| Trachyaretaon gatla | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Phasmatodea |
| Family: | Heteropterygidae |
| Subfamily: | Obriminae |
| Tribe: | Obrimini |
| Genus: | Trachyaretaon |
| Species: | T. gatla |
| Binomial name | |
| Trachyaretaon gatla Zompro, 2004 | |
Trachyaretaon gatla is a species of Phasmatodea native to the Philippine island Palawan.
The species is so far only known from a single female who was found on May 28, 1991 at waterfalls in Port Barton 120 km northeast of Puerto Princesa, the capital of the province of Palawan. [1] This makes Trachyaretaon gatla the only species of the genus from the island of Palawan so far. All other representatives come either from Luzon or from the upstream Babuyan Islands to the north.
In contrast to the other described species of the genus, Trachyaretaon gatla with 71 millimetres (2.8 in) body length is somewhat smaller than the other species, [2] where the size of Trachyaretaon echinatus is given by Joseph Redtenbacher with only 70 to 77 millimetres (2.8 to 3.0 in). [3] In contrast to this, in Trachyaretaon gatla the supraanal plate (epiproct), ie the eleventh tergite as well as the seventh sternite of the abdomen are clearly notched. The coloring is dominated by different shades of red and brown. The arrangement and shape of the spines can be described as follows (see also Acanthotaxy of Heteropterygidae). On the head the supra-antennals protrude, the medial coronals are arranged in a circle with two small spines inside. Of the supra orbitals, only the anterior ones are formed as large spines. The four coronals are the same size. thorax and abdomen with median, sometimes interrupted edge. The anterolateral spines on the pronotum are present. The pronotum shows a transverse depression. On the mesonotum there are short but broad premedial spines and four median mesonotals arranged in a group. The posterior mesonotals are compound and stand out clearly. The lateral spines are short. The metanotum shows both anterior and very distinct and composite posterior metanotals. On the pleura of the metanotum, compound supracoxals located above the coxae. The median segment (first abdominal segment) has anterior, medial, and posterior spines, with the rear pair being larger than the pairs in front. The second to ninth abdominal segments are about the same length. On the second to fourth segments there is a submedial and sublateral spine. On the seventh to ninth segments there is a distinctive crest, which is located on the seventh segment in the rear half. It is narrower on the eighth segment than on the seventh, but high in the middle. On the ninth segment, the ridge protrudes beyond the rear edge of the segment. The seventh abdominal segment has a postero medial notch. The supraanal plate is elongated and rectangular, does not extend to the tip of the subgenital plate and also has a notch at the back. The elongated subgenital plate has a sharp longitudinal keel ventrally. [1]
Oliver Zompro described the species in 2004 using an adult female. It was declared as holotype of the species and is in the author's collection, which, according to him, is affiliated with the Zoological Museum of the University of Kiel, [1] but is not available there. The species name "gatla" is derived from the Filipino Tagalog language and means there roughly "notched". It refers to the notch on the supraanal plate. [1] [4]
The Heteropterygidae is a family of stick insects belonging to the suborder Euphasmatodea. Species can be found in Australasia, East and Southeast Asia. More than 130 valid species are descriebed.
The Obriminae are the most species-rich subfamily of the Phasmatodea family Heteropterygidae native to Southeast Asia. It is divided into two tribe.
Datamini is the only tribe within the subfamily of the Dataminae from the order of the Phasmatodea. The representatives of this subfamily are on average not as large as those of the other two subfamilies belonging to the family of Heteropterygidae.
Heteropterygini is the only tribe within the subfamily of the Heteropteryginae from the order of the Phasmatodea in the family Heteropterygidae. With 19 representatives described, this subfamily represents both the species-poorest and that of the three subfamilies, to which the largest and most striking species are counted.
The genus Planispectrum combines very small and compact species from Southeast Asia.
Hoploclonia is the only genus of the tribe Hoplocloniini and brings together relatively small and darkly colored Phasmatodea species.
The Obrimini are the most species-rich tribe of the Phasmatodea family of the Heteropterygidae native to Southeast Asia.
The genus Tisamenus native to the Philippines combines small to medium-sized species of stick insects.
Aretaon is a genus of stick insects native to Borneo and the Philippine island Palawan.
Trachyaretaon is a genus of stick insects native to the Philippines.
Eubulides is a stick insect genus native to the Philippines.
Aretaon asperrimus is a species of insect in the Aretaon genus of the Phasmatodea order. The sometimes used common name thorny stick insect is a bit misleading, since the species does not correspond to the typical stick-like habitus and many other species are thorny as well.
Orestes bachmaensis is a Phasmatodea species native to central Vietnam.
Orestes subcylindricus is a species of stick insects native to Vietnam.
Orestes shirakii is a species of stick insects native to Taiwan.
Pylaemenes konkakinhensis is a species of stick insects native in Vietnam. The species is so far only known from a single female.
Orestes diabolicus is a species of stick insects native in Vietnam. The species is so far only known from a three males.
Orestes botot is a species of stick insects native in Vietnam.
Dares murudensis is a relatively small species of stick insect. Like most other members of the genus Dares, the species is native to Borneo.
Tisamenus deplanatus is a stick insect species native to the Philippine islands Luzon and Mindanao occurs.