Minutophasma, Wipfler, Benjamin, Theska, Tobias & Predel, Reinhard, 2018

Wipfler, Benjamin, Theska, Tobias & Predel, Reinhard, 2018, Mantophasmatodea from the Richtersveld in South Africa with description of two new genera and species, ZooKeys 746, pp. 137-160 : 143

Minutophasma gen. n.

Description and diagnosis.

Minutophasma gen. n. is placed as sistergroup to the Namibian genus Striatophasma .

Minutophasma can be distinguished from other mantophasmatodeans except Kuboesphasma by the washed-out and indistinct butterfly-shaped spot on the frons: in the South African Austrophasmatidae sensu Klass et al. (2003) except Viridiphasma clanwilliamense this spot is clear and dark while V. clanwilliamense and the Namibian Striatophasma , Pachyphasma and Mantophasmatidae sensu Klass et al. (2003) lack it completely. Additionally, it can be distinguished from all Austrophasmatidae sensu Klass et al. (2003) except Viridiphasma by genae that are similar long in lateral view as the widths of the eyes. Kuboesphasma differs from Minutophasma by the larger body size (males over 12 mm and females over 13 mm), an indistinct dark dorsal stripe in males and the absence of ventro-lateral spot on the scapus. On the protibia, the males of Kuboesphasma have nine or more spikes per row (while Minutophasma has eight or less). Additionally, the head capsule is distinctly broader on the level of the compound eyes than on the level of the genae in Minutophasma while they are equal in Kuboesphasma . Males and females of Praedatophasma maraisi are much larger (more than 21 mm) than those of Kuboesphasma , grey brown and have distinct spines along the thorax. In contrast to the reddish-brown Namaquaphasma ookiepense , specimens of Minutophasma are mostly green, much smaller (males of Namaquaphasma above 14 mm and females above 16 mm) and have genae that are lower than the eyes are wide. Specimens of Striatophasma naukluftense are larger (males 12-15 mm, females 16-27 mm) as those of Minutophasma and lack the dorsal distal projection in male cerci. All green species of Austrophasmatidae ( Austrophasma gansbaaiense , A. caledonense , Viridiphasma , Lobatophasma ) and Striatophasma lack the ventrolateral black spot on the scapus which is very distinct in Minutophasma .

Type species.

Minutophasma richtersveldense

Other included species.

None thus far.

Etymology.

The generic group name Minutophasma is a composition of the Latin word minutus that refers to the small size of that species which separates it from the other known mantophasmatodeans, and the ending -phasma which is commonly used to term mantophasmatodeans. The gender is neuter.