Seselphisis praslinensis, Hugel, 2012

Hugel, Sylvain, 2012, New and little known Phisidini from Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles (Orthoptera, Ensifera, Meconematinae), Zoosystema 34 (3), pp. 525-552 : 532-534

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5252/z2012n3a3
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C287D4-012E-FFA0-FCB2-FDE6D529FD3B
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Seselphisis praslinensis
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Seselphisis praslinensis View in CoL n. sp.

( Figs 1 View FIG E-H; 2D-F; 3C, D; 4C; Table 2)

HOLOTYPE. — Seychelles [archipelago], Praslin [Island], Parc national, Glacis Noir, 284 m alt., 4°20’26”S, 55°44’34”E, sur palmier, 24.VII.2010, S. Hugel, ♂ ( MNHN-ENSIF2972 ; 2010 SEY SH 092). GoogleMaps

ALLOTYPE. — Seychelles [archipelago], Praslin [Island], Parc national, Midland, 180 m alt., 4°19’54”S, 55°44’28”E, sur palmier, ab larva, 24.VII.2010, S. Hugel, ♀ allotype ( MNHN-ENSIF2971 ; 2010 SEY SH 096) GoogleMaps . PARATYPES. — Same locality data as allotype, but 22.VII.2010, 1 ♀ (coll. SH; 2010 SEY SH 061) GoogleMaps ; same locality data, but 01.VIII.2010, 1 ♀ (coll. SH; 2010 SEY SH 159). — Same locality data as holotype, 3 ♂♂ (coll. SH; 2010 SEY SH 093-095) GoogleMaps .

TYPE LOCALITY. — Indian Ocean, Seychelles,Praslin Island.

DISTRIBUTION. — I collected this species on Praslin National Park, in the close vicinity of Vallée de Mai and near the island summit. I also recorded specimens singing in Vallée de Mai, high on palms.

ETYMOLOGY. — Named after the type locality, Praslin Island.

DIAGNOSIS. — This species is close to S. visenda n. comb., but both species differ by the male terminalia ( Fig. 1 View FIG ). All males of the seria typica (n = 4, from two distinct localities) are clearly distinguished from all examined S. visenda n. comb. males (n = 7, from distinct localities) by the following stable characters: basal process of cerci long and slender (posterior view), SGP with short styli (i.e. the styli can not physically be in contact [ Fig. 1F View FIG , compare with Fig. 1B View FIG ]), SGP with a deep emargination (deeper as the styli length), bifurcated branches of epiphallus of medium length ( Fig. 1H View FIG ), with rounded apices (branches long, slender, pointing in S. visenda n. comb.). Apparently, females do not display diagnostic characters.

DESCRIPTION

In addition to generic characters.

Legs

Spur formulae: T1 7(very rarely 8)/7; F1 5/5; T2 6/6 (proximal spine minute); F2 4-5 (usually 4)/1-2 (usually 1).

Male

Wings ( Fig. 2 View FIG D-F): left FW with 46-50 (average: 48) lamellar teeth ( Fig. 2F View FIG ).Terminalia:basal process of cerci long and slender (posterior view or inner side view; Fig. 1G View FIG ). SGP, with a deep emargination (deeper than styli length) ( Fig. 1F View FIG ). Epiphallus bifurcated branches of medium length, with rounded apex (dorsal view; Fig. 1H View FIG ).

Female

SGP apex tongue-shaped, without emargination ( Fig. 3D View FIG ).

Measurements

See Table 2.

BIOLOGY. — I observed most of the specimens on endemic palm, in palm dominated localities. In captivity, specimens are eating small moths.

BIOACOUSTICS ( FIG. 4C View FIG )

Males sing by night hours, often on palm trees. Males are sometimes moving while calling. At 27°C, the call of S. praslinensis n. gen., n. sp. consists of long irregular echeme-sequences; in the recorded specimens, echeme-sequences were made of mono- or disyllabic echemes. Echeme-sequences are lasting 14.1- 79.1 s (average: 45.8 s) and are separated by long pauses (> 1 min). Echemes are lasting 46.3- 103.0 ms (average: 77.4 ms) and are separated (between disyllabic echemes) by 48.1-109.9 ms (average:84.9 ms); within echeme-sequences, pauses between mono- or disyllabic echemes are lasting 223.1-6147.3 ms (average:1632.0 ms).Fundamental peaks at 22.5 kHz.