Cephaloplopus Hennemann, Conle & Perez-Gelabert, 2016, n. gen.
Creators: name: Frank H. Hennemann
name: Oskar V. Conle
name: Daniel E. Perez-Gelabert
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Phasmida
Phasmatidae
Cephaloplopus

description: 5.3. Genus Cephaloplopus n. gen.
Type-species: Cephaloplopus pulchellus n. sp., by present designation.
Description: ♂♂, ♀♀. Small to medium-sized (body length including subgenital plate ♀♀ 84.5–88.9 mm, ♂♂ 58.2–72.4 mm) and moderately elongate Haplopodini. ♀♀ brachypterous, ♂♂ brachypterous or with fully developed alae. Body ± cylindrical (♂♂) or sub-cylindrical (♀♀) in cross-section. Colouration of ♀♀ various shades of brown, straw and grey. ♂♂ colourful and multi-colourous insects, mostly pale to dull green with body surface glabrous. Head indistinctly longer than wide and globose, vertex roundly convex and distinctly bi-cornute. Horns extending by> 2/3 the height of head capsule, sometimes with a single point only (certain ♂♂) but usually crenate or multi-tuberculose; the dextral horn larger than the sinistral. Antennae filiform in ♀♀ and moderately thickened and robust in ♂♂; in ♀♀ almost as long as head and complete thorax combined, in ♂♂ reaching at least to abdominal segment III. Pronotum slightly shorter than the head and with a ± distinct pair of anterior tubercles or spines (rarely with an additional posterior pair); otherwise smooth (♂♂) or tuberculose (♀♀). Mesothorax elongate and ± parallel-sided, at least 2x longer than head and pronotum combined. Mesonotum in ♀♀ rather irregularly and to a various degree armed with granules and spiniform tubercles, in ♂♂ armed with 6–10 ± distinct and pointed spines. Mesopleurae smooth in ♂♂ and with a longitudinal row of acute granules in ♀♀. Meso- and metasternum irregularly and sparsely granulose in ♀♀, the metasternum smooth in ♂♂. Tegmina broadly oval and with a moderately distinct central hump; ± reaching to (♀♀) or projecting over posterior margin of metanotum (♂♂). Alae of ♀♀ ± as long as tegmina; of ♂♂ variable, either indistinctly longer than tegmina or as long as reaching to abdominal segment VI. Anal region reticulate with distinct brown to black radial and transverse veins in ♀♀, translucent pink in ♂♂ and with only the marginal portion reticulate. Abdomen considerably longer than head and thorax combined. Median segment longer than metanotum, smooth. Segments II–VII longer than wide (more distinct in ♂♂). Tergites unarmed in ♂♂, II–IV often with a ± prominent pair of spines or crenate posterior lobes in ♀♀. VII with lateral margins widely expanded and forming a prominent lobe which laterally extends by> ½ the width of body; posterior margin irregularly dentate in ♀♀. VIII–X slightly narrower (♀♀) or roughly equal in width (♂♂) to previous segments. Sternites II–VII smooth in ♂♂ and with a few small granules in ♀♀. Praeopercular organ of ♀♀ formed by a distinct elongate, wart-like median tubercle close to posterior margin of sternum VII. Anal segment with a longitudinal median carina, the posterior margin tapered and with a slight median notch. Epiproct very small, roundly triangular and hardly projecting over posterior margin of anal segment. Vomer of ♂♂ well developed, the basal portion roundly broadened and the terminal hook of moderate length. Cerci tapered towards the apex and laterally compressed, very small in ♀♀ and about 2/3 the length of anal segment in ♂♂. Poculum of ♂♂ convex, cup-like and longitudinally carinate. Subgenital plate of ♀♀ rather moderately elongate, projecting over the apex of abdomen by more than the length of tergum X (anal segment) and with the apex rounded. Legs of moderate length, profemora shorter (♀♀) or slightly longer than mesothorax (♂♂), mesofemora shorter (♀♀) or about as long as mesothorax, and hind legs not (♀♀) or ± reaching to apex of abdomen (♂♂). Two outer ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora each with 1–3 sub-apical spines or teeth, the medioventral carina of these femora with a longitudinal row of 4–6 ± distinct spines. The outer ventral carinae of ♀♀ sometimes elevated into rounded lobe (occasionally dentate). Dorsal carinae of all femora unarmed, but sometimes with a ± distinct, roughly triangular sub-apical tooth on the posterior carina in (♂♂). ♀♀ with a ± prominent sub-apical lobe on posterodorsal carina, the meso- and metafemora each with a ± prominent sub-apical and sub-basal lobe (the sub-basal lobes may be very shallow). Tibiae unarmed in ♂♂ and with 1–4 rounded dorsal lobes in ♀ (the basal lobe always present and largest). Coxae spinose. All basitarsi elongate and longer than following three tarsomeres combined; probasitarsus of ♀♀ with a rounded lobe dorsally.
