Pteropera kennei Yetchom & Husemann, 2024

Yetchom Fondjo, Jeanne Agrippine, Nzoko Fiemapong, Armand Richard, Tindo, Maurice, Duressa, Tarekegn Fite, Ivković, Slobodan & Husemann, Martin, 2024, Taxonomic review of the grasshopper genus Pteropera Karsch, 1891 (Orthoptera, Acrididea, Catantopinae) with description of three new species and a preliminary phylogeny of the Cameroonian species, ZooKeys 1216, pp. 219-264 : 219-264

Pteropera kennei Yetchom & Husemann sp. nov.

Fig. 12 A – M

Type material examined.

Holotype. Cameroon • ♂; Somalomo, in the forest along the Dja River ; 3 ° 22.448 ' N, 12 ° 43.990 ' E, 606 m a. s. l.; 10 Apr. 2022; J. A. Yetchom Fondjo leg.; SMNK, SMNK - ORTH- 0000001 . Paratypes. Cameroon • 16 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Somalomo, in the forest along the Dja River ; 3 ° 22.448 ' N, 12 ° 43.990 ' E, 606 m a. s. l.; 10–11 Apr. 2022; J. A. Yetchom Fondjo & A. R. Nzoko-Fiemapong leg.; SMNK, MNHN . Cameroon • 1 ♂; Deng-Deng National Park ; 3 ° 21.364 ' N, 12 ° 44.615 ' E, 661 m a. s. l.; 12 Jun. 2022; A. R. Nzoko-Fiemapong leg.; SMNK .

Diagnosis.

Pteropera kennei sp. nov. is similar to P. uniformis Bruner, 1920 , from Cameroon in terms of its general coloration, a dark longitudinal band and contiguous pale bands on the pronotum disc and the outer area of hind femora without pale spots. However, the new species can easily be distinguished from P. uniformis (Figs 6 K , 11 I ) by its lateral lobes of pronotum without a pale basal band (present in P. uniformis as well as in all other Pteropera species); its more or less pale green coloration on the hind femora (inner and outer sides of hind femora greenish yellow in P. uniformis ); male genitalia differ by its closed dorsal arch of cingulum (strongly open in P. uniformis ); aedeagus horizontal apically, in line with valves (anteriorly sloping in P. uniformis ); female genitalia differ by egg-guide being slender (broad in P. uniformis ); and basivalvar sclerites forming an obtuse angle (acute angle in P. uniformis ).

The new species is also similar to Pteropera descampsi Donskoff, 1981 , from which it can be distinguished by the following characteristics: a pale basal band on the lateral lobes of the pronotum is absent but present in P. descampsi ; bilobed male cerci, whereas male cerci are short in P. descampsi ; the pallium and subgenital plate in males are slightly raised, whereas the apex of the subgenital plate is truncated in P. descampsi ; the apex of the aedeagus is horizontal, in line with valves, whereas the aedeagus is curved upwards, and the apex is divergent pallets in P. descampsi ; the dorsal arc of the cingulum is closed, whereas it is strongly open in P. descampsi ; and the basivalvar sclerites of the female subgenital plate are described as an obtuse angle (acute angle in P. descampsi ).

Description.

Male: General coloration brown with pale green; body and legs with inconspicuous hairs, moderately rugous dorsally, smooth ventrally; eyes prominent; the large subocellar facial spot interrupted at the facial furrow, sometimes extending to the cheeks; antennae thin, filiform, longer than head and pronotum together; pronotum dark brown; dark longitudinal median band on pronotum disc present, wider than adjacent pale bands; basal pale bands on lateral lobes of pronotum absent; two incipient pale spots on the anterior margin of lateral lobes of pronotum; posterior margins of pronotum with or without incipient pale spots; median carina present and crossed dorsally by three sulci; lateral carinae absent; prozona longer than metazona; prosternal process short conical, compressed at its base; tegmina lobiform, only slightly reaching the third abdominal segment, lower half shiny black and upper half pale ochreous; mesosternal interspace open, ~ 1.3 × longer than wide; meso- and metathoracic episternites dark brown; front and middle legs, inner and outer sides of hind femora pale green, with the apical third gradually darkening toward the knee; knee dark orange; dorsal basal lobes of hind femora longer than ventral ones; upper margins of hind femora with fine teeth; hind tibiae dark green, basal ring absent; external apical spines of hind tibiae absent; male cerci bilobed, the inner lobe being twice shorter than the outer; subgenital plate obtuse to rounded in dorsal view; pallium and supra-anal plate of male slightly raised. Epiphallus (Fig. 12 H ): small, bridge narrow, arched; lateral margins parallel; ancorae small, internally directed; lophi slender. Phallic complex (Fig. 12 I – K ): aedeagus small, short, curved; membranous apex of aedeagus, outside sheaths without sclerites, never filiform, and without ridge-like expansion; membranous apex of aedeagus outside sheaths, without sclerites, enlarged into a broad transverse lamina, never angular, never rolled up on itself; the dorsal arch of cingulum V-shaped, its apex acute, curved inwards; rami not bent, its lower part short; zygoma reduced; latero-ventral sclerites narrow; upper ectophallic sheath tight, short, slightly curved, with acute apex; upper eadeagus valve widened into a transverse blade; lower ectophallic sheath small, not enveloping the base of rami.

