Indigryllus sagani Jaiswara & Robillard 2022, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Jaiswara, Ranjana
name: Robillard, Tony
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Orthoptera
Gryllidae
Indigryllus
Indigryllus sagani

description: Indigryllus sagani Jaiswara & Robillard sp. nov.
Figures 1–10
Type material. Holotype, ♂, INDIA: Kerala, Kasargod, Nileshwar, Koottappuna, ~ 19 m a.s.l., 06.VI.2021, 12°17’03.0”N 75°09’36.8”E, Sreebin S. leg., RJINS-163 (ZSI). Allotype — ♀, RJINS-164, same locality as holotype (ZSI). Paratypes (6♂, 3♀), same information as holotype, V –VII.2021: 5♂ (RJINS-161, 165, 166, 171, 172); 2♀ (RJINS-169, 170); 1♂, ex-RJINS162 (MNHN-EO-ENSIF11149); 1♀, ex-RJINS167 (MNHN-EO-ENSIF11150).
Additional specimens and observations. INDIA: Kerala, Kasargod, Nileshwar, Koottappuna, ~ 19 m a.s.l., 12°17’03.0”N 75°09′36.8”E, Sreebin, leg.: 1♀, on leaf, night, 28. V.2022, https://www.inaturalist.org/ observations/119077595; 1♂, on leaf, night, 28. V.2022, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/119077537; 1 juvenile, on leaf, night, 26.IV.2022, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/113058320; 1♀, on soil, night, 6. VI.2021, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/81891957; 1♀, on leaf, night, 29. V.2021, https://www. inaturalist.org/observations/80754108; 1♂, stridulating on shrub, night, 22. V.2021, https://www.inaturalist. org/observations/79899381; 1 juvenile, night, 9. V.2021, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/78083841; 1 juvenile, on leaf, night, 2. V.2021, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/76596447. Kerala, Thavinhal, 11.84881, 75.95213, 1♂, on vegetation, 30.IV. 2017, M. Muzzatti leg., https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/18431227. Kerala, 11.134528, 76.312889, 1 juvenile, 14XI.2020, Balakrishnan Peroth leg., https://www.inaturalist.org/ observations/64936698.
Type locality. Koottappuna, Kasargod, Kerala, India.
Distribution. In addition to type locality, the new species is known from two other districts of Kerala, i.e. Wayanad and Malappuram, based on observations from iNaturalist (see above, Fig. 1). The identification of these two specimens as I. sagani sp. nov. is tentative and will need confirmation based on specimen study.
Etymology. The species is named after the American astronomer, Carl Edward Sagan in recognition of his significant contributions to scientific research on extra-terrestrial life.
Diagnosis. Indigryllus sagani sp. nov. differs from I. kudremu by the male genitalia with pseudepiphallic lophi shorter and laterally winged, and by the following external characters: smaller body length; female subgenital plate posterior margin weak indentation, much wider than long (Fig. 2); 2A vein on male FWs forming obtuse angle; black patch between veins 1A and 2A extended more laterally towards plectrum.
Description. Body size average for the tribe. Most characters similar to I. kudremu, from which the new species differs as follows. Eyes slightly larger and more globular (Fig. 3B). Pronotum posterior margin slightly convex in the middle (Fig. 3A). TI with two inner and one outer apical spurs.
Male. FWs with somewhat parallel lateral margins (slightly widening posteriorly in I. kudremu). Vein 2A forming an obtuse angle; black patch between veins 1A–2A extended much more laterally towards plectrum; two harp veins (three occasionally); proximal part of first harp vein arising almost at 90° angle from CuA vein; cell d1 long, usually divided into two sub-cells (occasionally undivided or divided into three sub-cells); FW apex broader; apical field with 2–3 cell alignments. Mirror slightly wider than long (Fig. 4A).
Male genitalia. Pseudepiphallic lophi long, strongly sclerotized, bilaterally winged with less sclerotized structure, extending from anterior base upto 4/5 th of posterior end; lophi apex with short and stout inner hook, converging towards each other, making U-shape appearance; pseudepiphallic parameres strongly sclerotized, short, slender, shallow bifurcation on posterior end, anterior end somewhat cone-shaped, sub-anteriorly short projection on inner side (Fig. 5A–E).
Female. FWs dorsal field with five strong longitudinal veins. 1A vein either bifurcated from 2/3 rd or half of FW length. Lateral field triangular (Fig. 4B). FW apex broader compared to I. kudremu.
Female genitalia. Subgenital plate posterior margin weakly indented. Copulatory papilla with a basal cylindric sclerite and a narrower membranous apex (Fig. 5F–G).
Coloration. Individuals of this new species are found in two syntopic color morphs, a dark one (Figs 6C, 6D, 7, 8) and a paler one (Fig. 6A, 6B, 7, 8). The dark color morph is mainly dark gray brown, while the paler form is brown, with a median dark brown band along the whole body (Fig. 6A).
Habitat. Adults of I. sagani sp. nov. were seen during the months of May and June in Koottappuna, Nileshwar (a municipality in Kasaragod, Kerala), while juveniles were first observed in April. Individuals were found at low elevation, less than 100 meters above sea level, adjacent to a rubber plantation with dense undergrowth. The region has dense vegetation (Figs 7 & 9), consisting of plant species such as Camonea vitifolia, Ixora coccinea, Chromolaena adorata, Dioscorea bulbifera, and over a hundred other species of wild plants (Figs 7, 8, 9).
description: Published as part of Jaiswara, Ranjana & Robillard, Tony, 2022, A new species of Indigryllus (Orthoptera, Gryllidae, Eneopterinae, Xenogryllini) from Kerala, India, with first data on acoustics and natural habitat, pp. 532-546 in Zootaxa 5205 (6) on pages 534-535, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5205.6.2, http://zenodo.org/record/7318691