Papuacocelus, Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2006

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2006, Papuacocelus papuanus n. gen., n. sp. a new Eurycanthinae from Papua New Guinea, with notes on the genus Dryococelus Gurney, 1947 and description of the egg (Phasmatodea: Phasmatidae: Eurycanthinae), Zootaxa 1375, pp. 31-49 : 32-34

Papuacocelus n. gen.

Type-species: Papuacocelus papuanus n. sp., by present designation.

Diagnosis

♂, ♀: Medium-sized, moderately broadened, apterous and conspicuously colourful Eurycanthinae with an entirely unarmed, smooth and strongly shiny body surface. Complete dorsal surface of body with a fine, slightly impressed longitudinal median line. Body slightly flattened dorsoventrally, ventral surface of abdomen of females with a longitudinal median keel. Body in ♀♀ of uniform width, in ♂♂ abdomen distinctly narrower than thorax. Head unarmed, smooth, slightly longer than wide and distinctly widened towards the posterior; vertex flat. Eyes prominent and just slightly convex. Antennae considerably 1. Eurycanthinae : Eurycantha horrida Boisduval, 1835 , dorsal view

2. Eurycanthinae : Eurycantha horrida Boisduval, 1835 , ventral view

3. Heteropterygidae : Heteropteryx dilatata (Parkinson, 1789) , dorsal view 4. Heteropterygidae : Heteropteryx dilatata (Parkinson, 1789) , ventral view

thickened and obviously segmented, reaching at least half way along mesonotum (broken in all known specimens). Scapus slightly compressed dorsoventrally, oval in cross-section, parallel-sided and about 1.5x longer than wide. Pedicellus half the length of scapus, cylindrical. Pronotum longer than head, trapezoidal, posterior broader than anterior. Mesonotum parallel-sided, 2x longer than wide and slightly longer than combined length of head and pronotum. Metanotum transverse and broader than mesonotum. Pleurae and sterna smooth. Median segment transverse, anterior margin distinctly rounded. Abdominal segments II–VII parallel-sided, all transverse. Tergite VIII of ♂♂ and VII of ♀♀ with lateral margins gently rounded and slightly broader than previous segments. Tergites VIII to X tapered. Anal segment of ♂♂ tectiform, of ♀♀ with a median carina and with apex slightly elongated and notched medially. Supraanal plate small, roughly triangular, in ♀♀ hidden underneath elongation of anal segment. Cerci very small and cylindrical. Subgenital plate of both sexes short, scoop-like with posterior margin truncate and slightly projecting over posterior margin of tergite IX. Legs short, stout and indistinctly carinate. Femora rectangular, tibiae slightly trapezoidal in cross-section. Profemora shorter than head and pronotum combined, mesofemora about half the length of mesonotum, metatibiae considerably shorter than metafemora. Profemora very gently curved basally. Pro- and mesofemora unarmed except for a minute sub-apical spine on antero- and posteroventral carinae. Medioventral carina very indistinct. Pro- and mesotibiae unarmed, except for some minute spines along medioventral carina. Metafemora of ♂♂ strongly thickened and heavily armed ventrally. Medioventral carina distinct in ♂♂ but faint in ♀♀ and armed with a prominent spine about 2/3 the way along femur. Antero- and posteroventral carinae each with a prominent sub-apical spine (less distinct in ♀♀). Metatibiae with several blunt spines along medioventral carinae and tuberculate dorsally. Tarsi short, basitarsi not considerably longer than 2nd tarsomere.

Differentiation

The dorsoventrally flattened body, smooth head and unarmed, strongly shining body surface shows relation to Dryococelus Gurney, 1947 and the secondarily reduced, scooplike subgenital plate of ♀♀ show close relation to Thaumatobactron Günther, 1929 . The slightly elongated anal segment of ♀♀ on the other side indicates relation to Eurycantha Boisduval, 1835 .

From Dryococelus the new genus differs by: the relatively longer mesonotum (only 1.5x longer than wide in Dryococelus ) and entirely smooth and unarmed thorax of both sexes; apically elevated and elongated anal segment and short, scoop-like subgenital plate of ♀♀, and prominent sub-median spine on the medioventral carina of the metafemora of ♂♂ (on anteroventral carina in Dryococelus ).

From Thaumatobactron Günther it differs by: the relatively shorter, dorsoventrally compressed mesothorax (cylindrical and at least 2.3x longer than wide in Thaumatobactron ); entirely smooth and unarmed body surface; more elongate head; short tarsi and metatibiae being considerably shorter than the metafemora. ♀♀ furthermore differ by the apically elevated and elongated anal segment and posteriorly truncate subgenital plate, and ♂♂ by the parallel-sided mesonotum (constricted towards anterior in Thaumatobactron ).

From Eurycantha Boisduval it is easily distinguished by lacking any lateral spination of the dorsal body segments, unarmed fore and mid legs, and ♀♀ lacking a beak-like ovipositor.

For a more detailed differentiation see Table 2 .

Etymology

The generic name is combined from “Papua” referring to the geographical distribution of the new genus, and “cocelus” to emphasize the close relation to Dryococelus Gurney, 1947 . It means as much as “hidden in Papua” or ”inhabitant of Papua”.

Distribution

Central Papua New Guinea: Morobe Province (Jerri Mumeng & Wau 1950 m).

Species included

1. Papuacocelus papuanus n. sp.