69. Neoperla claviger n. sp.

(Figs. 394–396)

Type material: Republic of Cameroon, Holotype ♀: Cameroon, Akom [2.7866 N, 11.304], 450m, 18.X.66, Ross & Lorenzen (NEOP292; CASENT 8413077).

Habitus. Yellowish, also antenna, cercus, legs; possibly faded.

Male. Unknown.

Female (Fig. 394). WL 11.8mm. Caudal edge of S8 slightly concave. Floor of vagina sclerotised with convergent lateral edges, also some stout scales next to SSt attachment. SSt is sausage-like, of uniform width, little longer than the vagina (Fig. 394).

Egg (Figs. 395–396). Oval, slender, 422*213µm, an about 35µm long projection (included in EL) rises from the narrow anchor pole. The projection ends in a slightly roughened cap to which the anchor attaches directly, it has no stem. Cap thick, clear, folded back, and touching a ring-like shoulder around the process base. In several eggs, light-refracting spherical bodies noticed between cap and process. Operculum parabolic, surface uneven, narrow bare ribs delimit shallow polygones (Fig. 395). Numerous straight striae extend from shoulder of process to base of operculum where rounded swellings on costae form a pale belt. Costae are wide, smooth, flat, with microscopic crenulations along edge which seem to be homologous to micropunctures. Sulci are very narrow and deep, micropyles are minute holes on the impunctate floor (Fig. 396).

DNA (Figs. 491–492, 498). The female holotype from Cameroon, the only specimen known, was sequenced with the genome-skimming approach, resulting in 10,989bp of mitochondrial, protein-coding genes. The species is maximally supported (100/100/100) as sister to N. dianae n. sp., N. dolium n. sp., and N. gibbosa n. sp. .

Notes. The genital situs with its flat sclerite in S8 is distinctive. The egg process is unique and very different from short stubs on the anchor pole in, for example, N. nigricauda (spio- group, Fig. 237) and Morph 1 of N. leroiana ( arambourgana -complex, Fig. 476).

Etymology. The Latin noun in apposition describes somebody carrying a club, in allusion to the egg shape.