Eggs: Small (capsule length 3.1–3.4 mm), barrel-shaped and cylindrical in cross-section; capsule about 2.0x longer than wide. Dorsal surface of capsule considerably more convex than ventral surface. Polar-area ± impressed. Capsule surface strongly coriaceous and covered with irregular raised tubercles and ridges. Micropylar plate variable in shape, basal portion broadened and <½ the length of capsule; sculptured like capsule. Posterior end of micropylar plate with a distinct triangular gap. Median line short but distinct. Operculum flat, circular and in the centre structured like capsule; no conspicuous central capitulum. Colouration brown.
Differentiation (Table 5): Closely related to Haplopus Burmeister, 1838 but readily distinguished by: the considerably smaller size (body lengths: ♀♀ <100 mm, ♂♂ <70 mm); very prominent horns of the head which extend by> 2/3 the height of the head capsule; shorter mesothorax; large lateral lobes of abdominal tergum VII of both sexes; more prominently lobate legs and lobed probasitarsus of ♀♀; smaller, laterally compressed and tapered cerci of ♂♂. The eggs are remarkably different by having the capsule surface decidedly tuberculose, the capsule indented at the polar-area and lacking a knob-like capitulum. For a more detailed comparison and differentiation see Table 5 below.
Distribution (Fig. 377): Hispaniola & Cuba.
Etymology: Masculine. The generic name is a combination of “ Cephalus ” (lat. = head), which draws emphasise to the prominent head armature, and the ending “- plopus ” to indicate the close relation to Haplopus Burmeister, 1838.
Species included:
1. Cephaloplopus alope n. sp. [Distribution: Cuba] 2. Cephaloplopus euchlorus n. sp. [Distribution: Hispaniola] 3. Cephaloplopus laetus n. sp. [Distribution: Hispaniola] 4. Cephaloplopus pulchellus n. sp. [Distribution: Hispaniola] ......continued on the next page Note: The distinguishing features define to adult insects only. Nymphs of Haplopus spp. may have the body and leg armature considerably stronger developed than the corresponding adults, thus resembling Cephaloplopus n. gen.
Keys to the species of Cephaloplopus n. gen.
♀♀*
1. Subgenital plate long and lanceolate, extending over abdomen by at least combined length of tergites IX–X; horns of the head flattened apically; Hispaniola............................................................................ 2
- Subgenital plate extending over abdomen by slightly more than length of anal segment (Figs. 64–65); horns of head distinctly conical (Fig. 63); Cuba ........................................................................ alope n. sp.
2. Pronotum with two pairs of spines (Fig. 88); meso- and metafemora with prominent dorsal lobes sub-basally; tibiae with one rounded pre-medial lobe dorsally............................................................. pulchellus n. sp.
- Pronotum with one anterior pair of tubercles (Fig. 69); meso- and metafemora lacking dorsal sub-basal lobes; tibiae with at least two lobes dorsally..................................................................... euchlorus n. sp.
* ♀♀ of C. laetus n. sp. are not known
♂♂*
1. Alae well developed, exceeding abdominal tergum V......................................................... 2
- Brachypterous, alae reaching only half way along median segment (Figs. 80, 82).......................... laetus n. sp.
2. Pronotum with two pairs of tubercles/spines (Fig. 89); general colouration dull green, head unicolorous (Fig. 89); costal region of alae with a longitudinal row of 6–8 distinct, elliptical pale spots (Fig. 86)........................... pulchellus n. sp.
- Pronotum with one anterior pair of tubercles (Fig. 70); general colouration pale green to cream; head pale green anteriorly, white posterolaterally and with a pale brown, longitudinal median stripe (Fig. 70); costal region of alae without a row of pale spots (Figs. 67–68)....................................................................... euchlorus n. sp.
* ♂♂ of C. alope n. sp. are not known
description: Published as part of Frank H. Hennemann, Oskar V. Conle & Daniel E. Perez-Gelabert, 2016, Studies on Neotropical Phasmatodea XVI: Revision of Haplopodini Günther, 1953 (rev. stat.), with notes on the subfamily Cladomorphinae Bradley & Galil, 1977 and the descriptions of a new tribe, four new genera and nine new species (Phasmatodea: " Anareolatae ": Phasmatidae: Cladomorphinae), pp. 1-211 in Zootaxa 4128 (1) on pages 42-44, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4128.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/271800