Odonturini Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878 n. sensu.

Redescription. Males slender (Fig. 1A) and females generally robust and stout (Fig. 2A). Head rounded and slender in frontal view; fastigium sulcate, narrower than the width of the scape or pedicel; the fastigium does not exceed the average width of the antennal scape. Eyes rounded and slightly protrusive (Figs. 1B, 2B). Thorax. Pronotum without modifications on any of its margins; lacking marked lateral carinae, though sometimes indicated by different coloration or a slight suggestion of relief, especially posteriorly; lateral lobes longer than high; humeral sinus not developed (Figs. 1C, 2C). Mesosternum and metasternum rectangular, four to five times wider than high, with anterior and posterior margins almost straight; meso- and metasternal grooves narrow and almost entirely covered; margins of the lateral lobes not raised (Figs. 1E, 2E). Wings. Tegmina short in both sexes, not covering the first or second abdominal segment, always fully exposed (Figs. 1D, 2D). Legs long and slender, especially in males; hind femur greatly exceeding the apex of the abdomen; fore coxae unarmed; fore tibiae with open tympana. Abdomen. Tenth tergite without modifications or projections, and posterior margin straight or slightly undulated (Fig. 1F). Males: Epiproct triangular; cerci simple, unmodified, each bearing a small apical spine (Fig. 1G). Subgenital plate rectangular, longer than wide, without modifications or styles, posterior margin usually with a moderately deep notch (Fig. 1H). Genitalia. Entirely membranous; dorsal lobe (dl) simple, rounded, and not exceeding the length of the lateral folds of dorsal lobe (ldl). Titillator’s sclerite (TS) and sclerite of apodemes (AP) absent. Upper folds of ventral lobe (up.vl.) rounded, surrounding the lower folds of ventral lobe (lw.vl.) without covering them; lw.vl. short and poorly differentiated; ejaculatory vesicles (ejv) conspicuous and rounded (Figs. 1I, J). Females: Epiproct triangular; cerci conical and short; ovipositor slender, moderately broadened in lateral view, slightly curved, with the apex toothed on all margins (Fig. 2F). Subgenital plate triangular, without modifications or divisions (Fig. 2G).

Taxa included. Two genera and 16 species: Odontura Rambur, 1838 (type genus) and Odonturella Bolívar, 1900 stat. rev.

Distribution. Western Mediterranean. It extends across North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands, Sicily, and Sardinia (Map 1).

Comments. This tribe had not yet been morphologically differentiated from other short-winged Phaneropterinae taxa, which were traditionally included in Odonturini or Barbitistini. Although studies such as those by Grzywacz et al. (2014, 2018) provide evidence that Odonturini is not monophyletic and define the tribe as monogeneric based on molecular analyses, it remains important to establish a clear morphological distinction for Odonturini. This will help prevent the future inclusion of superficially similar but unrelated taxa.

It is proposed to elevate Odonturella Bolívar, 1900 stat. rev. to genus status as already done by Kirby 1906, as it presents distinguishing characteristics that fully separate it from Odontura, following the suggestion by Grzywacz et al. (2014, 2018) and Cassar & Massa (2022). The two Odonturella stat. rev. species are found in the central and western regions of the Iberian Peninsula, in contrast to Odontura species, which are distributed across northwestern Africa, the Balearic Islands, Sicily, and Sardinia. Thus, the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean as a whole have likely acted as a diversification barrier between the two genera.

The only exception is Odontura glabricauda (Charpentier, 1825), a species recorded in Morocco as well as in Spain and Portugal (Llorente & Pinedo 1990). The specimens used for its description, particularly the only known male, are not in good condition, which led to doubts regarding the species’ validity for a long time (Pinedo 1987). However, Llorente & Pinedo (1990) confirmed its presence in both Africa and Europe, raising an important question: If the African and European specimens indeed belong to a single species, Could O. glabricauda have originated in Africa, like its congeners, and later been introduced to the Iberian Peninsula? If this hypothesis is correct, it would support the proposed differentiation of both genera on opposite sides of the Mediterranean, as previously mentioned.

Below is a key for distinguishing the genera, based on the characteristics described by Bolívar (1900), Llorente & Pinedo (1990), and Cassar & Massa (2022):

Key to Odonturini genera

1. Pronotum short, with a slight trace of lateral carinae on the dorsum; lateral lobes broad and almost always uniformly colored. Male tegmina with weakly developed veins. Ovipositor curved ventrally from about the second third, female cerci three times as long as wide................................................................... Odontura

– Pronotum long, laterally extended in a roof-like shape; dorsum without traces of lateral carinae; lateral lobes very narrow, with a pale band along the lower margin. Male tegmina with strongly marked veins. Ovipositor curved ventrally throughout its length, female cerci no more than twice as long as wide................................ Odonturella stat. rev.