Phobaeticus redtenbacheri ( Dohrn, 1910 ), 2005

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 : 175-179

Phobaeticus redtenbacheri ( Dohrn, 1910)

( Figs. 110–111, 173–174, 232–233, 309, 390)

Nearchus redtenbacheri Dohrn, 1910: 409 . LT (by present designation), ♀: N-Borneo, leg. Waterstradt [larger specimen] (ZMPA); PLT, ♀: same data as HT (ZMPA). Bragg, 1995b: 276, figs. 6–8 (♂), 9–11 (egg). [Description of ♂ and egg] Liana, 1996: 5. Bragg, 2001: 394, figs. 147 & 148, figs. 147 (♂), 148 (egg).

Baculolonga redtenbacheri, Hennemann & Conle, 1997: 348 .

Phobaeticus redtenbacheri, Otte & Brock, 2005: 269 .

Nearchus maximus redtenbacheri, Günther, 1935a: 11 .

Further material: [2 ºº, 1 ♂, 1 egg]:

N-BORNEO, SABAH:

1 ♂: Sabah, Mt. Kinabalu Park, near Park Headquarters, Silau-Silau trail, 1550 m, leg. Hennemann & Conle 4.– 8.VIII.1996 (coll. FH, No. 0264-1) ; 1 egg: Sabah, Mt. Kinabalu NP, near HQ, 1550 m, laid by PEB-1719 (coll. PEB, No. 1720) ; 1 ♀: Borneo, Kinabalu ca. 1500 m, leg. Waterstradt, H. Rolle vend. 25.11.1904 ( ZMUH) ; 1 ♀: Sabah, Mt. Kinabalu, Mesilau , 6.II.1964, J. Smart leg., Royal Soc. Exped. BMNH , 1964-250 ( BMNH).

Diagnosis: Closely related to the Bornean Ph. mjoebergi (Günther, 1935) , Ph. kirbyi Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907 and Ph. chani Bragg spec. nov. and Ph. philippinicus (Hennemann & Conle, 1997) from the Philippines. With Ph. mjoebergi ♀♀ share the long and lanceolate subgenital plate but differ by: the larger size; relatively shorter mesonotum; characteristic armature of the legs and dentate medioventral carina of the meso- and metafemora. The long and lanceolate subgenital plate (Fig. 232) and long median segment clearly distinguishes ♀♀ from those of the latter three species.

From Ph. kirbyi it is furthermore readily distinguished by: the less globose and slightly more elongate head of both sexes; less distinct praeopercular organ and characteristic armature of the legs of ♀♀, as well as the serrate posteroventral carina of the profemora; lack of a black ventrolateral marking on the cheeks; shorter alae and longer, more elongate semi-tergites of the anal segment of ♂♂ (Fig. 233). The eggs differ by lacking radial ridges on the dorsoventral keel of the egg capsule, but instead have rounded swellings, and relatively smaller micropylar plate (Figs. 173–174). From Ph. chani Bragg spec. nov. it clearly differs by: the shorter, more globose head and different leg armature of both sexes; considerably smaller size; more robust body and relatively shorter body segments of ♀♀; lack of a dark postocular stripe; much shorter alae; more elongate legs and tarsomeres, and long, slender semi-tergites of the anal segment of ♂♂. The eggs at once differ by lacking the conspicuous leaf-like appendages of the dorsoventral keel seen in Ph. chani Bragg spec. nov.. With Ph. philippinicus ♀♀ have the apical dorsal lobe of the protibiae in common and eggs are rather similar in general appearance. Features which readily distinguish Ph. redtenbacheri from this species are the clearly different leg armature of both sexes and presence of tegmina and alae in the ♂♂.

Etymology: Dedicated to the well known Austrian entomologist Josef Redtenbacher (1856–1926), who described several hundreds of new species of Phasmatodea in the well known monograph “ Die Insektenfamilie der Phasmiden ” ( Redtenbacher, 1906 & 1908), amongst them several of the tribe Pharnaciini .

Description: ♀♀ ( Fig. 110): Very long (body length 249.0–256.0 mm, including subgenital plate 275.0– 300.0 mm) and slender for the genus (maximum body width ± 6.0 mm) with an extremely long, lanceolate subgenital plate (56.0– 62.5 mm). General colouration of body and legs more or less uniformly dull green or mid to dark brown. Leg armature dull red to reddish brown. Eyes dark ochracheous. Antennae dark reddish brown, the two basal segments dull green or brown.

Head: Slightly longer than wide, broadest at eyes and distinctly narrowing towards the posterior, vertex very gently rounded and with a faintly impressed coronal line. Eyes small, circular and projecting hemispherically; their length contained about 3x in that of cheeks. Antennae slightly projecting over posterior margin of mesonotum. Scapus 3x longer than wide, dorsoventrally flattened, rectangular. Pedicellus cylindrical and distinctly shorter than scapus.

