Troglophilus (Troglophilus) ferzenensis Taylan, Di Russo, Cobolli, Rampini

Taylan, Mehmet Sait, Russo, Claudio Di, Cobolli, Marina & Rampini, Mauro, 2012, New species of the genus Troglophilus Krauss, 1879 (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) from Western and Southern Anatolian caves, Turkey, Zootaxa 3597, pp. 33-40 : 37

Troglophilus (Troglophilus) ferzenensis Taylan, Di Russo, Cobolli, Rampini , sp. nov.

Figs. 11–14

Type-locality. The Ferzene Cave is situated at 1390 m above sea level on the slope of Kalafat Daġı few km south of Seydişehir, near the Kuġulu Park.

Material examined. Holotype male: Turkey, Konya, Seydişehir, Kuġulu Park, Ferzene cave 37o22’854’’ N; 31o50’071’’ E, 1390 m, 24.08.2009, M.S. Taylan, S. Tan, Ö. Sönmez leg.

Paratypes: 5 males, 8 females, same date and collector; 1 male, 4 female, 1 nimph, same locality, 8.10.1996, M. Rampini leg.

Diagnosis. Troglophilus ferzenensis differs from all the known Turkish species by the diverse spinal arrangement of all legs. In particular, the dorsal surface of the fore tibia bears 4–5 spines, mid femur is armed with 2-3 spines and dorsal surface of hind femur bears 3-16 spines. For this character, T. ferzenensis appears similar to the Aegean species T. spinulosus from Crete and T. marinae from Santorini. For the other characters it is similar to the other Anatolian species showing affinities with T. escalerai by the light brown coloration of the body and the ovipositor morphology.

Description. Male (holotype). Body compact size relatively large (17.0 mm); colour light brown-yellowish, with all the tergites finely spotted. Legs rather elongate, fore femur unarmed. Mid femur with 2-3 spines on the ventral margin. Hind femora armed with 3-16 spines on the ventral margin. Fore tibia bearing 4-5 spines on both sides of the dorsal surface and 13 spines on the ventral surface. Mid tibia with 10-12 spines on both sides of the dorsal and ventral surfaces. The hind tibia is elongate and bears 68-78 spines of varying lengths on both sides of the dorsal surface and 30-40 homogeneous spines on the ventral surface. First article of hind tarsus laterally compressed and armed with 9-10 strong spines. Tenth tergite ( Fig. 11 ) transverse with the posterior edge almost straight showing a large concavity in the middle. Subgenital plate globular rather trapezoidal ( Fig. 12 ), at the bottom. The posterior edge moderately corrugated holds two short conical styli. Copulatory apparatus membranous.

Measurements. (in mm): body 17.0; pronotum 4.0; fore femur 8.0; middle femur 7.5; hind femur 16.0; fore tibia 8.0; middle tibia 7.5; hind tibia 18.0; hind tarsus 8.5; 1st article of hind tarsus 4.0.

Female. The length of the body ranges between 17 and 20 mm (ovipositor excluded) and the general form of the female is similar to the male. The sub-genital plate is large almost trapezoidal ( Fig. 13 ), with two evident rounded lobes separated by a narrow concavity. The ovipositor has an average length of 10 mm ( Fig. 14 ); the superior valves almost straight have a blunt and rounded apex, whereas the inferior valves are narrow and sclerotized showing 13–14 strong denticles.

Etymology. The new taxon takes its name from the Ferzene cave.

Depositories. Akdeniz University, Science Faculty, Biology Department, Zoology Museum (AUZM); Museum of Zoology, University of Rome “La Sapienza” (MZUR).

Figures

FIGURES 11 – 14. Troglophilus ferzenensis sp. nov. Holotype male: 11. tenth tergite, dorsal view; 12. subgenital plate, ventral view. Female: 13. subgenital plate, ventral view; 14. ovipositor, lateral view. (Scale bars: 1 mm.)