Prisopus sacratus ( Olivier, 1792 )

Conle, Oskar V., Hennemann, Frank H., Bellanger, Yannick, Lelong, Philippe, Jourdan, Toni & Valero, Pablo, 2020, Studies on neotropical Phasmatodea XX: A new genus and 16 new species from French Guiana, Zootaxa 4814 (1), pp. 1-136 : 119-121

Prisopus sacratus ( Olivier, 1792)

( Figs. 46 c , 47 c , 52 c–e)

Le Dragon d’ Amboine, Stoll, 1788: 53, pl. 18: 65, 65A (♀).

Mantis sacrata Olivier, 1792: 639 . HT, ♀: “ Ambon ”—lost [RMNH]. NT [here selected], ♀: Prisopus flabelliformis Stoll Brunner det.; Theresopolis S. Cath. Bras. Fruhstorfer.; Prisopus sacratus ( Olivier, 1792) det. Conle & Hennemann, 07.2017 [MNHU]. (Based on figure by Stoll, 1788: 53, pl. 18: 65, 65A)

Peletier de Saint Fargeau & Serville, 1828: 444

Serville, 1831: 63

Gray 1835: 27

Serville, 1838: 283

Westwood, 1859: 167

Kirby, 1904: 405

Lelong, 1993: 17

Bragg, 1995: 24

Zompro, 2004: 66

Otte & Brock, 2005: 285

Phasma flabelliformis Stoll, 1813: 53 , pl. 18: 65 (♀). HT, ♀: “ Ambon ”—lost [RMNH]. NT [here selected], ♀: Prisopus flabelliformis Stoll Brunner det.; Theresopolis S. Cath. Bras. Fruhstorfer.; Prisopus sacratus ( Olivier, 1792) det. Conle & Hennemann, 07.2017 [MNHU]. (Based on figure by Stoll, 1788: 53, pl. 18: 65, 65A) Junior objective synonym

Gray 1835: 27

Burmeister, 1838: 588

Serville, 1838: 283

Burmeister, 1840: 40

Blanchard, 1840: 40

Westwood, 1859: 166

Murray, 1866: 265

Kirby, 1904: 405

Redtenbacher, 1906: 154

Piza, 1937: 4

Vanschuytbroeck & Cools, 1981: 24

Lelong, 1993:17

Unno, 1993: 66

Zompro, 2004: 66

Otte & Brock, 2005: 285

Phasma dracunculus Lichtenstein, 1796: 78 . HT, ♀: “ Ambon ”—lost [RMNH]. NT [here selected], ♀: Prisopus flabelliformis Stoll Brunner det.; Theresopolis S. Cath. Bras. Fruhstorfer.; Prisopus sacratus ( Olivier, 1792) det. Conle & Hennemann, 07.2017 [MNHU]. (Based on figure by Stoll, 1788: 53, pl. 18: 65, 65A) Junior objective synonym [Lichtenstein also included the nymph described and illustrated by Stoll, 1788: 14 pl. 5: 18 and later named Mantis draco Olivier, 1792: 636 (= Phasma nympha Stoll, 1813: 77 ), which however is currently regarded a separate species]

Lichtenstein. 1802: 16

Gray, 1835: 27

Serville, 1838: 283

Kirby, 1904: 405

Redtenbacher. 1906: 155 (in part)

Lelong, 1993: 17

Otte & Brock, 2005: 285

Further material [ 1 ♂]: FRENCH GUIANA : 1 ♂: Prisopus sp. ♂; Guyane fr.; leg. Didier Rastel, det. & coll. ASPER [ ASPER-PL] .

Differentiation. Both sexes of this species is readily recognized and distinguished from all other representatives of the genus by the distinctive, prominent pair of black spines on the pronotum and widely U-shaped marking along the lateral and posterior margins of the metasternum ( Fig. 47c ). A similar metasternal marking is present in P. piperinus Redtenbacher, 1908 ( Fig. 47b ) and P. clarus n. sp. ( Fig. 47h ), but in both these species the marking is interrupted in the median portion of the metasternum. The orange ventral body surface is shared with P. clarus n. sp. and the black transverse median band on abdominal terga II–VII is shared with both aforementioned species, however these bands are much more conspicuous and defined in P. sacratus .

