Research Article |
Corresponding author: Raphael Aquino Heleodoro ( raphaelnatal36@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Gabriel L. F. Mejdalani
© 2017 Raphael Aquino Heleodoro, Ricardo Andreazze, José Albertino Rafael.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Heleodoro RA, Andreazze R, Rafael JA (2017) Redescription of Malacomorpha cancellata (Phasmatodea: Pseudophasmatidae): a geographically misplaced Neotropical species. Zoologia 34: 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3897/zoologia.34.e20476
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Olcyphides cancellatus Redtenbacher, 1906 was described from Canton, China, in error. The species was transferred to Pseudolcyphides Karny, 1923, a genus that later on was synonymized with Malacomorpha Rehn, 1906. However, the name P. cancellatus was forgotten and was not mentioned in the publication where Pseudolcyphides was synonymized with Malacomorpha and thus was not transferred. Here the original geographical record is corrected and the species is transferred to Malacomorpha. The resulting new combination, M. cancellata comb. nov., resulted from examination of specimens from state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. In addition, species diagnosis, redescription of the female and the first description of male specimens, with comparative comments on other Malacomorpha species, are provided.
Entomology, Neotropics, phasmids, taxonomy
Olcyphides cancellatus Redtenbacher, 1906 was originally described based on a single female specimen from Canton, China. Its type-locality was mentioned with a question mark. Later,
This series of events involving Pseudolcyphides cancellatus resulted in three problems: (1) the species cannot be properly identified because its description is insufficient for diagnosis, (2) only one specimen is available for study and, and (3) the generic position of the species is uncertain.
In view of museum material identified as the species in question (from the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, after comparison with photographs of the holotype), we present an amended geographical distribution for it, a redescription of the female, the first description of the male, a new combination, information on copulatory behavior and host plant.
This study is based on the examination of 72 specimens housed at Coleção Entomológica Adalberto Antonio Varela Freire, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (CEAAVF/UFRN). The specimens are stored in vials containing 80% alcohol. Male specimens had their terminalia dissected and then macerated in 85% lactic acid heated at 120 °C for about two hours. The macerated piece was examined on concave slides with glycerin. After study, the genitalia was placed in a microvial with glycerin and stored together with the specimen. Genitalia terminology follows
Photographs were taken with a Leica DFC500 digital camera fitted on a Leica MZ205 stereomicroscope connected to a computer loaded with the Leica Application Suite software. This software includes an Auto-Montage module (Syncroscopy software) used to combine multiple layers of photographs taken at different focus points into one photograph with greater depth of field. Label data are translated to English. Square brackets are used to indicate complementary data and semicolons are used to separate different specimens or groups of specimens.
The Brazilian specimens were compared with photographs of the holotype available at http://phasmida.speciesfile.org (
Malacomorpha
Rehn, 1906;
Anisomorpha
Gray, 1835;
Malacomorpha androensis Rehn, 1906 (Pseudophasmatidae): 113–114, fig. 2, by original designation.
Olcyphides
cancellatus
Redtenbacher, 1906;
Pseudolcyphides
cancellatus
;
Antenna with antennomeres alternating yellow and black from base to apex (Figs
Females from Natal, Brazil, and holotype specimen (Figs
Thorax. Pronotum rectangular, 1.4 times longer than wide, rugged, yellow with three longitudinal and parallel black stripes (Figs
Legs. Covered by setae laterally. Coxae and trochanters black. Anterior femur black except yellow dorsally at basal third. Anterior tibia with basal third yellow, remaining black (Figs
Wings. Tegmina black, elongated, two times longer than broad, with several longitudinal and transversal yellow veins; shoulder elevated, with white band between radial and medial veins (Figs
Abdomen. Laterally covered by small setae. Tergites 1–2 dorsally yellow, without spots; tergites 3–10 yellow with black spots apically. Tergites 2–7 dorsally rectangular, 1.5 times longer than wide. Tergites 8–9 dorsally trapezoidal, with arched spots at apex. Tergite 8 laterally rectangular, 1.3 times longer than high (Figs
Measurements (mm). Body length 70.4–71.2; pronotum 3.9–4.1; mesonotum 9.4–10.0; anterior femur 11.0–11.8; anterior tibia 10.2–10.3; mid femur 8.4–8.5; mid tibia 6.7–6.8; posterior femur 12.3–12.5; posterior tibia 11.3–11.5.
(based on specimens from Natal, Brazil). Similar to female, but with shorter and slender body and with the following differences.
