Cryptophyllium animatum gen. et, 2021

Cumming, Royce T., Bank, Sarah, Bresseel, Joachim, Constant, Je ́ ro ̂ me, Tirant, Stephane Le, Dong, Zhiwei, Sonet, Gontran & Bradler, Sven, 2021, Cryptophyllium, the hidden leaf insects - descriptions of a new leaf insect genus and thirteen species from the former celebicum species group (Phasmatodea, Phylliidae), ZooKeys 1018, pp. 1-179 : 1

Cryptophyllium animatum gen. et sp. nov. Figure 10

Material examined.

Holotype ♂: "VIETNAM: Quang Nam, Tay Giang, Axan Mt, 1,300 meters: July 2017 (Coll RC 17-261)". Deposited in the Montreal Insectarium (IMQC).

Remarks.

This large species is presently only known from the singular holotype male (89.4 mm in length) from Central Vietnam. With such a large male we look forward to when the female is located as the female must also be significantly large and possibly larger than any of the presently known Cryptophyllium gen. nov. females.

Differentiation.

Females unknown. Males can be differentiated by the profemoral interior lobe which is marked by teeth which are uniform in size and spacing, a feature which no other known congenerics possess (Fig. 10B ). Molecularly Cryptophyllium animatum sp. nov. is most closely related to Cryptophyllium rarum comb. nov. and shares several morphological similarities such as the large size, serrated profemoral exterior lobe, similar tegmina lengths, and a similar shape of the mesothorax and similar arrangement/sizing of the teeth (Fig. 10C ). These species can be differentiated, as Cryptophyllium rarum comb. nov. have profemoral interior lobe teeth, which are unevenly sized and spaced (Fig. 61E ), and a broad rounded abdomen and not a thin spade-like abdomen as in Cryptophyllium animatum sp. nov.

An additional species morphologically similar to Cryptophyllium animatum sp. nov. is Cryptophyllium faulkneri sp. nov., which can also be found in Central Vietnam. Morphological similarities between these species are the thin spade-shaped abdomens, large sizes, and similar tegmina lengths. Although superficially they look similar with their large thin appearance, it is easy to differentiate the species when the details of the thorax are observed, as Cryptophyllium animatum sp. nov. has small numerous teeth throughout the mesopleura length (Fig. 10C ) vs. Cryptophyllium faulkneri sp. nov., which has four or five large tubercle-like teeth and smaller interspersed teeth between (Fig. 31A ). Additionally, the exterior profemoral lobes differ in their serration as Cryptophyllium animatum sp. nov. has eight or nine sharply serrate teeth (Fig. 10B ) vs. Cryptophyllium faulkneri sp. nov. which at most has four rounded, less prominent teeth (Fig. 31B ).

Distribution.

Currently only known from the type locality in Central Vietnam: Quang Nam Province, Axan Mountain.

Male.

Coloration. Coloration description based on the single dried holotype specimen, not on living individuals which are likely a more vibrant green. Overall coloration is pale green with variable patches of tan throughout due to the drying of the specimen (Fig. 10A ). Compound eyes are cherry red (Fig. 10C ). The antennae, head, and thorax are tan (Fig. 10C ). Abdominal segment V has a set of eye spots which are clearer and situated closer to the midline than the margin.

