Cephaloplopus alope 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
Cephaloplopus alope

description: Cephaloplopus alope n. gen., n. sp.
(Figs. 62–65, 335)
Diapherodes alope Moxey, 1972: 92 (in litt.). [Nomen nudum]
HT, ♀: Camagüey, Cuba, July 30. 1923, J. Acuña Col., E.E.A. Cuba; Ento No. 10660, w0179, Diapherodes alope Moxey Type (MS) [ANSP].
PT, ♀ (nymph): E.E.A. Cuba, Ento No. 10680, w0184, Diapherodes alope Moxey Paratype (MS) [ANSP].
PT, ♀ (nymph): E.E.A. Cuba, Ento No. 10681, w0182, Diapherodes alope Moxey Paratype (MS) [ANSP].
PT, ♀ (nymph): E.E.A. Cuba, Ento No. 10682, w0181, Diapherodes alope Moxey Paratype (MS) [ANSP].
PT, ♀ (nymph): Camagüey, Cuba, Col. J. Acuña, Julie 21. 1923, E.E.A. Cuba, Ento No. 10660, w0183, Diapherodes alope Moxey Paratype (MS) [ANSP].
PT, ♀ (nymph): Cangrejeras, Prov. Habana, May 30,´31, S.C. Bruner, w0180, Diapherodes alope Moxey Paratype (MS) [ANSP].
Diagnosis: This, the only Cuban species of the genus, is distinguished from the three other known members by the distinctly conical horns of the head, which are almost circular in cross-section (Fig. 63), and much shorter subgenital plate, which projects over the apex of the abdomen by only a little more than the length of the anal segment (Figs. 64–65). Furthermore, the lobes of the legs are comparatively less developed.
Etymology: “ Alope ” was the beautiful daughter of King Cercyon, and is a noun in apposition to the generic name Haplopus. It is the manuscript name supposed for this species by Moxey (1972: 92, in litt.) and here selected.
Description: ♀ (Fig. 62). Of moderate size (body length incl. subgenital plate 85.0– 88.9 mm) and rather slender for the genus, with a pair of very prominent conical cephalad horns, a greatly triangularly dilated abdominal tergum VII and comparatively short subgenital plate. General colouration of body and legs reddish to ochraceous mid brown with a greyish wash and all over furnished with pale grey to whitish speckles and markings, the legs with irregular dark greyish brown markings. Eyes dull red, antennae except scapus reddish brown. Tegmina and costal region of alae very dark brown and mottled with some pale green. Anal region of alae red with darker veins. Tarsi chestnut brown.
Head (Fig. 63): Strongly globose, vertex convex and armed with an extremely prominent pair of large conical horns (the dextral one about 3x larger than the sinistral), which extend by as much as the height of head capsule; horns cylindrical basally carinate apically and tipped with a minute spine at the apex. Remainder parts of head with scattered, minute tubercles. Between the bases of the antennae with a slightly raised and smooth oval area. Eyes rather small, circular and conatined about 2.5x in length of cheeks. Antennae at least as long as complete thorax and median segment combined (broken in the HT). Scapus oval in cross-section, rectangular, 2x longer than wide. Pedicellus cylindrical and less than half the length of scapus.
Thorax: Pronotum considerably shorter and narrower than head, longer than wide and slightly narrowing posteriorly. Transverse median sulcus indistinct and short, not reaching lateral margins of segment. Anterior half with a pair of strong spine-like tubercles (Fig. 63), posterior margin with four regularly-spaced tubercles, remaining parts of pronotum very minutely granulose. Mesothorax about 2x longer than head and pronotum combined. Mesonotum covered with numerous scattered small tubercles and four conspicuous tuberculate spines clustered close to the anterior margin (Fig. 63) as well as a few slightly larger tubercles medially. Meso- and metapleurae as well as meso- and metasternum with a few scattered small tubercles. Tegmina oval, scale-like and narrowed towards the base, just reaching to posterior margin of metanotum; central protuberance shallow. Alae shorter than tegmina and reaching less than half length along median segment.
Abdomen: Median segment roughly 2x longer than wide and widened towards the posterior margin; unarmed. Segments II and III of equal length and width, parallel-sided. IV–VI slighly tapering and decreasing in length, VI shortest and narrowest, VII as long as II. II–VI on average about 2x longer than wide. Tergites II and III each with a pair of retrorse posteromedial spines and on each side with a prominent, foliaceous, triangular elevation (largest on II). IV with four minute retrorse spines at posterior margin, V and VI unarmed. VII with four irregular, raised longitudinal carinae and greatly dilated towards the posterior, forming a roughly triangular, foliaceous lateral expansion, which laterally projects by more than 2/3 of body width (Fig. 64). Sternites II–VII unarmed. Praeopercular organ formed by two gently curved and somewhat converging carinae at posterior margin of sternum VII (Fig. 335). Tergum VIII 2 /3 the length of VII, distinctly narrower, strongly convex, parallel-sided and 1.3x longer than wide; anterior margin broader than posterior margin; IX 2 /3 the length of VIII. Anal segment very slightly shorter than IX, tapered towards the apex, posterior margin with a shallow concave excavation (Fig. 64). Epiproct distinct, triangular, tectiform and projecting over posterior margin of anal segment (Fig. 64). Cerci short, oval in cross-section and tapered towards the apex, finely setose. Subgenital plate fairly short, slightly keeled with the apex rounded and projecting over apex of abdomen by slightly more than length of anal segment (Figs. 64–65).
Legs: Profemora ¾ length of mesothorax, mesofemora slightly longer than metathorax and metafemora reaching about 1/3 the way along abdominal segment IV. Medioventral carina of profemora unarmed, of mesofemora with 2–3 and of metafemora armed with 3–5 spines. Antero- and posteroventral carinae of meso- and metafemora each with two small triangular sub-apical teeth. Dorsal carinae of meso- and metafemora with a minute and blunt submedial tooth and a more distinct tooth sub-apically (that of the anterior carina considerably larger). All tibiae unarmed except for a minute, rounded lobe about ¼ the way along anterodorsal carina. Basitarsi slightly longer following three tarsomeres combined, dorsal carina of probasitarsus just gently rounded.
Nymphs: These are similar in appearance and colour to the adult insects but have the armature of the thorax, abdomen and legs much more prominently developed.
Comments: Moxey (1972: 92) described Diapherodes alope in manuscript but never published this name. The suggested type-material and specific name are taken from Moxey. The ♀ from Alianza in ANSP and considered a PT by Moxey is not traced.
Distribution: Cuba (Camagüey & Province Habana: Cangrejeras) [ANSP].
Number of specimens examined: 6
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 45-46, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4128.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/271800