Kuboesphasma, 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 : 139

Kuboesphasma gen. n.

Description and diagnosis.

Kuboesphasma gen. n. is placed as sistergroup to a clade ( Viridiphasma + Namaquaphasma ) + the remaining Austrophasmatidae based on peptide hormone sequences (Predel, unpublished data; Fig. 1).

Kuboesphasma can be distinguished from other mantophasmatodeans, except Minutophasma , 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, all green Austrophasmatidae and Striatophasma have a dark dorsal median stripe in males; this median stripe is indistinct in males of Kuboesphasma . Kuboesphasma can be distinguished from Minutophasma by the larger body size (males over 12 mm and females over 13 mm), the absence of the dark dorsal median stripe in males and the absence of black ventrolateral 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 Namaquaphasma ookiepense , Kuboesphasma has no dark spots on the scapus, no distal dorsal projection on the cercus and an indistinct butterfly shaped spot on the frons. From Striatophasma naukluftense the species can be additionally separated by the rounded posterior margin of sternit VIII (pointed in Striatophasma ) and the equal length of tergum VIII and IX (IX much longer in Striatophasma ).

Type species.

Kuboesphasma compactum

Other included species.

None thus far.

Etymology.

The generic group name Kuboesphasma is a composition from the type locality, Kuboes, which is a center of the Nama community in the Richtersveld region and the ending -phasma which is commonly used to term mantophasmatodeans. The gender is neuter.