Rhaphidophora brevispinula, Shi, 2017

Shi, Fuming, 2017, Contribution to the Chinese Rhaphidophorinae Walker, 1869 (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae: Rhaphidophorinae): New species of Rhaphidophora Serville, 1838 from China, Zootaxa 4317 (2), pp. 261-278 : 265

Rhaphidophora brevispinula sp. nov.

( Fig. 2 , Map 1)

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:498206

Description. Male. Body medium. Fastigium verticis furrowed in the middle dorsally and divided at apex forming two tubercles ( Fig. 2 A). Eyes small, behind the base of antennae; lateral ocelli large situated on lateral margins of fastigium verticis ( Fig. 2 B–C). Maxillary palpi long, the 5th segment slightly longer than 4th one, apices slightly inflated. Anterior and posterior margins of pronotum projecting, lateral lobes inverted trapezoidal, ventral margin arched ( Fig. 2 B). Fore coxae swollen, with 1 small spine; ventral surface of femora with 1 apical spine on internal margin; ventral surface of tibiae with 1 internal spine, 2 external spines and 1 pair of large apical spines. Middle femora with 1 large apical spine on ventral surface; tibiae with 1 internal spine and 1–2 external spines dorsally, apices with 1 pair of dorsal and ventral spines respectively, dorso-apical spines longer than ventro-apical ones. Genicular lobes of hind femora with apices obtuse, ventrally unarmed; dorsal surface of tibiae with 20 internal spines and 21 external spines, subapical area with 1 pair of spines, apices with 1 pair of dorsal spines and 2 pairs of ventral spines. Dorsal surface of hind basitarsi with 4 small spines and 1 large apical spine along the midline. Abdominal tergites similar to other congeneric species without any processes. Epiproct subrectangular, dorsal surface with 1 longitudinal furrow in midline, apical area with 1 pair of specialized apical spines ( Fig. 2 D–E), posterior margin almost straight. Cerci slender, conical, apices acute ( Fig. 2 G–H). Subgenital plate with base broad, narrowing to apex, posterior margin projecting in the middle, with 1 subcylindrical process on each side; styli long, cylindrical, its apices obtuse, located on apical third of subgenital plate ( Fig. 2 I).

Female. Unknown.

Coloration. Dorsal surface of body brownish bearing some minute hairs; ventral surface yellow brown. Fastigium verticis and face black brown, eyes brown, ocelli yellowish. External surface of hind femora with oblique brown stripes, with apex and spine black.

Measurements (mm). BL: ♂ 16.6; PL: ♂ 6.3; FFL: ♂ 7.2; HFL: ♂ 16.8; HTL: ♂ 15.2; HBL: ♂ 4.5.

Material examined. Holotype: male, Pelung , Nyingchi, Xizang, China, 23 September, 2007, coll. By Fuming Shi.

Distribution. China (Xizang).

Discussion. The new species is very similar to Rhaphidophora furcifera Gorochov, 2013 , but can easily distinguish it by: male epiproct rectangular, as wide as long, apical area with 1 pair of long spines, between them widely spaced; posterior margin of male subgenital plate obviously protruding, the lateral margins with 1 pair of cylindrical processes. In Rhaphidophora furcifera Gorochov, 2013 , male epiproct about 2 times longer than wide, the spines of posterior margin short, posterior margin of subgenital plate slightly concave.

Etymology. The name of the new species refers to the apex of male epiproct bifoliate in dorsal view.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Rhaphidophora brevispinula sp. nov. male: A. head in frontal view; B. head and pronotum in dorsal view; C. head and thorax in lateral view; D – E. epiproct: D. dorsal view, E. apico-dorsal view; G – H. apex of abdomen: G. ventro-lateral view, H. dorso-lateral view.