taxonID	type	description	language	source
03B06032E118CE0B5ED6F9CAFC49FCE4.taxon	type_taxon	Type-species. Triclavitermes catoleensis sp. nov.	en	Ferreira, Renan Rodrigues, Carvalho, Antonio, Lucena, Emanuelly Félix De, Figueiredo, Rozzanna Esther Cavalcanti Reis De, Vasconcellos, Alexandre (2025): Triclavitermes catoleensis (Termitidae: Apicotermitinae), a new soldierless termite genus and species from the Caatinga dry forest, northeastern Brazil. Zootaxa 5706 (3): 383-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.4
03B06032E118CE0B5ED6F9CAFC49FCE4.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Enteric valve seating (EVS) forms a well-defined ring at the enteric valve (EV) insertion, followed by a short tubular portion of P 3. It also features a mesenteric tongue with a whitish spherical mesenteric nodule in ventral view. EV with three semi-spherical sclerotized plates. Imago. Unknown.	en	Ferreira, Renan Rodrigues, Carvalho, Antonio, Lucena, Emanuelly Félix De, Figueiredo, Rozzanna Esther Cavalcanti Reis De, Vasconcellos, Alexandre (2025): Triclavitermes catoleensis (Termitidae: Apicotermitinae), a new soldierless termite genus and species from the Caatinga dry forest, northeastern Brazil. Zootaxa 5706 (3): 383-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.4
03B06032E118CE0B5ED6F9CAFC49FCE4.taxon	description	Worker. External morphology (Fig. 1): Monomorphic, with a pale-yellow head covered by sparsely spaced bristles of the same color. Head slightly convex in profile, post-clypeal region inflated, and fontanelle not visible. Antenna composed of 14 segments, with relative lengths 2> 3 = 4 <5. The pronotum, mesonotum, and metanotum are adorned with long bristles distributed along the anterior margin of each nota. The abdomen is covered, dorsal and ventrally, by small, posteriorly directed bristles, with only its ventral portion also exhibiting larger and more spaced, anteriorly oriented. The foretibia is slightly inflated and covered with both bristles and hairs. Measurements (in millimeters) were taken from a total of 25 workers (five specimens from each of the five different localities): WH: 0.64 – 0.71 (mean: 0.67); LfT: 0.45 – 0.74 (mean: 0.50); WfT: 0.12 – 0.17 (mean: 0.14); and LhT: 0.50 – 0.64 (mean: 0.59). Mandibles (Fig. 2): Left mandible with an apical tooth larger than M 1 + 2, M 1 + 2 possessing a rounded tip and M 3 forming a right angle. The incision between M 1 + 2 and M 3 is quite wide. The molar process is small and not hidden by the molar prominence, which is well developed. Right mandible apical tooth three times the size of M 1, with its posterior edge forming an acute angle with M 1. The edge between M 1 and M 2 forms an obtuse angle, and the molar plate is concave, lacking ridges. Gut (Fig. 3 – 4): The crop is globular, located immediately posterior to the thorax, visible centrally in dorsal view. The gizzard is inconspicuous and unarmed and follows the pattern found in most soil-termites, being underdeveloped, with four first-order pulvilli, and the pulvilli surface with pectinated scales. The junction between P 1 and the mesenteron shows a moderately long mixed segment. The mesenteric tongue is slightly inflated in ventral view. Malpighian tubules are filiform, with no nodules. P 1 is slightly sinuous with a uniform width along its length, connecting to P 3 through an enteric valve seating (EVS), forming a well-defined ring where the armature of the enteric valve (EV) is everted (Fig. 4 and 5 E). P 3 is elongated and dilated, connected to P 4 by a narrow isthmus located on the left lateral side in dorsal view (Fig. 3 B). P 4 elongated and exhibiting a pronounced U-turn. The connection P 4 – P 5 forms a slight curve in dorsal view.	en	Ferreira, Renan Rodrigues, Carvalho, Antonio, Lucena, Emanuelly Félix De, Figueiredo, Rozzanna Esther Cavalcanti Reis De, Vasconcellos, Alexandre (2025): Triclavitermes catoleensis (Termitidae: Apicotermitinae), a new soldierless termite genus and species from the Caatinga dry forest, northeastern Brazil. Zootaxa 5706 (3): 383-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.4
03B06032E118CE0B5ED6F9CAFC49FCE4.taxon	etymology	Etimology. Referring to the clava, a solid sphere with spines that was part of the maces used in medieval battles, due to its resemblance to the species’ enteric valve armature.	en	Ferreira, Renan Rodrigues, Carvalho, Antonio, Lucena, Emanuelly Félix De, Figueiredo, Rozzanna Esther Cavalcanti Reis De, Vasconcellos, Alexandre (2025): Triclavitermes catoleensis (Termitidae: Apicotermitinae), a new soldierless termite genus and species from the Caatinga dry forest, northeastern Brazil. Zootaxa 5706 (3): 383-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.4
03B06032E11ECE085ED6FB5EFEE9FE4C.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. CTUFPB- 11404 08. VI. 2022. A. Vasconcellos col. Type locality. Municipality of Catolé do Rocha, Monte Tabor (6 º 20 ' 22 " S, 37 º 44 ' 19 " W), Paraíba, Brazil. Type repositor. CTUFPB Paratypes. BRAZIL. Pernambuco: Buíque (8 ° 32 ' 00.0 " S 37 ° 14 ' 00.0 " W): 16. IV. 2009, A. Vasconcellos col. (CTUFPB- 3241); Piauí: Caracol (9 ° 13 ' 21.6 " S 43 ° 29 ' 20.2 " W): 11. XII. 2010, A. Vasconcellos col. (CTUFPB- 4090); Bahia: Campo Formoso (10 ° 13 ' 51.9 " S 41 ° 07 ' 01.1 " W): 12. VII. 2022, R. R. Ferreira col. (CTUFPB- 11865).	en	Ferreira, Renan Rodrigues, Carvalho, Antonio, Lucena, Emanuelly Félix De, Figueiredo, Rozzanna Esther Cavalcanti Reis De, Vasconcellos, Alexandre (2025): Triclavitermes catoleensis (Termitidae: Apicotermitinae), a new soldierless termite genus and species from the Caatinga dry forest, northeastern Brazil. Zootaxa 5706 (3): 383-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.4