Thorax. Black stripes at pro- and mesonotum and white band in tegmina thinner. Mesosternum without black spots. Black spots of metasternum with lighter coloration. Abdomen. Tergite 8 dorsally quadrangular, laterally two times longer than high (Figs 22–23). Tergite 9 dorsally and laterally trapezoidal (Figs
Genitalia. Connected to subgenital plate by two anterior points, pouch-like shaped and globose, mostly membranous, with some sclerotized parts (Figs
Measurements (mm). Body length 41.1–41.7; pronotum 1.8–2.0; mesonotum 3.4–3.7; anterior femur 8.8–9.1; anterior tibia 7.4–7.5; mid femur 5.7–5.8; mid tibia 5.3–5.4; posterior femur 8.2–8.3; posterior tibia 9.0–9.1.
Variations. The most noticeable variations are in the color of the antennomeres and legs, which can vary from dark to light yellow. Some male specimens have a lighter pigmentation of the thoracic and abdominal spots.
Brasil, Rio Grande do Norte: Natal (Parque das Dunas Costeiras do Natal), 13.iv.1984, 29 females, Varela-Freire, A.A. leg. Collected manually on Ubaias [Eugenia pyriformis Cambess. (Myrtaceae)] (CEAAVF); same data but 3.vi.1984, 3 males, Varela-Freire, A.A. leg Collected manually on Ubaias (CEAAVF); same data but 3.vi.1986, 2 males, 2 females, A. A. Freire leg., Collected manually on Ubaia (
A couple of individuals in copula were photographed in a forest fragment near the city of Natal (Fig.
Brazil, Rio Grande do Norte: Natal, Baía Formosa, Goianinha, Parnamirim.
The name of the genus comes from the Greek Malakós (soft, gentle) and Morphé (shape, form) and ends with the suffix “a”, indicating that it is a feminine name. Thus, the specific name also has to be feminine. “Cancellatus” comes from the Latin and means latticed, being a masculine word. Therefore, we changed the specific name to “cancellata” to agree with the gender of the genus.
Although
Malacomorpha cancellata comb. nov. has a striking and unique coloration pattern. In addition, it can be distinguished from the wingless M. androsensis Rehn, 1906, M. bastardoae
Malacomorpha cancellata comb. nov. female holotype: (1) habitus, dorsal view; (2) idem, ventral view; (3) idem, lateral view; (4) head, pro- and mesothorax, lateral view; (5) apex of abdomen, lateral view. All photos are a courtesy of Paul D. Brock and all copyrights belong to the Zoologisches Institut und Zoologisches Museum der Universität Hamburg (
Malacomorpha cancellata comb. nov.: (6) male head, pro- and mesothorax, lateral view; (7) female pro- and mesothorax, dorsal view; (8) female meso-, metathorax and wings, lateral view; (9) female metathorax, ventral view; (10) female sternite 2, ventral view; (11) male metathorax, ventral view; (7) male sternite 2, ventral view. Scale bars: 6, 11, 12 = 2.0 mm, 7–10 = 2.5 mm.
Malacomorpha cancellata comb. nov., male terminalia and genitalia – specimen used: Parnamirim, Barreira do Inferno. 01.v.2016: (25) apex of terga, ventral view; (26) Apex of abdomen with genitalia, right lateral view; (27) idem, left lateral view; (28) genitalia, left dorsolateral view; (29) idem, right dorsolateral view. Scale bars: 25, 28, 29 = 0.5 mm, 26, 27 = 1.0 mm.
This is the first record of Malacomorpha from Brazil and South America. Thus it is an important record that increases the range of distribution from the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola and Jamaica (
So far, the species has only been found in Brazil in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, in Atlantic Forest with traces of Caatinga and Dune vegetation. M. cancellata comb. nov. has been repeatedly collected since 1984 at Parque Estadual Dunas de Natal (a conservational urban forest fragment, located in Natal city, capital of Rio Grande do Norte) feeding on Eugenia pyriformis (Cambess.), commonly known in northeastern Brazil as “Ubaia” or “Uvaia”. Parque Estadual Dunas de Natal is close to the sea and mostly harbors Atlantic Forest, but it also has traces of Caatinga and Dune vegetation. M. cancellata comb. nov. has also been reported from Dune areas inside and outside the park.
This habitat information is valuable because the Atlantic Forest and Caatinga biomes, as well as Dune environments, are critically endangered in Brazil. Less than 2% of the total area of the Caatinga is currently protected by conservational units (
To Alberto da Silva Neto, Diego Matheus de Mello Mendes, and João Rafael Oliveira for support in the laboratory; to Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for funding our research; to Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (FAPEAM) and Programa de Apoio a Núcleos de Excelência (PRONEX) grant 016/2006, process 1437/2007; to Willianilson Pessoa for the use of his photo; to Paul D. Brock and to Zoologisches Institut und Zoologisches Museum der Universität Hamurg (