Cephaloplopus pulchellus, Frank H. Hennemann, Oskar V. Conle & Daniel E. Perez-Gelabert, 2016

Frank H. Hennemann, Oskar V. Conle & Daniel E. Perez-Gelabert, 2016, Studies on Neotropical Phasmatodea XVI: Revision of Haplopodini Günther, 1953 (rev. stat.), with notes on the subfamily Cladomorphinae Bradley & Galil, 1977 and the descriptions of a new tribe, four new genera and nine new species (Phasmatodea: “ Anareolatae ”: Phasmatidae: Cladomorphinae), Zootaxa 4128 (1), pp. 1-211 : 54-57

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4128.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B4D2CD84-8994-4CEF-B647-3539C16B6502
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6084930
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/387F3068-D314-FFBC-FF27-E84E26091EB0
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Cephaloplopus pulchellus
status	gen. nov.

Treatment

Cephaloplopus pulchellus View in CoL n. gen., n. sp. (Figs. 85–99, 337, 354, 379)

HT, ♂: Dominican Republic, RD-034 Boca de la Cañada, ~ 15 km S Oviedo, Pedernales Prov., 4.VII.2002, 17°54.901’N 71°30.067’W, B. Hierro, R. Bastardo, D. Perez [ USNM].

PT, ♀: Dominican Republic, RD-034 Boca de la Cañada, ~ 15 km S Oviedo, Pedernales Prov., 4.VII.2002, 17°54.901’N 71°30.067’W, B. Hierro, R. Bastardo, D. Perez [ USNM].

PT, 3 eggs: Dominican Republic, RD-034 Boca de la Cañada, ~ 15 km S Oviedo, Pedernales Prov., 4.VII.2002, 17°54.901’N 71°30.067’W, B. Hierro, R. Bastardo, D. Perez [ USNM].

PT, ♂: Dominican Republic, Parque Nacional Jaragua, Boca de la Cañada, 18 km S. Oviedo, 22.–23.IX.2000, D. Perez, R. Bastardo, B. Hierro [ USNM].

PT, ♂ (nymph n4): Dominican Republic, RD-135, ~ 7 km Rd. to Caseta 1, Parque Nacional Sierra de Bahoruco, Independencia Prov., 18°17.711’N 71°34.335’W, 777 m, VII.2003, D. Perez, R. Bastardo, B. Hierro (day). [ USNM].

PT, ♂ (nymph n5): Dominican Republic, RD-219, Sierra Prieta, Villa Mella, Santo Domingo Prov., 142 m, 18°38.925’N 69°58.303’W, 12.IV.2004, D. Perez, B. Hierro, R. Bastardo. (n) [ USNM].

Diagnosis: Females differ from those of all other known species by: the very prominent, apically carinate and crenulate horns of the head ( Figs. 87–88 View FIGURES 85 – 92 ); very large, retrorse crest-like lobes of abdominal tergum II ( Fig. 91 View FIGURES 85 – 92 ) and presence of such structures on IV; very long and slender, foliaceous lateral lobes of tergum VII, which posteriorly reach half way along tergum VIII ( Figs. 93–94 View FIGURES 93 – 99 ); presence of a sub-basal lateral lobe of the subgenital plate ( Fig. 97 View FIGURES 93 – 99 ); presence of only a single prominent sub-basal lobe on the posterodorsal carina of the profemora, and very prominent lobes of the mid and hind legs.

The pretty ♂♂ are even more distinctive and at once differ from all other representatives of the genus by the dull green colouration and longitudinal row of 7–8 oval yellow markings along the anterior margin of the costal region of the alae ( Fig. 86 View FIGURES 85 – 92 ). They are furthermore well characterized by: the very long and slender cephalad horns ( Fig. 89 View FIGURES 85 – 92 ); presence of a distinct posterior pair of tubercles on the pronotum ( Fig. 89 View FIGURES 85 – 92 ); very large, slender and acutely triangular lateral lobes of abdominal tergum VII, which posteriorly reach half way along tergum VIII ( Figs. 95–96 View FIGURES 93 – 99 ) and presence of two sub-apical spines on the posteroventral carina of the meso- and metafemora.

