Nesiophasma zanum Hennemann, 1999

Hennemann, Frank H., 2021, Stick insects of Sulawesi, Peleng and the Sula Islands, Indonesia- a review including checklists of species and descriptions of new taxa (Insecta: Phasmatodea), Zootaxa 5073 (1), pp. 1-189 : 123-124

Nesiophasma zanum Hennemann, 1999

Nesiophasma zanus Hennenmann, 1999: 213 , figs. 1–2 (♀). HT, ♀: Nouvelle Guinée, leg. Fruhstorfer [IRSN].

Nesiophasma zanum, Otte & Brock, 2005: 227 .

Tirachoidea zanus Redtenbacher , in litt. (MS name).

Vanschuytbroeck & Cools 1981: 17.

Differential diagnosis: Females, the only sex known of this fairly small species, differ from all other known members of the genus by the slender, posteriad directed posterolateral lobes of abdominal terga VII–IX, the comparatively short subgenital plate, that projects beyond the apex of the abdomen by hardly more than the length of the anal segment, as well as the contrasting pale cream probasitarsus, which has the dorsal carina strongly raised to form a rounded lobe.

Comments: This species is so far only known from the unique holotype ♀. In aspect of the geographic distribu-tion with all other members of the genus exclusively known from within the boundaries of Wallacea west of Weber’s line, the locality “Nouvelle Guinée ” must be regarded as doubtful. Judging from the fairly small size and taking known size relations of ♂♂ and corresponding ♀♀ in Nesiophasma into account, this species is not unlikely to be the unknown ♀ of N. oligarches (Günther, 1935) from Sulawesi. However, for any broader discussion and clarification of this hypothesis more material of both taxa is necessary and hoped to become available. Moreover, the generic position of this species is not fully confirmed because it shows strong resemblance to Eucarcharus Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907 in various aspects. ♂♂ and eggs unknown.

Distribution: New Guinea.