular and projecting hemispherically from head capsule; their length contained about 2.3x in that of cheeks. Antennae consisting of about 28 segments, projecting over posterior margin of median segment; all antennomeres densely covered with long curly hairs. Scapus dorsoventrally flattened and almost 3x longer than wide, parallel-sided. Pedicellus slightly longer than wide, 1/3 the length of scapus, round in cross-section.

Thorax: Pronotum distinctly narrower than head, slightly less than 2x longer than wide, anterior half narrowed. Lateral margins slightly raised, median transverse depression faint, straight and short, not reaching lateral margins of segment. Mesothorax almost 4x longer than head and pronotum combined, mesonotum parallel-sided. Metanotum distinctly shorter than mesonotum and slightly shorter than median segment, parallel-sided and almost 4x longer than wide. Meso- and metasternum with a fine longitudinal median carina. Tegmina very small and vestigial, forming a small (3.0 mm) elongate lobe which is strongly constricted towards the base and rounded at the apex. Alae reduced to a pair of very minute elongate lobes (2.1 mm).

Abdomen: Median segment slightly longer than metanotum, parallel-sided, 5x longer than wide. Segment II a little longer than median segment and about 5x longer than wide. III–VI about 6x longer than wide, indistinctly constricted medially. All tergites with a very faint longitudinal median line, IV–VI with a minute scalelike posteromedian tubercle. Segment VII shorter than previous, about 4.5x longer than wide. Tergite VIII 2/3 the length of VII and slightly widening towards the posterior. IX about 2/3 the length of VIII, strongly convex, constricted medially and with a blunt median keel; anterior portion widened. Anal segment 1/3 longer than VIII, laterally compressed, strongly keeled and tectiform. Semi-tergites moderately long, straight and tapered towards a narrow apex (Fig. 263). The interior surface apically set with small, hooked spines. Cerci small, round in cross-section, tapering towards a pointed apex and slightly in-curving. Poculum strongly convex, cup-like, with a blunt, conical hump at the angle and reaching about half way along tergite IX.

Legs: All very long and slender, profemora longer than head, pro- and mesothorax combined, mesofemora a little longer than mesothorax, metafemora slightly projecting over posterior margin of abdominal segment V and metatibiae extending considerably over apex of abdomen. Anterodorsal carina of profemora with 17–20 prominent, acutely triangular serrations, posteroventral carina with a few minute teeth (Fig. 347). Protibiae unarmed, but finely sethose. Two outer ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora densely set with pointed spines of moderate size. Dorsal carinae very minutely and sparsely dentate. Medioventral carina indistinct and unarmed. Meso and metatibiae with very minute teeth on all carinae (more prominent ventrally). Probasitarsus very elongate, 1.5x longer than remaining segments combined, all carinae smooth. Meso- and metabasitarsi indistinctly longer than remaining tarsomeres combined, all carinae minutely dentate.

Comments: ♀ and egg unknown.

Distribution (Fig. 388): Palawan (Salakot Pass: Napsan 350 m).

Number of specimens examined: 3