The eggs can be distinguished from those of C. euchlorus n. sp., the only other eggs known from the genus, by the more distinctly sculptured capsule surface and shorter, shield-shaped micropylar plate ( Fig. 98 View FIGURES 93 – 99 ).

Etymology: The name “ pulchellus ” (lat. = beautiful) refers to the very pretty and distinctive colouration of ♂♂.

Description: ♀ ( Fig. 78 View FIGURES 69 – 79 ). Rather small (body length including subgenital plate 84.5 mm) and moderately slender for the genus, with a pair of very large crenulate horns on the head, very large foliaceous lateral lobes on abdominal tergum VII and very characteristic body and leg armature. General colour of body and legs pale creamish grey, all over furnished with whitish markings and speckles as well as dark brown mottling along the extreme margins of all body and leg appendages; abdominal segments I–IV dark brown in the unique adult ♀ at hand and most certainly caused by preservation. Head with a pair of small diverging dark brown markings on frons and a large rather obscure dark brown marking on back of vertex; above the eyes with a short and narrow dark line directed antero-posteriad. Eyes creamish mid brown, antennae greyish brown with indistinct blackish annulations. Large tubercles or spines of the thorax with brown tips and the lateral granules dark olive. Abdominal sternites II–VII broadly dark brown posteriorly. Tegmina and costal region of alae very dark brown with the latter washed with white in basal portion; anal region of alae bright red with longitudinal veins black.

Head: Globose, vertex strongly convex and armed with a pair of very large, apically compressed and crenulate cephalad horns, which project by more than height of head capsule (the dextral one slightly larger than the sinistral); both lateral surfaces of the horns with several spiniform tubercles ( Figs. 87–88 View FIGURES 85 – 92 ) and apex pointed medially. Posterior of vertex with several acute tubercles of variable sizes. Eyes rather small, circular and contained a little less than 2x in length of cheeks. Antennae reaching to posterior margin of metanotum and consisting of 35 segments. Scapus dorsoventrally compressed, roundly rectangular and about 2x longer than wide. Pedicellus cylindrical less than half the length of scapus.

Thorax: Pronotum slightly shorter and considerably narrower than head, 1.2x longer than wide, roughly rectangular and with the posterior margin rounded. Transverse median sulcus distinct, almost straight but not reaching lateral margins of segment. Surface with two pairs of strong but rather short spines, one in anterior portion and one in posterior portion ( Fig. 88 View FIGURES 85 – 92 ); otherwise with a few small, scattered granules towards the lateral margins in particular. Mesothorax about 2x longer than head and pronotum combined. Mesonotum with a fine longitudinal median carina and with a pair of very strong but short anterior and pre-medial spines (the posterior pair larger, Fig. 85 View FIGURES 85 – 92 ); surface otherwise irregularly tuberculate. Meso- and metapleurae each with a longitudinal row of rounded tubercles; meso- and metasternum irregularly tuberculose. Tegmina broadly ovate and projecting slightly over posterior margin of metanotum; central protuberance very prominent, roundly conical and conspicuously displaced towards the posterior margin ( Fig. 83 View FIGURES 80 – 84 ). Alae slightly shorter than tegmina and reaching no more than ¼ the way along median segment.