Morphology. Head. Head capsule slightly longer than wide, with a vertex that is weakly granular in a slightly longitudinal arrangement; posteromedial tubercle small but notable and slightly raised above the head capsule (Fig. 10C ). Frontal convexity stout and finely pointed with two or three short setae near the apex. Compound eyes large but not overly bulbous, occupying> ⅓ of the head capsule lateral margins (Fig. 10C ). Three ocelli are well-developed and located between and slightly posterior to the compound eyes. Antennal fields are slightly wider than, and approximately as long as the scapus. Antennae. Antennae (including the scapus and pedicellus) consists of 27 segments. The scapus and pedicellus are bare, all other segments are covered in dense, thin, pale setae that are as long as or longer than the antennae segment is wide, and the terminal three segments have shorter setae which are denser than the other segments. Thorax. Pronotum with anterior margin gently concave and lateral margins that are nearly straight and converge to a straight posterior margin that is approximately half the width of the anterior rim (Fig. 10C ). Anterior and lateral margins of the pronotum with distinct rims and the posterior margin lacks a rim (Fig. 10C ). Face of the pronotum is marked by a smooth surface, distinct sagittal furrow, pit just posterior to the center, a moderate perpendicular furrow just anterior to the central pit, and two distinct pits along the anterior margin (Fig. 10C ). Prosternum is nearly smooth, with only a slightly wrinkled surface. Mesosternum surface marked densely with prominent nodes, with the largest along the sagittal plane and more strongly on the anterior margin, posterior margin with less prominent and slightly smaller nodes. Prescutum longer than wide, with lateral margins slightly converging to the posterior which is slightly narrower than the anterior rim width (Fig. 10C ). Lateral rims with ten or eleven small tubercles of varying sizes, none large or prominent, most approximately even in size and one or two not much more prominent than nodes (Fig. 10C ). The surface of the prescutum is heavily granulose and rises slightly up to meet the prescutum crest (Fig. 10E ). Prescutum crest along the sagittal plane with seven or eight nodes which are denser on the anterior and slightly wider spaced on the posterior (Fig. 10E ). In addition to the granular surface there is shallow pitting along the lateral margins, but none very prominent (Fig. 10C ). Prescutum anterior rim with a heavily granulose surface and no distinct central tubercle (Fig. 10E ). Mesopleura narrow, gradually diverging from the anterior to the posterior (Fig. 10C ). Lateral margin with four or five moderately sized tubercles throughout the length, and between six or seven smaller minor tubercles interspersed throughout (Fig. 10C ). Face of the mesopleura slightly wrinkled and with two distinct pits, one on the anterior ⅓ and one on the posterior ⅓. Wings. Tegmina moderate length, extending slightly> ½ through abdominal segment III. Tegmina wing venation (see Fig. 7B for general venation found in the Cryptophyllium gen. nov.): the subcosta (Sc) is the first vein and terminates the earliest, slightly> ca. ⅓ of the way through the overall tegmina length. The radius (R) spans nearly the entire length of the tegmina with the first radius (R1) branching just anterior to the middle and terminating just posterior to the middle of the wing, the second radius (R2) branches near the distal ⅓ of the wing, and then the radial sector (Rs) runs parallel and side by side with the media anterior until the posterior ⅕ of the tegmina, at which point the radial sector bends away from the media anterior and then terminates just shy of the tegmina apex. The media (M) spans the entire length of the tegmina, terminating at the wing apex as the media anterior (MA). The first media posterior (MP1) begins and terminates near the tegmina mid length followed by the second media posterior (MP2) which begins ca. ⅔ of the way through the tegmina length and terminates near the posterior quarter of the wing. The cubitus (Cu) runs through the wing surface angled towards the margin which it meets ca. ⅓ of the way through the tegmina length and then runs along the margin as the two media posterior veins then meet it and the cubitus eventually dissipates ca. ⅔ of the way through the tegmina length. The first anal (1A) vein runs subparallel to the cubitus until it meets it slightly> ⅓ of the way through the tegmina length. Alae well developed in an oval fan configuration, reaching to the anterior margin of abdominal segment IX. Alae wing venation (see Fig. 7B for general venation found in the species of this genus): the costa (C) is present along the entire foremargin giving stability to the wing. The subcosta (Sc) spans ca. ⅔ of the wing length and is mostly fused with the radius in the beginning but terminates when it meets the costa. The radius (R) spans the entire wing and branches slightly> ⅖ of the way through into the radius 1 (R1) and radial sector (Rs) which run nearly parallel through most of their length until they terminate at the wing apex near each other but not touching. The media (M) branches early, ca. ⅐ of the way through the wing into the media anterior (MA) and the media posterior (MP) which run parallel with each other until the distal ⅐ of the wing where the media posterior fuses with the media anterior which then run fused together to the wing margin. The cubitus (Cu) runs unbranched and terminates at the wing apex. Of the anterior anal veins, the first anterior anal (1AA) fuses with the cubitus near the point where the media branches into the media anterior and media posterior and then the first anterior anal branches from the cubitus ⅔ of the way through the wing length where it uniformly diverges from the cubitus until it terminates at the wing margin. The anterior anal veins two-seven (2AA-7AA) have a common origin and run unbranched in a folding fan pattern of relatively uniform spacing to the wing margin. The posterior anal veins (1PA-7PA) share a common origin separate from the anterior anal veins and run unbranched to the wing margin with slightly thinner spacing than the anterior anal veins. Abdomen. Abdomen general shape is a narrow spade. Abdominal segments II through the anterior half of segment IV slightly diverging to the widest point with the remainder of segment IV parallel sided. Segments V-IX are uniformly converging slowly with straight margins to the terminal abdominal segment X which at first also converges slowly but then quickly tapers off to a blunt rounded apex. Genitalia. Poculum broad and rounded, ending in a straight margined apex that passes beyond the anterior margin of segment X (Fig. 10D ). Cerci long and slender, with ca. ½ of their length extending out from under the anal abdominal segment. The cerci are slightly cupped, covered in a granulose surface and numerous short setae throughout (Fig. 10D ). Vomer broad and stout with straight sides evenly converging to the apex, which is armed with two upwards turning hooks, one ca. 2 × as wide and ⅓ longer than the other smaller hook adjacent to it. Legs. Profemoral exterior lobe a rounded arc, only slightly wider than the interior lobe (ca. 3 × the width of the profemoral shaft at its widest), and with the anterior half marked by eight or nine small but sharp anteriorly pointing teeth (Fig. 10B ). Profemoral interior lobe rounded near the midline and then straight to the anterior margin, ca. 2½× as wide as the profemoral shaft at its widest. The profemoral interior lobe is marked with eight or nine small, serrate, anteriorly pointing teeth which are nearly uniform in size and spacing (Fig. 10B ). Mesofemoral exterior lobe arcs end to end but with the widest portion distal to the midline, and the widest point about as wide as the interior lobe or the mesofemoral shaft at its widest. The mesofemoral exterior lobe is marked with three or four small serrate teeth distal to the widest point, with the proximal portion of the lobe smooth. The mesofemoral interior lobe is approximately the same width as the exterior lobe, but more evenly weighted from end to end with the widest portion near the midline. The distal half is marked with nine small serrate teeth with those most distal slightly closer together than those near the middle. Metafemoral exterior lobe lacks dentation, and has a straight margin along the metafemoral shaft. Metafemoral interior lobe smoothly arcs end to end with ten or eleven small serrate teeth on the distal half only. Protibiae lacking exterior lobe, interior lobe reaching end to end in a smooth triangle slightly> 2 × as wide as the protibial shaft, with the widest point just distal to the midline (Fig. 10B ). Mesotibiae and metatibiae simple, lacking lobes completely.

