Taraxippus perezgelaberti, Conle & Hennemann & Valero, 2020

Conle, Oskar V., Hennemann, Frank H. & Valero, Pablo, 2020, Studies on neotropical Phasmatodea XXII: Two new species of Taraxippus (Phasmatodea: Cladomorphinae: Hesperophasmatini) and the first record of the genus from Central America, Journal of Orthoptera Research 29 (1), pp. 101-114 : 101

Taraxippus perezgelaberti sp. nov. Figs 1 , 2 , 3b, e, h , 4d-f

Taraxippus paliurus Pérez-Gelabert, 1999: 23, figs 1, 2.

Differentiation. -

Females can easily be distinguished from the two other species in the genus by the armature of the mesonotum and the more elongate subgenital plate (ratio length/max. width >3; Fig. 3 ). Males are readily differentiated from those of T. samarae sp. nov. by the lack of wings (Fig. 1 ). Eggs differ from those of T. samarae sp. nov. by their triangular cross-section, gently concave lateral margins, glossy surface, and strongly branched, net-like marginal fringes (Fig. 4 ).

Type material and specimens examined. -

HT, ♂: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-043, on Trail Arroyazo to La Sal, Reserva Científica Ebano Verde (RCEV), La Vega Prov., on path between 19°02.374'N, 70°32.684'W, 1249 m and 19°02.021'N, 70°32.584'W, 1102 m, 10.vii.2002, D. E. Pérez-Gelabert (DEPG), B. Hierro (BH), R. Bastardo (RB) [ USNM].

PT, ♀: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, Parque Nacional Armando Bermúdez (PNAB), Los Tablones, La Vega Prov., 1250 m, 4.ix.1997, DEPG, K. Grasela (KG) [ USNM].

PT, ♀: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, La Sal, RCEV, La Vega Prov., 21.v.1992, S. Navarro [ USNM].

PT, nymph ♀: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, PNAB, Arroyo Gurabo, Santiago Prov., 13.iii.1999, A. del Monte [ USNM].

PT, ♂: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, PNAB, Los Tablones, La Vega Prov., 1250 m, 4.ix.1997, DEPG, KG [ USNM].

PT, ♀: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, PNAB, in bamboo forest approx. 400 m from park entrance, La Vega Prov., 9.i.1986, S. Larcher, DEPG [ USNM].

PT, ♂: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, PNAB, Jamamucito, dentro de yagua, Santiago Prov., 10.iv.1999, night, RB [ USNM].

PT, 4 ♂♂, nymph ♂, nymph ♀: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-043, on Trail Arroyazo to La Sal, RCEV, La Vega Prov., on path between 19°02.374'N, 70°32.684'W, 1249 m and 19°02.021'N, 70°32.584'W, 1102 m, 10.vii.2002, DEPG, BH, RB [ USNM].

PT, 3 ♂♂: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-042, Arroyazo, RCEV, La Vega Prov., 19°01.945'N, 70°32.593'W, 1066 m, 9-10.vii.2002, DEPG, BH, RB [ USNM].

PT, 5 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, nymph ♀: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-044, La Sal, RCEV, La Vega Prov., 19°04.101'N, 70°34.089'W, 1043 m, 11-12.vii.2002, DEPG, BG, RB [ USNM].

PT, 2 ♂♂: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-128, PNAB, around caseta La Sierrecita, Santiago Prov., 19°14.889'N, 71°04.735'W, 752 m, 9.iv.2003, DEPG, BH, RB [ USNM].

PT, ♂, ♀: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-149, Loma La Golondrina, RCEV, La Vega Prov., 19°03.498'N, 70°32.670'W, 11.vii.2003, day and night, DEPG, RB, BH, ex coll USNM [OC, No. 0535-2, 3].

PT, 2 ♀♀: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-043, on Trail Arroyazo to La Sal, RCEV, La Vega Prov., on path between 19°02.374'N, 70°32.684'W, 1249 m and 19°02.021'N, 70°32.584'W, 1102 m, 10.vii.2002, DEPG, BH, RB [ USNM].

PT, 3 ♀♀: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-128, PNAB, around caseta La Sierrecita, Santiago Prov., 19°14.889'N, 71°04.735'W, 752 m, 9.iv.2003, DEPG, RB, BH [ USNM].

PT, ♀: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-218, 1 km ESE Cortico, Barahona Prov., 18°06.520'N, 71°12.898'W, 1347 m, 9-10.iv.2004, day and night, DEPG, BH, RB [ USNM].