Abdomen: Median segment roughly 2x longer than wide and gently widened towards the posterior; a few small granules in posterior portion. Segments II–IV roughly equal in length, V–VI slightly decreasing in length and shorter than previous; IV 3.2x longer than wide. Tergites II–VI covered with a few scattered granules. II and IV each with a posterior pair of very prominent and retrorse, crenulate foliaceous lobes; these considerably larger and with the outer margin dentate on II ( Fig. 91 View FIGURES 85 – 92 ). III, V and VI merely with two very low carinae posteromedially. Tergum VII slightly shorter than VI and with the lateral margin in posterior half protruded into a large and elongate, retrorse foliaceous lobe which laterally projects by almost the bod y width and reaches as far back as the middle of tergum VIII; posterior margin irregularly dentate ( Figs. 93–94 View FIGURES 93 – 99 ). Sternites II–VI with a few scattered granules and a pair of short carinae near posterior margin; praeopercular organ represented by an elongate wart-like structure on VII ( Fig. 337 View FIGURES 334 – 341 ). Tergites VIII–X distinctly narrower than previous and roughly of uniform width; VIII ¾ the length of VII, 2x longer than wide and constricted medially, IX 3 /5 the length of VIII. Anal segment shorter than IX, longitudinally carinate dorsally and with a blunt triangular tooth medio-laterally; posterior portion strongly tapered towards a narrow and medially notched apex ( Fig. 93 View FIGURES 93 – 99 ). Epiproct very small and roundly triangular. Cerci short, conical and with a rather acute apex. Subgenital plate elongate, naviculate, keeled longitudinally and projecting over abdomen by more than the combined length of tergites IX–X, apex rounded ( Fig. 93 View FIGURES 93 – 99 ). Lateral surfaces subbasally with a conspicuous rounded, lobe-like expansion ( Fig. 97 View FIGURES 93 – 99 ).

Legs: Profemora and mesofemora shorter than mesothorax, metafemora reaching about 1/3 along abdominal segment IV. Medioventral carina of profemora with two very small apical spines, of mesofemora armed with 4–5 and of metafemora with six rather strong spines. Anterodorsal carina of profemora with a distinct, tri-dentate apical lobe and in protibiae with a roundly triangular lobe some 1/3 off the base. Posteroventral carina of meso- and metafemora with one, the anteroventral carina with two sub-apical spines; both carinae roundly expanded in basal portion. Both dorsal carinae with a triangular lobe pre-medially and sub-apically; very large and dentate on the posterior carina but much smaller and smooth on the anterior carina. Posterodorsal carina of meso- and metatibiae with a small, roundly triangular lobe-like tooth some 1/3 off the base. Probasitarsus with a distinct rounded dorsal lobe and a little longer than following three tarsomeres combined ( Fig. 92 View FIGURES 85 – 92 ). Meso- and metabasitarsi slender and longer than three tarsomeres combined.

♂ ( Fig. 86 View FIGURES 85 – 92 ). Rather small (body length 56.9–60.6 mm) and rather slender for the genus with long alae (length 28.6–29.5 mm) which reach to abdominal segment VI and a very characteristic colouration; body surface subglabrous. General colour of body dull green; ventral body surface, lateral surfaces of pro- and mesonotum and great parts of mesopleurae pale creamish brown with faint whitish mottling. Head green with a washed yellowish spot behind eyes, the lower anterior portion brown and the apices of the cephalad horns black ( Fig. 89 View FIGURES 85 – 92 ); eyes mid brown, antennae dark ochre and with a greenish wash in apical portion. Spines of the thorax with black tips. Mesopleurae with an elongate triangular green marking near posterior margin, metapleurae green. Abdominal tergites II–VI dark greyish laterally and with an obscure white posterolateral marking; lateral lobes of tergum VII dark brown. Tegmina dull green with anterior margin broadly blackish brown and in basal half interiorly bordered by an elongate, pale yellow marking. Costal region of alae dull green, the anterior margin with a broad blackish brown longitudinal stripe and furnished with a row of 7–8 oval pale yellow markings ( Fig. 86 View FIGURES 85 – 92 ). Anal region transparent pink with a greyish wash along outer margin. Legs dull green with the ventral surfaces and apex of all tibiae reddish mid brown; tarsi chestnut brown.

Head: General shape as in ♀♀ but with the cephalad horns very long, slender and almost cylindrical near the base; apex compressed and with one or two pointed spines; dextral horn slightly larger and projecting by more than height of head capsule ( Fig. 89 View FIGURES 85 – 92 ). Surface otherwise smooth except for two pairs of tubercles on posterior of vertex. Eyes very prominent, circular and projecting hemispherically, contained no more than 1.3x in length of cheeks. Antennae ± reaching half way along abdominal segment IV; consisting of about 52 antennomeres.

