Dinotoperla tasmaniensis Mynott, Suter & Theischinger, 2017, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Mynott, Julia H
name: Suter, Phillip J
name: Theischinger, Gunther
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Plecoptera
Gripopterygidae
Dinotoperla
Dinotoperla tasmaniensis

description: Dinotoperla tasmaniensis, sp. nov.
(Fig. 22 A–D)
Holotype: 1 x larva: Creek on Bird Track. Franklin-Wild Rivers National Park. Tasmania. -42.3325, 145.60278, Collected: 7-Jan-12, Collectors: M Shackleton & J Mynott, Accession number: JMH1609. Deposited in ANIC.
Larva. Remarks. McLellan (1971) described Illiesoperla tasmanica from an adult male specimen and was the first recording of the genus Illiesoperla in Tasmania. Hynes (1974) synonymised I. tasmanica with I. australis. The species I. tasmanica was re-established by Theischinger (1982). Meanwhile, Hynes (1976) also described a new Tasmanian species, Trinotoperla agricola, from both male and female adults and larval material with the association of life-stages based on the material being collected at the same location. Theischinger (1984) reviewed the genus Illiesoperla and made the taxonomic decision after viewing the type specimens of both T. agricola and I. tasmanica to place the species in the genus Trinotoperla. Theischinger (1984) commented on the similarity T. tasmanica had to I. franzeni when comparing the male genitalia. The taxonomic assignments have predominantly been based on the adult morphology, particularly of the males. Interestingly, Hynes (1982) commented that immature specimens of larvae for the species T. agricola belonging actually to the genus Dinotopterla (material mentioned in Hynes 1976 under Dinotoperla). A further life-stage association for the species was by the rearing of larvae (Hynes 1982). The larva of D. tasmaniensis is similar to the species described under Genus A sp. NSW 3 with raised mid-dorsal protuberances on the abdominal tergites. Dinotoperla tasmaniensis larvae show many similar characteristics to the genus Dinotoperla with elongated cercal segments, rounded hind margin of the tergite X and paraprocts triangular in appearance. Dissimilarities to the genus Trinotoperla include the body without the characteristic sprawling legs, dense fringe of long fine setae on the outer margin of the tibiae and femora, or medially along the dorsal surface. The taxonomic decision for the designation and description of a new species is due to the genetic data generated in this study and the previous and current belief that the larvae show true Dinotoperla characters. The previous association of these larvae with T. tasmanica is disregarded and it is now considered that the adult of D. tasmaniensis and the larva of T. tasmanica are unknown until life-stages are associated and generic placement confirmed.
Other material examined: Tasmania: 1 x larva: Newell Creek at crossing on Conlan Street, Queenstown. (south of Queenstown). -42.16167, 145.53944, Collected: 7-Jan-12, Collectors: M Shackleton & J Mynott, Accession number: JMH351. 1 x larva: Dundas Rivulet at crossing on Zeehan Highway (A10). -41.9, 145.40306, Collected: 6-Jan-12, Collectors: M Shackleton & J Mynott, Accession number: JMH336. Franklin-Wild Rivers National Park: 1 x larva: Creek on Bird Track. -42.3325, 145.60278, Collected: 7-Jan-12, Collectors: M Shackleton & J Mynott, Accession number: JMH976. 1 x larva: Creek on Bird Track. -42.3325, 145.60278, Collected: 7-Jan-12, Collectors: M Shackleton & J Mynott, Accession number: JMH335. 2 x larvae: Bird River at Bird Bridge. -42.34306, 145.59056, Collected: 7-Jan-12, Collectors: M Shackleton & J Mynott, Accession numbers: JMH824, JMH357. Ben Lomond National Park: 1 x larva: Creek at campground, -41.5025, 147.61472, Collected: 17-Jan-12, Collectors: M Shackleton & J Mynott, Accession number: JMH458. South West National Park: 4 x larvae: Wedge River at picnic area. -42.85667, 145.23194, Collected: 11-Jan-12, Collectors: M Shackleton & J Mynott, Accession number: JMH376. 8 x larvae: Twin Creek at crossing on Scotts Peak Road (approximately 2km SW of Condominium Creek). -42.97639, 145.36694, Collected: 11-Jan-12, Collectors: M Shackleton & J Mynott, Accession number: JMH356. 10 x larvae: Condominium Creek at car park, Scotts Peak Road. -42.95833, 145.35, Collected: 11-Jan-12, Collectors: M Shackleton & J Mynott, Accession number: JMH352. 5 x larvae: Red Tape Creek at Lake Judd Track, Scotts Peak Road. -43.01889, 146.36583, Collected: 12- Jan-12, Collectors: M Shackleton & J Mynott, Accession number: JMH349. 1 x larva: Creek crossing Gordon River Road. Collected: 08-Jan-12, Collectors: M Shackleton & J Mynott, Accession number: JMH339. Southern Forests (Hartz Mountain): 8 x larvae: Keoghs Creek on Arve Road. -43.15111, 146.79361, Collected: 14-Jan-12, Collectors: M Shackleton & J Mynott, Accession number: JMH369. 5 x larvae: Arve River at bridge on Arve River Road (Arve River campground). -43.15861, 146.80694, Collected: 15-Jan-12, Collectors: M Shackleton & J Mynott, Accession number: JMH360. Flinders Island: 1 x larva: Cronleys Creek on Big River Road. - 40.24722, 148.06639, Collected: 12-Dec-11, Collectors: M Carey & J Mynott, Accession number: JMH361. Strezlecki National Park, Flinders Island: 3 x larvae: Carena Park Creek at crossing on Mt Strezlecki walking track. - 40.20611, 148.05278, Collected: 09-Dec-11, Collectors: M Carey & J Mynott, Accession number: JMH372.
Length: 7.5–9.5 mm
Colour: Generally pale brown with lighter areas medially.
Body: Robust.
Head: Frons lightly concave in appearance. Robust setae tapering to a point present on surface. Antennae as long as body; short robust setae present on margins.
Thorax: Wingpads with underdeveloped appearance (specimens around 7–7.5 mm with small buds). Welldeveloped raised bosses at base of wingpads; all dorsal surfaces with long robust setae tapering to a point; anterolateral area of mesonotum with patch of short robust setae. Hind margin of metanotum with distinct medial projection; mesonotum with a less distinct projection on hind margin, similar small projections of fore margin of meso- and meta-nota.
Legs: Femora and tibiae with light fringe of long fine setae on outer margins, outer surface covered with robust setae tapering to a point; femora inner and outer margin and proximal area of outer surface with scattered short paddle-like robust setae. Broad dark band in distal area of femora.
Abdomen: Medial projections on hind margins of tergites 1–9. Tergite surfaces covered with robust setae tapering to a point, hind margins with curved robust setae tapering to a point; tergite X length subequal to width; same setation as other tergites with a medial patch of short robust paddle-like setae. Gill tuft dense and purplish. Cerci length of body, segment length greater than width by segment 15; long robust setae present on margins, very long robust setae extending ventrally. Paraprocts length subequal to width at base, hind margin blunt in appearance.
description: Published as part of Mynott, Julia H, Suter, Phillip J & Theischinger, Gunther, 2017, Revision of the genus Dinotoperla Tillyard, 1921 (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae) using morphological characters and molecular data: Establishes two new genera, three new species and updates the larval taxonomy, pp. 1-76 in Zootaxa 4224 (1) on pages 38-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.259007