Nesiophasma spinulosum, Br. V. W., K. Gunther, 1935

Hennemann, Frank H., 2021, Stick insects of Sulawesi, Peleng and the Sula Islands, Indonesia- a review including checklists of species and descriptions of new taxa (Insecta: Phasmatodea), Zootaxa 5073 (1), pp. 1-189 : 119-120

Nesiophasma spinulosum (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907)

( Figs. 43C , 45G–J )

Myronides spinulosus Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907: 254. HT, ♂: Exp. Saleyer, Type, Myronides spinulosus Brunner v. Wattenwyl det. 1904 [ZMAN].

Günther, 1934a: 8.

Brock, 1998: 8.

Nesiophasma spinulosum, Günther, 1935b: 139 .

Günther, 1935a: 29.

Hennemann, 1998: 125.

Otte & Brock, 2005: 227.

Hennemann & Conle, 2008: 57.

Nesiophasma eremothocus Günther, 1934a: 6 , fig. 1 (♀). HT, ♀: Kalao Tua, Celebes, V. 1927, v. Plessen leg. [MNHU]. [Synonymised by Günther, 1935a: 139]

Otte & Brock, 2005: 227.

Zompro, 2005: 261.

Further material: 3 ♀♀: H.E.D. Engelhard, Saleyer , Celebes 1880, Nesiophasma spinulosum Br., K. Günther det. [ RMNH] ; 1 ♂: Selayar, Nesiophasma spinulosum Br., K. Günther det. [ RMNH] ; 1 ♂: H.E.D. Engelhard, Saleyer, Celebes, 1880, Nesiophasma spinulosum Br. V.W., K. Günther det. [ SMTD] ; 1 ♀: G.-Indië, Nesiophasma spinulosum Br., K. Günther det. [ RMNH] .

Differential diagnosis: Females differ from all other known ♀♀ of the genus by the characteristic shape of the anal segment ( Figs. 45G–H ), which has the posterior margin deeply incised medially to form two large, angular lobes and the basitarsi which have the dorsal carina raised triangularly in the apical portion (probasitarsi in particular). From the similar N. giganteum n. sp. they also differ by the considerably smaller size, more stocky shape and gently convex lateral margins of abdominal terga II–VI. The convex lateral margins of abdominal terga I–VI are shared with N. kuehni (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907; Fig. 43D ) from Pulau Romang, but that species has the abdominal terga much more distinctly deflexed and readily differs by the very prominently armed extrimities. Males of N. spinulosum are easily recognised by their distinctive colouration, which includes a black head with pale lower genae and a blackish stripe along the lateral body surface.

Comments: The synonymies of this species have been clarified by Günther (1935a: 139). Although in German language, Zompro (2005: 261) misinterpreted the synonymy established by Günther (1935a) and erroneously listed N. eremothocus Günther, 1934 as a synonym of M. oligarches (Günther, 1935) , which is also not possible because eremothocus is the senior name. It is noteworthy that the ♀ holotype of N. eremothocus ( Fig. 43C ) from Pulau Kalaotoa, a small island south of Selayar, is considerably larger than all examined specimens from Selayar Island itself (see table 24 below). The four ♀♀ in RMNH range in colour from pale straw over drab and dull ochre to grey-ish brown with a slight olive wash. However, since all specimens have apparently been provisionally conserved in spirits these colours might not all be representative. The largest and greyish brown specimen of the series is similar in colour to the holotype of N. eremothocus , which has been eviscerated and stuffed with cotton.

Distribution: Pulau Selayar & Pulau Kalaotoa, islands of the Selayar Islands group south of Sulawesi (Province Sulawesi Selatan).

Figures

FIGURE 43. Nesiophasma spp., ♀♀: A. N. plateni (Dohrn, 1910) ♀ (LT), dorsal view [ZMPA]; B. N. plateni (Dohrn, 1910) ♀ (LT), dorso-lateral view [ZMPA]; C. N. sananaense n. sp. ♀ (PT), dorsal view [coll. FH, No. 0822-1]; C. N. spinulosum (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) ♀ (HT of N. eremothocus Günther, 1934), dorsal view [MNHU]; D. N. kuehni (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) ♀ (LT) [NHMW, No. 309].

FIGURE 45. Nesiophasma spp., ♀♀: A. N. giganteum n. sp., terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) seen laterally [coll. FH, No. 0656-1]; B. N. giganteum n. sp., terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) seen dorsally [coll. FH, No. 0656-5]; C. N. giganteum n. sp., terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) seen ventrally [coll. FH, No. 0656-1]; D. N. sananaense n. sp., terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) seen laterally [coll. FH, No. 0822-3]; E. N. sananaense n. sp., terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) seen dorsally [coll. FH, No. 0822-2]; F. N. sananaense n. sp., terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) seen ventrally [coll. FH, No. 0656-3]; G. N. spinulosum (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) ♀ (HT of N. eremothocus Günther, 1934), terminal abdominal segments seen laterally [MNHU]; H. N. spinulosum (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) ♀ (HT of N. eremothocus Günther, 1934), terminal abdominal segments seen dorsally [MNHU]; J. N. spinulosum (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) ♀ (HT of N. eremothocus Günther, 1934), terminal abdominal segments seen ventrally [MNHU]; K. N. kuehni (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) ♀ (LT), terminal abdominal segments seen laterally [NHMW, No. 309]; L. N. kuehni (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) ♀ (LT), terminal abdominal segments seen ventrally [NHMW, No. 309]; M. N. kuehni (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) ♀ (LT), head and prothorax in dorsolateral view [NHMW, No. 309]; N. N. giganteum n. sp., head and prothorax of ♀ (PT) in dorso-lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0656-5]; O. N. sananaense n. sp., head and prothorax of ♀ (PT) in dorso-lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0822-1]; P. N. plateni (Dohrn, 1910), terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (LT) seen laterally [ZMPA]; Q. N. plateni (Dohrn, 1910), terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (LT) seen dorsally [ZMPA]; R. N. spinulosum (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) ♀ (HT of N. eremothocus Günther, 1934), N. plateni (Dohrn, 1910), terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (LT) seen ventrally [ZMPA]. Figures P–R © Paul D. Brock / NHMUK.