Thorax: Pronotum shorter and narrower than head and about 1.3x longer than wide; armature as in ♀♀ but the posterior pair of spines considerably larger than the anterior pair (Fig, 89). Mesothorax about 2.3x longer than head and pronotum combined. Mesonotum with a slight longitudinal median carina and armed with three pairs of short spines, the median pair largest; surface otherwise with very fine transverse sculpturing and some small granules along lateral margins. Mesopleurae granulose, metapleurae smooth. Meso- and metasternum very sparsely granulose, the mesosternum with very fine transverse sculpturing. Tegmina oval and reaching about 1/3 the along median segment, central protuberance distinct and acutely conical. Alae reaching about ¼ along abdominal segment VI.

Abdomen: Segments II–V of uniform length and about 3x longer than wide; VI–VII slightly decreasing in length with VII no more than ¾ the length of II. All tergites and sternites smooth. Tergum VII with lateral margins in posterior half protruded into a very large, acutely triangular and retrorse lobe; this extending laterally by slightly more than body width ( Figs. 95–96 View FIGURES 93 – 99 ). VIII slightly shorter than VII and very gently widened in posterior portion; IX shorter than VIII and constricted towards the posterior. Anal segment with a faint longitudinal median carina, constricted at the base than distinctly expanded; the posterior margin broadly triangular with a small median indentation ( Fig. 95 View FIGURES 93 – 99 ) and on ventral surface armed with several small, black in-curving denticles. Vomer with base broadly triangular and terminal hook of moderate length and gently up-curving ( Fig. 354 View FIGURES 349 – 356 ). Cerci elongate, a little shorter than anal segment, slightly laterally compressed, tapered towards the apex and gently incurving. Poculum conically convex, cup-like, longitudinally carinate and with the posterior margin rounded ( Figs. 96 View FIGURES 93 – 99 , 346 View FIGURES 342 – 348 ).

Legs: Profemora slightly longer, mesofemora roughly as long as mesothorax, metafemora almost reaching posterior margin of abdominal segment IV. Medioventral carina of profemora with 1–2 small sub-apical spines, of meso- and metafemora armed with four prominent, pointed spines. Both ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora with two distinct sub-apical spines, the anterodorsal carina with a triangular tooth sub-apically. Probasitarsus slightly longer, meso- and metabasitarsus about equal in length to remaining tarsomeres combined; all slender.

Nymphs: Even rather young nymphs are easily recognized by some of the characteristic features of this species, e.g. the very long crenulate cephalad horns or single dorsal lobe of the tibiae. As in other species of the tribe, the appendages of the body and legs are even more prominently developed than in adults and ♂ nymphs also have a pair of crenulate lobes on abdominal tergum II which are missing in the alate adult insects. The colouration is similar to that of adult ♀♀.

Egg ( Figs. 98–99 View FIGURES 93 – 99 ): Capsule 2x longer than wide, surface densely and unevenly tuberculate and irregularly pitted; a few enlarged tubercles roughly form some irregular ridge-like structures. A rather distinct longitudinal bulge running from the micropylar plate towards the polar-area. Polar-area merely with a very shallow indentation. Micropylar plate only about 1/3 the length of capsule, shield-shaped and about as long as wide. Colour yellowish mid brown, the outer margin of the micropylar plate dark brown.

Measurements [mm]: Length 3.1, width 1.6, height 1.7, length of micropylar plate 1.0.

Distribution ( Fig. 379 View FIGURES 379 – 380 ): Hispaniola, S-Dominican Republic (Pedernales Province: Parque Nacional Jaragua; Independencia Province: Parque Nacional Sierra de Bahoruco & Santo Domingo Province: Sierra Prieta) [USNM].

Number of specimens examined: 5