Thorax: Pronotum almost 2x longer than wide, as long but narrower than head and with a small rounded posteromedian tubercle. Median transverse depression moderately distinct, slightly curved and almost reaching to lateral margins of segment. Mesothorax almost 3.8x longer than head and pronotum combined, mesonotum parallel-sided and very slightly constricted at anterior margin. Metanotum almost 3x longer than wide, parallel-sided. Meso- and metasternum simple.

Abdomen: Median segment a little longer than metanotum, about 3x longer than wide and slightly widened towards the posterior. Abdominal segments II–VII increasing in length, II 2x, III 2.5x, IV 3x, V–VI 3.5x longer than wide. VII slightly narrower than previous, as long as IV and about 4x longer than wide. Tergites II–VI with a small posteromedian tubercle. Praeopercular organ formed by two short, blunt spines at posterior margin of sternum VII. Tergite VIII narrower than previous, about 2.5x long than wide, about 3/5 the length of VII. IX almost quadrate, strongly convex. Anal segment as long as IX, with a blunt median carina and slightly constricted towards the apex; posterior margin with a rounded median indention. Supraanal plate bilobed, projecting slightly over posterior margin of anal segment. Cerci small, conical. Subgenital plate very long, lanceolate, tapered towards a pointed tip and projecting over anal segment by at least the combined length of tergites VII–X (Fig. 233).

Legs: All very long and slender, profemora as long as head, pro- and mesothorax combined, mesofemora about as long as pro- and mesothorax combined, metafemora almost reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment V and metatarsi roughly reaching tip of subgenital plate. Profemora on anterodorsal carina with 15–20 acute triangular serrations and a similar number of smaller serrations on posteroventral carina. Protibiae occasionally with one ± enlarged, triangular median tooth on the posterodorsal carina and with a small, rounded lobe at the apex. Medioventral carina of meso- and metafemora set with a few minute spines. All other carinae armed with numerous pointed teeth; considerably larger and spine-like on ventral carinae. Posteroventral carina usually with one or two considerably enlarged spines sub-basally. Posterodorsal carina with 2–4 slightly larger, triangular teeth. Meso- and metatibiae with all carinae minutely serrate. Mid point of posterodorsal carina with a broad, triangular tooth and a small, rounded apical lobe. Probasitarsus slightly longer than remaining tarsomeres combined, unarmed. Meso- and metabasitarsi with dorsal carina slightly raised and all carinae minutely dentate, a little longer than following three tarsomeres combined.

♂♂ ( Fig. 111): Medium sized to rather long (body length 146.0– 161.5 mm) and very slender for the genus with considerably shortened alae (28.5–29.0 mm). General colouration of body and legs mid green (often brown when preserved), dorsal surface of abdomen, tegmina and costal region of the alae pale greenish brown. Anterior margin of tegmina slightly whitish. Anal region of alae transparent grey with brown veins. Eyes reddish brown. Armature of the legs dark yellow. Antennae dark brown with the ventral surface black.

Head (Fig. 309): Oval, broadest at eyes and strongly narrowed towards posterior margin, vertex very gently rounded. Eyes large and projecting hemispherically from head capsule; their length contained less than 2x in that of cheeks. Antennae reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment II and consisting of about 20 segments. Scapus dorsoventrally flattened, 3x longer than wide, rectangular. Pedicellus less than half the length of scapus, cylindrical. Segments in median portion of antennae extremely elongate.

Thorax: Pronotum slightly shorter and narrower than head, constricted in anterior portion, anterior margin and lateral margins slightly raised; otherwise as in ♀♀. Mesothorax about 3.7x longer than head and pronotum combined, mesonotum parallel-sided except for being gently widened at posterior margin. Meso- and metasternum with a distinct longitudinal median keel. Tegmina slender and elongate, spatulate, strongly constricted basally and with a very faint central hump, just covering base of alae. Alae ± reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment II.

Abdomen: Median segment about 2x longer than metanotum. Abdominal segments II–V very slightly increasing in length, II about 5.5x, V almost 7x longer than wide. VI as long as V, VII 3/4 the length of VI. Tergites IV–VI with a small pointed, scale-like posteromedian tubercle (most prominent on V). Tergite VIII 2/ 3 the length of VII and gradually widening towards the posterior. IX slightly shorter than VIII and constricted medially, anterior margin broader than posterior margin. Anal segment very long, longer than VII, strongly keeled, laterally compressed and tectiform. Semi-tergites very elongate, slender, straight and with the apex slightly pointed (Fig. 232). Interior surfaces apically densely covered with minute hooked spines. Cerci of moderate length, very slender, strongly in-curving and tapered towards the apex. Poculum strongly convex, cup-like, angular with an acute, transversely compressed backward pointing central spine.