03B06032E11ECE085ED6FB5EFEE9FE4C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: As described for the genus. EV with three semi-spherical sclerotized plates of different sizes, with the middle plate larger than the other two, all with spines.	en	Ferreira, Renan Rodrigues, Carvalho, Antonio, Lucena, Emanuelly Félix De, Figueiredo, Rozzanna Esther Cavalcanti Reis De, Vasconcellos, Alexandre (2025): Triclavitermes catoleensis (Termitidae: Apicotermitinae), a new soldierless termite genus and species from the Caatinga dry forest, northeastern Brazil. Zootaxa 5706 (3): 383-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.4
03B06032E11ECE085ED6FB5EFEE9FE4C.taxon	etymology	Etymology: In honor of the city of Catolé do Rocha, the type locality, a peaceful and welcoming town in the sertão of Paraíba, located in northeastern Brazil. Imago: Unknown.	en	Ferreira, Renan Rodrigues, Carvalho, Antonio, Lucena, Emanuelly Félix De, Figueiredo, Rozzanna Esther Cavalcanti Reis De, Vasconcellos, Alexandre (2025): Triclavitermes catoleensis (Termitidae: Apicotermitinae), a new soldierless termite genus and species from the Caatinga dry forest, northeastern Brazil. Zootaxa 5706 (3): 383-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.4
03B06032E11ECE085ED6FB5EFEE9FE4C.taxon	description	Worker: As described for the genus. EV asymmetric, with an armature composed of three semispherical sclerotized plates that bear several spines: one larger and central, and two smaller, adjacent, non-identical (Fig. 5 A and 5 D). An occasional single spine, the same size as the spines on the plates, is isolated adjacent to the smaller plate (Fig. 5 B). The cushions are subrectangular and elongated, with 30 to 40 elongated scales in the proximal region (some of which may be fringed), and 20 to 30 smaller, entirely fringed scales in the basal portion (Fig. 5 C). Comparison. The left mandible incision between M 1 + 2 and M 3 of Triclavitermes catoleensis sp. nov. is wider than in most genera, e. g., Anoplotermes, Krecekitermes, Ourissotermes, but narrower than in Mangolditermes. T. catoleensis sp. nov. differs from Ourissotermes giblinorum Scheffrahn, Carrijo & Castro, 2023 and Echinotermes biriba Castro & Scheffrahn, 2018 by having a more prominent mesenteric tongue. Additionally, E. biriba has a highly enlarged crop, a feature not found in T. catoleensis sp. nov. In O. giblinorum, the EV is inserted directly into the P 3, without a distinct EVS, while in T. catoleensis sp. nov., the EVS is conspicuous. Anoplotermes spp. and Humutermes spp. have a mesenteric tongue with a whitish spherical mesenteric nodule in ventral view, but can be distinguished from T. catoleensis sp. nov. by the shape of the enteric valve seating, which forms a ring in T. catoleensis sp. nov., absent in Anoplotermes spp. and Humutermes spp. The asymmetric pattern of the EV armature in T. catoleensis sp. nov. closely resembles that observed in Anoplotermes susanae Scheffrahn, Carrijo & Castro, 2023, Anoplotermes janus Bourguignon & Roisin, 2010 (Fig. 6 F), and Anoplotermes parvus Snyder, 1923 (Fig. 6 G – H), which also feature an armature extending along only one or three of the six cushions, or even along all cushions, yet still asymmetric. Dissimulitermes invisibilis also exhibits an asymmetric enteric valve armature, with similar plates extending across five cushions, and only one cushion bearing a plate of a distinct shape. However, the shape of the armature plates is clearly different among these species. The ornamentation and armature of the enteric valve in T. catoleensis sp. nov. also set it apart from all other genera of Apicotermitinae. The EVs of E. biriba, O. giblinorum, Patawatermes spp. (Fig. 6 C – D), and Humutermes spp. have six symmetrical and sclerotized plates with spines, while the EV of T. catoleensis sp. nov. is asymmetrical, with only three distinct sclerotized plates. Although Rustitermes boteroi was recovered as close related to T. catoleensis sp. nov. in the Bayesian inference (BI) tree (Fig. 8, see results below), its morphological traits are markedly different. It lacks an armed enteric valve, exhibits a distinct coiling pattern of the digestive tube, and has a row of spines on the foretibia — a feature absent in T. catoleensis sp. nov. Triclavitermes gen. nov. resembles Chasitermes by the ring-shaped arrangement of the EVS, but differs by the EV, as Chasitermes has an unarmed EV with rectangular, non-sclerotized cushions (Scheffrahn & Carrijo 2023).	en	Ferreira, Renan Rodrigues, Carvalho, Antonio, Lucena, Emanuelly Félix De, Figueiredo, Rozzanna Esther Cavalcanti Reis De, Vasconcellos, Alexandre (2025): Triclavitermes catoleensis (Termitidae: Apicotermitinae), a new soldierless termite genus and species from the Caatinga dry forest, northeastern Brazil. Zootaxa 5706 (3): 383-396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.4