PT, 2 ♂♂: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-157, PNAB, Los Tablones, La Vega Prov., 19°03.308'N, 70°53.049'W, 1270 m, 23.vii.2003, night, DEPG, RB, BH [ USNM].

PT, ♀: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-148, ~100 m up from El Sitio del Agua, cloud forest, N Los Bolos, Sierra de Neiba, Independencia Prov., 18°39.339'N, 71°39.279'W, 1520 m, 9.vii.2003, day and night, DEPG, RB, BH [ USNM].

PT, 4 ♂♂: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-023, Loma Casabito, RCEV, La Vega Prov., 340-522 m E 2106-146 m N, 1390 m, 31.i.2002, RB, BH, DEPG [ USNM].

PT, 6 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 3 nymph ♀♀: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-022, La Sal, RCEV, La Vega Prov., 19°04.42'N, 70°34.18'W, 1010 m, 28-30.i.2002, RB, BH, DEPG [ USNM].

PT, nymph ♂: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-021, Arroyazo, RCEV, La Vega Prov., 19°02.27'N, 70 32.64'W, 990 m, 26-27.i.2002, RB, BH, DEPG [ USNM].

PT, ♂, ♀: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-025, Km 10 on Rd to Los Anones, S Ocoa, San José de Ocoa Prov., 347-605 m E 2052-511 m N, 1070 m, 1-2.ii.2002, RB, BH, DEPG [ USNM].

PT, ♀: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, near Los Tablones River, W La Ciénaga de Manabao, E Pico Duarte, Cordillera Central, La Vega Prov., ca. 1200 m asl, 28.vi.2012, C. Vogt [OC, No 0535-4].

PT, nymph ♀: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-043, on Trail Arroyazo to La Sal, RCEV, La Vega Prov., on path between 19°02.374'N, 70°32.684'W, 1249 m and 19°02.021'N, 70°32.584'W, 1102 m, 10.vii.2002, DEPG, BH, RB [ USNM].

PT, nymph ♀: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-128, PNAB, around caseta La Sierrecita, Santiago Prov., 19°14.889'N, 71°04.735'W, 752 m, 9.iv.2003, DEPG, RB, BH [ USNM].

PT, 4 eggs: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-149, Loma La Golondrina, RCEV, La Vega Prov., 19°03.498'N, 70°32.670'W, 11.vii.2003, day and night, DEPG, RB, BH [ USNM].

PT, 2 eggs: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-149, Loma La Golondrina, RCEV, La Vega Prov., 19°03.498'N, 70°32.670'W, 11.vii.2003, day and night, DEPG, RB, BH, ex coll USNM [OC, No 0535-1].

PT, ♀: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-151, La Sal, RCEV, La Vega Prov., 19°04.101'N, 70°34.089'W, 1043 m, 12.vii.2003, night, DEPG, RB, BH, ex coll USNM [FH, No 1220-1].

PT, ♂: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-149, Loma La Golondrina, RCEV, La Vega Prov., 19°03.498'N, 70°32.670'W, 11.vii.2003, day and night, DEPG, RB, BH, ex coll USNM [FH, No 1220-2].

PT, egg: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, RD-14, Loma La Golondrina, RCEV, La Vega Prov., 19°03.498'N, 70°32.670'W, 11.vii.2003, day and night DEPG, RB, BH, ex coll USNM [FH, No 1220-E].

Distribution. -

So far only known from the provinces of La Vega, Santiago, Barahona, Independencia, and San José de Ocoa in Dominican Republic (Fig. 9 ).

Etymology. -

This species is dedicated to Dr. Daniel E. Pérez-Gelabert ( USNM) who collected the type specimens and provided specimens for the present study.

Description. -

♀♀ (Figs 2 , 3b, e, h ). Small for the genus (body length 39.8-50.5 mm). Apterous. General color variable and more or less lichenose to moss-like; various shades of brown and green. Eyes dark brown with a yellowish-green reticulate pattern.

Head: Slightly longer than wide, broadest at the eyes and slightly narrowed towards the posterior. Vertex strongly raised, rounded, convex, and armed with a crown-like ornamentation formed by six prominent and acute spines and four dentate foliaceous projections. Genae usually with a pale cream longitudinal postocular line. Eyes prominent, almost spherical and their length about 2 × that of genae. Antennae filiform, reaching to abdominal segment IV. Scapus slightly compressed dorsoventrally, constricted at base, about 2 × longer than wide and with a distinct dorsal spine towards apex. Pedicellus cylindrical and somewhat constricted towards apex.

