Sinoxenophasmina, Ho, 2021

Ho, Wai-Chun George, 2021, Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Phasmatodea IX: First report of Xeroderinae (Phasmatodea: Phasmatidae) from China, Zoological Systematics 46 (2), pp. 187-190 : 187-188

Sinoxenophasmina gen. nov.

Type species: Sinoxenophasmina abbreviatum sp. nov., by present designation.

Diagnosis. Sinoxenophasmina gen nov. is closely related to Xenophasmina Uvarov, 1940 , but can be distinguished by the smaller size, the less robust body, the gently convex occiput of head, the absence of foliaceous lateral lobes on the terminal abdominal tergites and the subcylindrical cerci in the both sexes and the oval egg capsule.

Description. Small size. Apterous. Body slender, subcylindrical, with sparse granulations. Head rounded. Occiput gently convex. Pronotum trapezoidal. Mesonotum parallel-sided. Metanotum as long as median segment in female, longer than median segment in male. Female seventh sternum lacking praeopercular organ. Male anal segment non-spilt, with weakly emarginated posterior margin, female with rounded posterior margin. Supra-anal plate indistinct. Male poculum small, cupshaped. Female subgenital plate scoop-shaped. Cerci subcylindrical, nearly flattened, lanceolate. Legs slender and lacking noticeable armature. Femora and tibiae triangular in cross-section, waved with elevations.

Distribution. China.

Remarks. This new genus only includes the type species Sinoxenophasmina abbreviatum sp. nov.

Etymology. The specific epithet of this new genus is derived from the Latin words ‘ Sino ’ (= China) and ‘ xenophasmina ’ referring to the close relationship with Xenophasmina Uvarov, 1940 .