Measurements of holotype male [mm]. Length of body (including cerci and head, excluding antennae) 89.4, length/width of head 5.5/4.5, antennae 55.8, pronotum 4.5, mesonotum 5.8, length of tegmina 27.1, length of alae 63.7, greatest width of abdomen 21.6, profemora 19.6, mesofemora 15.6, metafemora 17.6, protibiae 12.4, mesotibiae 9.7, metatibiae 13.4.

Etymology.

Noun, Latin for "endowed with spirit". We felt that these incredible insects are so leaf-like in texture, color, and movement, they simply appear to be a leaf on a tree come to life and walking right out of a fantasy novel and therefore the full binomial translating to "hidden leaf endowed with spirit" was fitting.

Figures

Figure 7. Typical tegmina and alae venation present in the Cryptophyllium gen. nov., photographed by RTC A female: Cryptophyllium celebicum comb. nov. (Coll RC 16 - 075) B male: Cryptophyllium yunnanense comb. nov. (Coll RC 16 - 120). Abbreviations: C (costa); Sc (subcosta); R (radius); R 1 (radius 1); R 2 (radius 2); Rs (radial sector); M (media); MA (media anterior); MP (media posterior); MP 1 (first media posterior); MP 2 (second media posterior); MA + MP (media anterior fused with media posterior); Cu (cubitus); CuA (cubitus anterior); CuP (cubitus posterior); Cu + 1 AA (cubitus and first anterior anal); 1 A (first anal); 1 AA- 7 AA (first-seventh anterior anal); 1 PA- 7 PA (first-seventh posterior anal).

Figure 10. Holotype Cryptophyllium animatum gen. et sp. nov., photographs by RTC A habitus, dorsal B details of the protibial and profemoral lobes C details of the head and thorax, dorsal D genitalia, ventral E head-thorax, lateral.

Figure 31. Holotype Cryptophyllium faulkneri gen. et sp. nov., photographs by RTC A details of the base of antennae, head, and thorax, dorsal B habitus, dorsal C details of thorax, ventral D details of head and thorax, lateral.

Figure 61. Cryptophyllium rarum comb. nov. male from Cuc Phuong N. P., Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam collected by Jerome Constant and Joachim Bresseel (RBINS), photographs by Jerome Constant (RBINS) A habitus, dorsal B habitus, ventral C details of the base of antennae, head, and thorax, dorsal D details of the base of antennae, head, and thorax, lateral E pro- femoral and tibial lobes, dorsal F terminalia, dorsal G genitalia, ventral.