Thorax: Pronotum slightly wider than long and the transverse median sulcus distinctly impressed; entire surface irregularly granulated. Four enlarged spines in posterior half, two towards the lateral and two towards the dorsolateral. Mesonotum 3.7 × longer than pronotum; distinctly swollen premedially, densely granulose and with irregular spines; at widest area with four dorsal distinctly outward-directed, multispinose processes, two towards the lateral and two dorsolateral, larger, and somewhat pointing towards the anterior; two dorsal, smaller ones close to the posterior margin. Mesosternum rough, with small spines along the lateral margins. Metanotum widened towards the posterior; sculptured with two distinct, dorsal, multispinose projections medially, slightly pointing towards the posterior; 0.5 × longer than mesonotum. Metapleurae with large supracoxal multispinose projection near the base, supplied with several shorter spines.

Abdomen: Median segment almost half the length of metanotum. Abdomen excluding median segment almost as long as head and thorax combined. Segments III-IV slightly increasing in width, V widest segment (2 × wider than long), VI-VII tapered towards the posterior. Terga III-VIII with the lateral margins posteriorly expanded into a small dentate and dorsally carinate lobe; the smallest in tergum III, larger and almost equal in size in terga IV-VI, which projects laterally by less than one-third the width of segment; the largest in tergum VII, which projects laterally by more than half the width of segment. All abdominal terga with two irregular and sub-parallel longitudinal median carinae; along each of them, with one medium to large multispinose process per segment (II-VI); very small in VII. In VIII-IX, with expanded dentate lobes pointing towards the posterior, the biggest in VIII. Praeopercular organ formed by several concentric circular carinae, surrounded by eight small spines. Anal segment 0.7 × longer than tergum IX, tectiform, broadened basally with expanded dentate lobes pointing towards the posterior; posterior margin with acute spines. Supraanal plate weakly developed, tectiform, triangular, and pointed at apex; slightly projecting over the anal segment and never reaching the end of the subgenital plate. Cerci usually green, long, and flattened, projecting over the anal segment. Subgenital plate slightly convex, shovel-like, widened medially, and strongly compressed towards the posterior third; granulated, with a median keel; ratio length/max. width ≈ 3 ×, posterior margin rounded at apex.

Legs: Profemora slightly compressed basally. Dorsal and ventral carinae of all femora, as well as dorsal carinae of all tibiae, armed with some irregular dentate foliaceous lobes. Tarsi elongated and slender.

♂♂ (Fig. 1 ). Small for the genus (body length 38.2-45.0 mm). Apterous. Generally similar to female but much more slender. Color similar to female except for the yellowish green markings along the lateral margins of pro-, meso-, and metathorax as well as abdominal terga II-VI.

Head: Similar to female except for the narrowed and more acute dorso-laterally directed and multispinose antler-like projections. Antennae filiform, long, slightly longer than the entire body.

Thorax: Meso- and metasternum with irregular spines. Pronotum similar to female. Mesonotum 3.7 × longer than pronotum; slightly swollen premedially, densely granulose and with irregular spines; at widest area with two small spines towards the lateral and two dorsal distinctly outward-directed, multispinose processes (composed of less spines than in females); two dorsal, small spines close to the posterior margin. Mesosternum rough, with small spines. Metanotum 0.6 × longer than mesonotum, roundly constricted medially and widened towards the posterior; sculptured with two distinct, dorsal, multispinose projections medially, slightly pointing towards the posterior. Metapleurae with large supracoxal spine near the base, supplied with several shorter spines.

Abdomen: Median segment almost half the length of metanotum, with two small spines close to the posterior margin. Abdomen excluding median segment slightly longer than head and thorax combined. Segments II-VI almost equal in length. Sterna II-VI armed with two ventral small spines medially and two tiny spines close to the posterior margin. Terga II-IV (sometimes even V) armed with two dorsal pairs of spines close to the posterior margin and joined at base; each pair of spines consists of a small one pointing towards the anterior and a larger one (at least 2 × in length) pointing towards the posterior. VI only with a pair of spines close to the posterior margin. The size of the spines on the terga decreases towards the posterior. Tergum VII with the lateral margins deflexed into a prominent, irregularly denticulate lobe, which laterally projects by more than one-third the width of segment. Anal segment 1.4 × longer than tergum IX, tectiform, broadened basally, strongly narrowed medially, with a rounded incision at apex. Cerci brown, long, and narrowed towards the apex, projecting over the anal segment. Vomer triangular, widened at base, and acute at apex. Poculum strongly convex, the posterior portion granulated, with an irregular median keel; posterior margin rounded.

