Three new genera and one new species of leaf insect from Melanesia (Phasmatodea, Phylliidae).

ABSTRACT: With the first large-scale Phylliidae molecular phylogeny recently published adding a great deal of clarity to phylliid diversity, several of the rarer species which could not be included were methodically and morphologically reviewed. This review resulted in identification of numerous substantial morphological features that suggest there are Melanesian clades that create polyphyletic groups within the phylliids which should instead be taxonomically recognized as unique. These rarer Melanesia species have historically been considered to be southern representatives of the Pulchriphyllium Griffini, 1898 sensu lato. However, there are notable morphological differences between the Pulchriphyllium sensu stricto and the "schultzei" group. Therefore, two new genera are

SUBMITTER: Cumming RT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9848868 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature