Mearnsiana maranao, Hennemann, 2023

Mearnsiana maranao View in CoL n. sp.

( Fig. 40 & 71O)

ZooBank: https://zoobank.org/ 62EA9912-CD32-4675-87EE-4CFD3AB55F95

HT, ♂: Philippines, Mindanao , Lanao del Norte, local collector [ RBINS] .

Differentiation. – The ♂ (theonly sexknown) of thisremarkable new species is easily separable from that of the type-species by the generally more developed body and leg armature, stockier limbs and unicoloured abdominal terga (red laterally in bullosa ). The compound posterior meso- and metanotals have the central protrusion much larger and almost equal to the height to the thorax, elongate peg-like in shape and with the apex acute ( Fig. 40D, much lower and obtusely rounded in bullosa ). Moreover, there is a notably enlarged median mesopleural spine and also the pair of anterior mesonotals are considerably longer and more spiniform.

Etymology. – Named after the Maranao people, a predominantly Muslim Filipino ethnic group native to the region around Lanao Lake on the Island of Mindanao. Their name means “people of the lake”.

Description

The following description is based on the unique dried holotype, which however seems to have the colour very well preserved.

♂ ( Fig. 40)

Form and colouration. – Size slightly smaller than the type-species (body length 43.5 mm), form short and stocky with practically all elements of armature more strongly developed if compared to M. bullosa ; body surface roughened, with numerous irregularly spaced rounded granules. Colouration mostly olive with the meso- and metathorax orangey ochre to russet; all tubercles and spinose projections of the head and thorax dark orange. Antennae reddish brown and graduallybecoming darker towardstheapex; the two basal joints olive. Limbs dark greyish olive with all tubercles and teeth buff ventrally and orange dorsally; all femora becoming slightly lighter in colour towards the base.

Head. – Subquadrate with vertex gently rounded; supra-orbital fairly distinct and notably larger than the single pair of coronals; median coronals small and the lateral coronals the most prominent spines of the head; otherwise only with a small gular tubercle as well as one or two small posterior supra-orbitals ( Fig. 40D). Eyes large, projecting more than hemispherical and their diameter scarcely less than length of gena. Antennae

– A. Habitus dorsal view. – B. Habitus dorsolateral view. – C. Habitus ventral view. – D. Head and thorax in dorsolateral view.

– E. Terminalia in dorsal view. – F. Terminalia in ventral view.

with 26 joints and reaching to anal segment; scapus somewhat compressed dorsoventrally and roundly rectangular in outline, pedicellus globose and much shorter,IIIsomewhat longerandslenderer thanpedicellus,IV veryshort and the following gradually increasing in the length with the median antennomeres in particular strongly elongate.

Thorax. – Pronotum about as long but a little narrower than head and slightly transverse with a distinct pre-median narrowing. Armed with a low pair of anteriors and a prominent pair of conically elevated posteriors ( Fig. 40D), which each have a small tubercle at their base intero-anteriorly; antero- and postero-lateral pronotals small and rather obtuse. Transverse median sulcus distinct and with a short, gently curved impressed furrow on each side of the median line; the latter somewhat impressed. Mesothorax notably widening towards the posterior and about 1.8x longer than prothorax; the mesonotum with lateral margins notably concave medially and somewhat widened pre-posteriorly, almost 1.6x longer than width of anterior margin and the posterior portion notably inflated. Mesonotum with a distinct transverse bulge shortly behind anterior margin, which laterally terminated in a distinct, conical anterior mesonotal spine, the antero-lateral mesonotal notably smaller. The compound posterior mesonotals very large, conically peg-like in shape with the apex rather acute ( Fig. 40D). Lateral margins with a somewhat enlarged pre-lateral tubercle and surface otherwise set with unequally sized low tubercles and granules; only the pair of pre-medials and inter-posteriors slightly enlarged. Metanotum sun-quadrate with the lateral margins weakly concave; the posterior metanotals similar to posterior mesonotals ( Fig. 40D); the metanotum otherwise only set with unevenly sized granules and low tubercles; the posterior series somewhat enlarged. Mesopleurae deflexed posteriorly andarmed with a rather small and stout antero-lateral,a prominent, spinose and compound medio-lateral ( Fig. 40A) and a very strong, compound supra-coxal; the two mesopleurals of average size, obtuse and shiny. Metapleurae almost semi-circularly deflexed in posterior half;armed with two blunt laterals, five obtuse supra-coxal, the second of which is notably enlarged, and two obtuse, shiny metapleurals. Sensory-areas of prosternum weakly developed. Mesosternum flattened, almost smooth in central portion and with a low medio-longitudinal bulge; laterally with a gently arched longitudinal carina that is set with some unevenly sized blunt tubercles ( Fig. 40C). Metasternum only with a marginal lateral rowof 4-5 low tubercles anda few scattered granules in anterior half ( Fig. 71O).

Abdomen. – Median segment distinctly transverse and trapezoidal in shape; the posterior margin with a full seriesof posterior granulesand a pair of small medial granules present. All abdominal segment transverse, II- V increasing in length and narrowing, VI-VII notably widening and VIII-X narrowing yet again; V narrowest (except for anal segment) andVII widest all off segments; V 1.6x and VII 3x wider than long. Terga II-VI with a row of small posterior granules along posterior margin, VI-X with a low and obtuse medio-longitudinal bulge, which terminates in an obtuse posteromedian hump on VI-VIII. Sterna II-VII smooth and only with a faint medio-longitudinal line. Tergum VIII with posterolateral angles somewhat protruded and dentiform.Anal segment distinctly trapezoidal in outline with posterior margin strongly narrowed and weakly indented medially ( Fig. 40E);notably declining in lateral view. Epiproct small, transverse and almost fully concealed under anal segment. Cerci small, compressed laterally and weakly carinated dorsally and ventrally. Poculum large, bulgy and almost reaching to tip of anal segment; the posterior portion with a fine medio-longitudinal keel and the posterior margin somewhat labiate and narrowing ( Fig. 40F).

Legs. – All very stocky with the femora somewhat inflated; basal flexure of profemora weak. Femora witha few low dentations ventrally, the terminal tooth on posteroventral carina of metafemora forming a rather distinct, acutely pointed spine; dorsal carinae each with a few small tuberculiform and rather obtuse teeth. Ventral surface of femora minutely granulose and with a median row of small, rounded tubercles; that of tibiae similar but tectate medio-longitudinally. Tibiae smooth dorsally and with 3-6 sharp dentations on two exterior ventral carinae. Tarsi almost as long as corresponding tibiae, basitarsusalmost as longas three proceedingtarsomeres takentogether. Claws large, as typical for the genus.

Measurements [mm]. – Measurements [mm]: Body 43.5, pronotum 3.8, mesonotum 7.4, metanotum 4.9, median segment 2.0, profemora 9.9, mesofemora 8.3, metafemora 10.3, protibiae 9.0, mesotibiae 8.1, metatibiae 11.8, antennae 40.0.

Remarks. – Females and eggs unknown.

Distribution. – Mindanao, endemic.