Female: As male, but larger; cerci short conical; valves of ovipositor narrow,> 3.5 × longer than wide in coalescence position; subgenital plate (Fig. 12 L ) pentagonal, elongated, with truncated posterior margins; anterior apodemes narrow and short; egg-guide thin and long; ventral pockets of the vaginal floor large; copulatory bursa almost straight, gradually narrowing towards the front; bottom of the copulatory bursa close to the arc of the basivalvar sclerites; copulatory bursa above the basivalvar sclerites with a thick ventral gutter and membranous roof; each basivalvar sclerite barely curved, forming an obtuse angle; internal sclerite of the copulatory bursa short; the recurrent distal trunk of the lateral spermathecal diverticulum 3 × longer than the proximal trunk; the base of the spermathecal duct opening at the apex of the bursa; spermathecal ampulla narrowed at the apex; spermathecal duct very long; axial diverticle of the spermatheca almost as long as the lateral diverticulum (Fig. 12 M ).

Measurements.

Males (mm) (n = 20): total length of body 11.81–19.83; length of pronotum 3.12–4.32; length of hind femur 11.23–12.53; length of elytra 3.24–4.27. Females (mm) (n = 5): total length of body 21.09–25.39; length of pronotum 4.59–5.37; length of hind femur 13.62–15.12; length of elytra 3.65–4.88; length of ovipositor 1.97–3.27. Detailed information is shown in Table 1 .

Etymology.

The species was named in honor of Professor Martin Kenne in recognition of his work and scientific contribution to the biodiversity of insects in Cameroon.

Habitat.

Dense evergreen forest in the Congo Basin, Dja Biosphere Reserve, south Cameroon.

Distribution.

Cameroon, Somalomo in the Dja Biosphere Reserve and Deng-Deng National Park (Fig. 17 B ).

Figures

Figure 6. Images of holotypes, allotypes, letotype and neallotype of Pteropera species in lateral view A P. spleniata (holotype ♂) B P. spleniata (holotype ♀) C P. teocchii (holotype ♂) D P. teocchii (allotype ♀) E P. thibaudi (holotype ♂) F P. thibaudi (allotype ♀) G P. verrucigena (lectotype ♂) H P. verrucigena (♀) I P. villiersi (holotype ♂) J P. villiersi (allotype ♀) K P. uniformis (neallotype ♂).

Figure 11. Images of holotypes, allotypes, neallotype and paratype of Pteropera species in dorsal view A P. teocchii (holotype ♂) B P. teocchii (allotype ♀) C P. thibaudi (holotype ♂) D P. thibaudi (allotype ♀) E P. verrucigena (holotype ♂) F P. verrucigena (allotype ♀) G P. villiersi (holotype ♂) H P. villiersi (allotype ♀) I P. uniformis (neallotype ♂) J P. femorata (♀).

Figure 12. Pteropera kennei sp. nov. A habitus image of a male under natural conditions B male frontal view C female frontal view D male lateral view E female lateral view F male dorsal view G female dorsal view H epiphallus dorsal view I phallic complex lateral view J phallic complex dorsal view K phallic complex ventral view L female subgenital plate M female spermatheca.

Figure 17. Distribution of Pteropera species in African rainforests.