Legs: Profemora slightly compressed basally. Dorsal and ventral carinae of all femora, as well as dorsal carinae of all tibiae, armed with some irregular dentate foliaceous lobes. Tarsi elongated and slender.

Measurements (in mm). -

♂, HT: Body 42.5, head 4.2, pronotum 2.1, mesonotum 9.7, metanotum 5.6, median segment 1.5, profemora 14.0, mesofemora 10.9, metafemora 14.2, protibia 14.7, mesotibia 12.2, metatibia 16.3, antennae >40.0.

♂♂, PT: Body 38.2-45.0, head 4.3-4.5, pronotum 2.3-2.5, mesonotum 8.3-10.6, metanotum 5.2-6.0, median segment 1.6-2.3, profemora 12.1-14.8, mesofemora 9.9-11.9, metafemora 12.8-15.2, protibia 12.7-16.2, mesotibia 10.9-13.2, metatibia 13.8-18.2, antennae >28.8.

♀♀, PT: Body 39.8-50.5, head 5.2-6.4, pronotum 2.8-3.0, mesonotum 8.7-10.9, metanotum 5.6-6.8, median segment 2.3-3.3, profemora 9.5-11.6, mesofemora 7.3-9.7, metafemora 9.9-13.3, protibia 9.1-12.0, mesotibia 9.0-10.7, metatibia 11.4-15.1, antennae >29.0.

Egg: (Fig. 4d-f ) General color various shades of brown. Capsule 2 × longer than wide and 1.6 × longer than high. General shape of capsule triangular prism, with the lateral surfaces slightly convex and the dorsal surface almost flat. Lateral longitudinal carinae set with a net-like structure of branched and tangled fringes, without free standing apices. Lateral surfaces wavy and glossy. Dorsal surface of egg without a longitudinal median row of hairy structures. Micropylar plate positioned in the anterior half in the dorsal egg surface and roughly half the length of capsule; shape spearhead-like pointing towards anterior; surface unarmed and outer margin set with moderately long hairy structures. Micropylar cup placed almost in posterior margin of plate. Median line pale brown, not reaching the posterior pole. Operculum oval, slightly convex; surface variable from smooth to rough, with a raised concentric central plateau from whose margin a network of fringes is born and connects with that of the lateral margins of the capsule, intertwining with each other; between the central plateau and the margin of the operculum a crown-like ornamentation is present, formed by sets of multispinose processes.

Measurements (in mm). -

Egg, PT: length 3.1, width 1.4, height 2.0, length of micropylar plate 1.4.

Comments. -

The male of this new species was mistaken for T. paliurus Moxey, 1971 by Pérez-Gelabert (1999), who provided a description and illustrations of the terminalia.

Figures

Fig. 1. Male (HT) of Taraxippus perezgelaberti sp. nov. Habitus: a. Dorsal; b. Lateral; c. Ventral. Head and thorax: d. Dorsal; e. Lateral; f. Ventral. End of the abdomen: g. Dorsal; h. Lateral; i. Ventral.

Fig. 2. Female (PT) of Taraxippus perezgelaberti sp. nov. Habitus: a. Dorsal; b. Lateral; c. Ventral. Head and thorax: d. Dorsal; e. Lateral; f. Ventral. End of the abdomen: g. Dorsal; h. Lateral; i. Ventral.

Fig. 3. Comparison of females of Taraxippus. Note: (d - i) not in scale. Habitus in lateral view: a. Taraxippus paliurus Moxey, 1971; b. Taraxippus perezgelaberti sp. nov.; c. Taraxippus samarae sp. nov. Head, pro-, and mesothorax in lateral view: d. Taraxippus paliurus Moxey, 1971; e. Taraxippus perezgelaberti sp. nov.; f. Taraxippus samarae sp. nov. End of the abdomen in ventral view: g. Taraxippus paliurus Moxey, 1971; h. Taraxippus perezgelaberti sp. nov.; i. Taraxippus samarae sp. nov.

Fig. 4. Comparison of eggs: Taraxippus samarae sp. nov.: a. Dorsal; b. Lateral; c. Frontal. Taraxippus perezgelaberti sp. nov.: d. Dorsal; e. Lateral; f. Frontal.

Fig. 9. Distribution map of all known Taraxippus species.