Ciulfina klassi Ginn & Holwell, 2007

Holwell, Gregory I., Ginn, Scott G. & Herberstein, Marie E., 2007, Three new species of Ciulfina Giglio-Tos (Mantodea: Liturgusidae) from north-eastern Australia, Zootaxa 1583 (1), pp. 23-35 : 31

Ciulfina klassi Ginn & Holwell sp. nov.

( Figures 2 : 5–6; 4 a–b)

Etymology. Named in honour of Dr Klaus Dieter Klass, in recognition of his contribution to our understanding of the morphology, evolution and phylogeny of the Mantodea .

Type. Holotype male, bushland 11 km West of Mission Beach , Queensland, Australia, 17°48’S 146°01’E, 23.ix.2003, G. Holwell, S. Ginn, A. Gaskett.

Other material examined. Paratypes: 9♂ Bushland 11 km West of Mission Beach, Mission Beach Rd, Qld, 17°56'S, 146°02'E, 23.ix.2003, G. Holwell, S. Ginn, A. Gaskett .; 5♂ Bruce Hwy at Hinchinbrook channel lookout, 40km Sth of Cardwell, Qld, 18°31'S, 146°11'E 17.i.2004, G. Holwell ; 5♂ Bushland alongside Bruce Hwy at Conn Creek, 20km Sth of Cardwell, Qld, 18°25'S, 146°08'E 17.i.2004, G. Holwell .

Diagnosis. The distinguishing male genital feature of C. klassi is the single terminal sclerotised tooth at the apex of the distal process of the ventral phallomere. If present, a paddle-shaped plate at the lateral apex of the ventral phallomere, which extends well beyond the apex of the distal process may also be useful in identifying this species.

Description of genitalia. Right dorsal phallomere typical (see C. baldersoni ), thumb-shaped, anterior apodeme typically spoon-shaped, with sclerotised bulbous region below arm; phalloid apophysis small, heavily sclerotised, essentially straight, tapering apically, apex slightly decumbent; apical process of left phallomere with robust base but shorter than in C. baldersoni , thus locating process somewhat closer to base of ventral phallomere, process slightly sinuate, gradually tapering apically with apical half very thin, apex slightly bulbous and heavily sclerotised, process projects away from right phallomere parallel to base of ventral phallomere, process projects beyond pubescent triangular membrane at base of left dorsal phallomere; pubescent triangular membrane terminates without distinct tip; ventral sclerotised process slender, heavily sclerotised, distinctly recurved apically, process much longer than in C. baldersoni ; distal process of ventral phallomere broad at base, strongly curved inwards and anteriorly underneath lateral apex of ventral phallomere, gradually tapering apically, terminating in large, single, heavily sclerotised tooth; lateral apex of ventral phallomere rounded, twice as wide as distal process but produced as paddle-shaped plate well beyond apex of distal process.

Description of subgenital plate. Sternite widened medially with upper margin raised and tapering inwards medially; posterior margin visibly excised centrally with distinct crack extending anteriorly along plate, base stalks of styli long ~0.5–0.8mm; styli stout, pubescent, shorter than length of basal stalk.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Habitus images of four Ciulfina species: C. biseriata (1. male, 2. female); C. baldersoni (3. male, 4. female); C. klassi (5. male, 6. female); C. rentzi (7. male, 8. female). Scale bar = 25 mm