Nebulodraculus Mendes, 2022

Mendes, Diego Matheus De Mello, 2022, The Little Fog Dragon-a new genus of Mountain Lichen Katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae: Dysoniini) from the Serra do Sol, Roraima, Brazil, Zootaxa 5182 (1), pp. 84-92 : 85-88

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5182.1.6
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5E5E5085-E57A-4BF5-A600-284DAA2258EE
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7046956
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03ED87BE-8F64-E41B-9FB7-B8065B60FAE2
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Nebulodraculus Mendes
status	gen. nov.

Treatment

Nebulodraculus Mendes gen. nov.

Figures 2–7 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5 View FIGURE 6 View FIGURE 7

Type-species. Nebulodraculus marioi sp. nov.. here designated; masculine gender.

Diagnosis. Fastigium-vertex elongated forming an acuminate projection, laterally flattened, in lateral view ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ). Pronotal disc dorsally with two elongated projections, the first on the anterior border and the second on the posterior border; first projection narrow, acuminate and with a length less than or equal to the projection of the fastigium-vertex; second projection enlarged at the base and apically acuminate, with a small curved spine directed towards the head, in lateral view ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ). Cerci with bifurcated apical region, with the two projections dorsoventrally flattened and curved; smooth external projection with acuminate apex; internal projection with the internal margin with a small serration and acuminate apex ( Figs. 2I–J View FIGURE 2 ). Subgenital plate elongated and moderately narrow ( Figs. 2I–J View FIGURE 2 ). Stylus small, rectangular and with apex directed inward ( Figs. 2I–J View FIGURE 2 ).

Description. Head dorsally with elongated fastigium-vertex forming an acuminate projection, laterally flattened, in lateral view ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ). Globular eyes ( Figs. 2B–D View FIGURE 2 ). Pronotal disc rectangular, without carina, in dorsal view ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ); dorsally with two elongated projections, the first on the anterior edge and the second on the posterior edge; first projection narrow, acuminate and with a length less than or equal to the projection of the fastigium-vertex; second projection enlarged at the base and apically acuminate, with a small curved spine directed towards the head, in lateral view ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ).

Dorsal-lateral suture straight and black ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ). Furcal suture concolorous with pronotal disc ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ). Tegmina narrow, with curved apical half and straight apex ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ). Vein R sinuose and with small branches, most of them bifurcated near the apex ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ). Vein MP with three bifurcations branches reaching wing margin ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ). Vein MA with only one branch ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ). Vein CuA with two bifurcated branches reaching wing margin ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ). Fore femur slightly curved, with four long and narrow ventral spines ( Fig. 3F View FIGURE 3 ). Fore tibia straight, with open tympanum and four pairs of small spines in ventral region ( Fig. 3F View FIGURE 3 ). Mid femur slightly curved, with five narrow ventral spines, with the two apical spines much longer than the others ( Fig. 3G View FIGURE 3 ). Mid tibia with enlarged basal half, two pairs of long dorsal spines and five pairs ventral spines ( Fig. 3G View FIGURE 3 ). Hind femur enlarged at basal half, with eight pairs of long, narrow and curved ventral spines; apical half spines much larger than basal spines ( Figs. 3A, 3H View FIGURE 3 ). Hind tibia straight with long, narrow and curved ventral spines ( Figs. 3A, 3H View FIGURE 3 ). All legs with short bristles ( Figs. 3F–H View FIGURE 3 ). Cercus wide with bifurcated apical half ( Figs. 3I–J View FIGURE 3 ). Subgenital plate elongated and medially narrow ( Figs. 2I–J View FIGURE 2 ). Stylus small, rectangular and with apex directed inward ( Figs. 2I–J View FIGURE 2 ).

Additional taxonomic notes. Nebulodraculus gen. nov. appears most closely related to Markia White, 1862 and Lichenodraculus Braun, 2011 , differing from both genera in having two long dorsal projections on the pronotal disc (versus only one dorsal projection on the pronotal disc in Lichenodraculus ); projection of the fastigium-vertex larger or the same size as the first dorsal projection of the pronotal disc (versus the first dorsal projection of the pronotum larger than the projection of the fastigium-vertex in Markia ); apically bifurcated cercus (versus elongated, curved and with a small basal triangular projection in Lichenodraculus ).

Etymology. From Latin word nebulo = mist, fog + draculus = little dragon, meaning little fog dragon. In reference to the foggy altitude environment this katydid lives and the name of the proximate genus Lichenodraculus (Little lichen dragon).

Distribution. Brazil (Roraima) and Venezuela (Bolíviar).