Legs: All very long and slender with all carinae more or less distinctly serrate, except dorsal carinae or protibiae. Profemora distinctly, mesofemora slightly longer than head, pro- and mesothorax combined, metafemora slightly projecting over posterior margin of abdominal segment V and metatibiae considerably exceeding apex of abdomen. Anterodorsal carina of profemora with 18–24 distinct and acutely triangular serrations, posteroventral carina with a similar number of very small teeth. Two outer ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora distinctly armed with triangular teeth of rather uniform size, dorsal carinae very minutely dentate. Medioventral carina unarmed. All carinae of meso- and metatibiae minutely serrate, although very minutely and sparsely on dorsal carinae. Probasitarsus very long and slender, considerably longer than remaining tarsomeres combined, unarmed. Meso- and metabasitarsi about as long as remaining tarsomeres combined, all carinae with 2–4 minute teeth.

Eggs (Figs. 173–174): The following description is based on an egg kindly provided for examination by P.E. Bragg (Nottinghamshire, coll. PEB, No. 1720).

Capsule basically lens-shaped, laterally compressed, slightly longer than high. General colouration of capsule and operculum mid brown, surface slightly rugulose. Whole capsule surrounded by dorsoventral keel, beginning and ending at the operculum and only interrupted near the polar-area and the micropylar plate. Polar impression wide. Ventral and dorsal surfaces of keel each with a rounded swelling near operculum, and a second smaller swelling near polar end. Micropylar plate lighter brown than capsule, slightly bilobed and constricted medially. Micropylar cup small, rounded and placed at polar end of plate. Operculum surrounded by raised rim, oval and slightly convex. In its centre with a small, roughly cone-shaped, dark brown capitulum.

Measurements [mm]: length (incl. capitulum) 6.0, length 5.5, height 4.5, width 3.0, length of micropylar plate 1.7.

Comments: Dohrn (1910: 409) originally described Nearchus redtenbacheri based on a ♀ specimen with a body length of 300.0 mm and referred to a second, smaller specimen (275.0 mm) which he stated to be iden- tical except for being considerably smaller. Bragg (2001: 397) respectively treated these as HT and PT. This kind of treatment however is not in accordance to the Code (ICZN 1999: Articles 73–74.), and from the specimen treated as HT and PT by Bragg (2001) the first larger specimen is here designated as the LT, the other smaller specimen being the PLT. Although Dohrn’s type specimens in ZMPA could not be examined for this study the designation of a LT appears necessary to guarantee stability of the specific name. The original description and examination of a ♀ in ZMUH from the same locality and collector ( Fig. 110) leave no doubt about its identity. Bragg (1995b & 2001) provided a redescription of the ♀ along with descriptions and illustrations of the ♂ and egg. The author mentioned this species to be not rare near the headquarters of Mount Kinabalu National Park (N-Sabah) with three adult ♀♀ encountered at this locality during only eight nights ( Bragg, 2001: 397). In addition to the material listed above there are a further two ♂♂ and ♀♀ from Mount Kinabalu in the collection of P. E. Bragg (Nottinghamshire, coll. PEB) and several couples from the same locality in the collection of C. L. Chan (Kota Kinabalu, coll. CLC).

Günther (1935: 10–11) erroneously interpreted the two Bornean N. redtenbacheri Dohrn, 1910 and N. mjoebergi Günther, 1935 as subspecies of Nearchus maximus Redtenbacher, 1908 (= Phobaeticus magnus nom. nov.) which is however obviously a distinct species and restricted to continental Asia ( Thailand, Laos, NE-India and N-Myanmar).

Distribution (Fig. 390): Northern Borneo: Sabah (Mount Kinabalu: National Park HQ 1500–1580 m & Mesilau).

Number of specimens examined: 3

* according to Dohrn (1910: 410)

** including median segment

120. Phobaeticus lumawigi Brock, 1997 , ♀ HT, Philippines, N-Luzon Id., Mountain Province (BMNH) 121. Phobaeticus sobrinus Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907, ♂ LT, Sumatra, Si-Rambé (MCSN)

122. Phobaeticus palawanensis spec. nov., ♂ HT, Palawan, Salakot Pass, Napsan ( ZSMC)

123. Phobaeticus philippinicus (Hennemann & Conle, 1997) , ♂ HT, Philippines, Mindoro Id., Mount Halcon ( ZSMC) 124. Phobaeticus hypharpax ( Westwood, 1859) , ♀ Sri Lanka ( SMFM)

125. Phobaeticus lobulatus ( Carl, 1913) , ♀ HT, Sri Lanka ( MHNG)