Description. ♀. Fairly large and robust for the genus (body length 74 mm), the head armed with several small spines at the posterior margin and abdominal terga VI–X with distinct lateral lobes. General colouration of dorsal surface of head, thorax and abdomen and dorsal surface of legs greyish brown, often lichenous. Ventral side of head, thorax, abdomen and legs dull yellow to orange with a U-shaped black band on the posterior margin of metasternum. Abdominal sternites II–VII having broad transverse black bands. Pronotum with two prominent spines, slightly oriented towards the sides and with dark apex. Antennae brown with some weakly defined dark brown markings, antennomeres slightly club-shaped. Eyes marbled in brown and black. Tegmina and costal region of alae pale brown to grey with dark brown veins and irregular dark mottling. Protuberance of tegmina slightly to distinctly roundly elevated. Anal region of alae transparent and irregularly reticulate, the transverse stripes brown. Subgenital plate flat, posterior margin rounded, at best reaching posterior margin of sternum IX. Epiproct slightly incised posteromedially, hardly projecting over posterior margin of anal segment, dark brown to black. Cerci long and slender, laterally compressed with rounded apex, slightly longer than anal segment. All legs bearing fine setae at their posterior margins. Profemora with a large outer and a small inner lobe at apical margin. Femora of all legs distinctly undulate. Metatibiae with a short, curved, acute spine at apical margin.

♂ ( Figs. 46 c , 47 c ). Very similar to ♀, but smaller and more slender (body length 58 mm). Transverse black bands on abdominal sternites II to poculum. Vomer small and triangular with an up-curving hook with acute apex. Poculum flat with the posterior margin rounded, posteromedially slightly incised, at best reaching centre of anal segment.

Measurements NT [mm]: Body 74.0, pronotum 6.3, tegmina 35.1, alae 52.6, profemora 11.5, mesofemora 8.6, metafemora 15.2, antennae>20.

Comments. Stoll (1788: 53) originally described this species without a binominal latinized name as “ Het Amboinsche Draakje ” or “ Le Dragon D’ Amboine ”. As for most of Stoll’s species, Olivier (1792: 639) named it Mantis sacrata based on Stoll’s figure and text. Lichtenstein (1796: 78) was not aware of Olivier’s 1792 publication and named Stoll’s species Phasma dracunculus . Consequently, P. dracunculus becomes a junior objective synonym of Olivier’s taxon. Lichtenstein (1796) however also included the nymph that Stoll (1788: 1788: 14 pl. 5: 18) described and illustrated as “ Le Petit Dragon ” and subsequently named Phasma nympha (Stoll, 1813: 77) . This had however already been named Mantis draco by Olivier (1792: 636) and is currently regarded a separate species. Unfortunately, the type specimen of Prisopus draco ( Olivier, 1792) is not traced and believed lost, why no decision can be made on it’s actual identity.

As it was not possible to locate the original type specimen a neotype is here selected for P. sacratus ( Olivier, 1792) ( Fig. 52 c–e) in order to guarantee stability of the taxon. This is a ♀ in MNHU shown in figure 52 with the following label data: ♀: Prisopus flabelliformis Stoll Brunner det., Theresopolis S. Cath. Bras. Fruhstorfer., Prisopus sacratus ( Olivier, 1792) det. Conle & Hennemann, 07.2017 [MNHU]. This specimen automatically also becomes the neotype of the objective junior synonyms Phasma flabelliformis Stoll, 1813 and Phasma dracunculus Lichtenstein, 1796 .

Distribution. Brazil: Rio de Janeiro [MNHU, DZUP, CEIOC, NHMW], Espírito Santo [RNV], São Paulo [MZUSP, ESALQ, CEIOC], Santa Catarina [MZUSP, UFRJ], Bahía [DZUP, coll. FH]; French Guiana [ASPER].

Figures

FIGURE 46. Comparison of males of all known Prisopus spp. for French Guiana. Habitus in dorsal view. a. P. wolfgangjunki; b. P. clarus n. sp.; c. P. sacratus; d. P. horstokkii; e. P. horridus; f. P. phacellus; g. P. minimus; h. P. piperinus; i. P. ariadne; j. P. conocephalus n.sp..

FIGURE 47. Comparison of males of all known Prisopus spp. for French Guiana. Habitus in ventral view. a. P. wolfgangjunki; b. P. clarus n. sp.; c. P. sacratus; d. P. horstokkii; e. P. horridus; f. P. phacellus; g. P. minimus; h. P. piperinus; i. P. ariadne; j. P. conocephalus n.sp..

FIGURE 52. Male (NT) of Prisopus horridus (Gray, 1835) and female (NT) of Prisopus sacratus (Olivier, 1792). a–b. Prisopus horridus (Gray, 1835): a. dorsal; b. ventral; c–e. Prisopus sacratus (Olivier, 1792): c. dorsal; d. lateral; e. ventral.