Included in the molecular phylogeny of Gryllinae produced by Jaiswara et al. (in preparation) as LDG 281 (Titanogryllus salgado Jaiswara, Souza-Dias, Desutter-Grandcolas & de Mello n. sp.)
Etymology. The word titan has its origin in the Greek mythology. The titans were six elder, giant gods, sons of Uranus and Gaia. Titan is also a noun related to one that is gigantic in some attribute. Here, we use the prefix titanto refer to the large size of the species of this new gryllid genus.
Type species. Titanogryllus salgado Jaiswara, Souza-Dias, Desutter-Grandcolas & de Mello n. sp.
Species included. Titanogryllus salgado Jaiswara, Souza-Dias, Desutter-Grandcolas & de Mello n. sp., Titanogryllus oxossi Souza-Dias & de Mello n. sp., Titanogryllus oxente Souza-Dias & de Mello n. sp.
Distribution. Brazilian Atlantic Forest, in the states of Espírito Santo and Bahia.
Diagnosis. Species large, robust, more than 3cm of body length. Head wide, glabrous. Ocelli almost in line. Pronotum DD saddle-shaped, glabrous, wider than long. TIII subapical spurs 3/3; serrulation only anterior to subapical spurs. Male. FWs reaching half of abdomen; anal vein area bulged dorsally; harp crossed with 4–6 almost transverse veins; mirror undivided, distinct from apical venation; apical field short, reduced; CuPb short; lateral field with 3–5 longitudinal veins. Male genitalia. Pseudepiphallic sclerite elongated; apex of lateral lophi bifurcated; median lophi short; rami elongated, bent towards ventral side, almost connected; ectophallic arc dorsal, thin, almost indistinguishable, below pseudepiphallic medial lophi; ectophallic fold elongated, strongly sclerotized; dorsal cavity short. Female. Larger than males. FWs small, very reduced. Ovipositor short; apex of ovipositor modified, with conspicuous ventral concavity; apex pointed and curved downwards in lateral view, with ventral protuberance.
Description. Species large, robust, more than 3cm of body length (Figs. 1A–C, 2A, 3A, 4A, 7A, B, 8A, 11A). Head large, glabrous, wider than long, as wide as pronotum (Figs. 1A–C, 2A, D, 3A, 4A, B, 7A, 8A, 11A, B). Occiput, vertex and fastigium glabrous (Figs. 2B, D, F, 4C, 7B, C, I, 11B–D). Epistomal suture angular. Vertex flat. Eyes small, not protruding. Ocelli arranged almost in straight line; median ocellus very slightly ahead of lateral ocelli, distance between lateral ocelli twice the distance between one lateral and median ocellus. Fastigium twice wider than scape (Figs. 2D, 3A, 7B, 11B). Lower margin of eyes and antennal pit almost at same level. Maxillary palpi short, 3rd and 4th joints subequal, 5th joint longest, regularly widened on its length, apex rounded (Figs. 2B, 7I, 11C). Pronotum DD wider than long, glabrous (Figs. 1A–C, 2A, D, 3A, 4A, 7A, B, 8A, 11A, B). Tympanum on both sides of TI. TI with 2 ventral spurs and 1 dorsal (inner). TII with 4 apical spurs. Legs III not specially elongated; TIII with spines before subapical spurs; subapical spurs 3/3 (Figs. 2I –K). Double row of spines on basitarsus-III.
Male. Metanotum without metanotal structures. FWs covering half of abdomen; stridulatory file present; harp crossed by 4-6 almost transverse veins; mirror undivided, wider than long, clearly distinct from surrounding veins; chords 1 and 2 elongated, close to each other, well-separated from chord 3; apical field reduced; lateral field with 3–5 longitudinal, parallel veins (Figs. 1A–C, 2A, C, E, 4A, D, 7A, D–F, 11A, E). Supra anal plate constricted medially; subgenital plate triangular, apex rounded (Figs. 2G, H, 7G, H, 11F, G).
Male genitalia. Male genitalia elongated. Pseudepiphallus: lateral lophi wide, apex bifurcated; medial lophi short; rami elongated, bent towards ventral side, ramus almost connected anteriorly (Figs. 5A–C, 6A–C, 9A–F, 12A–C). Pseudepiphallic apodemes absent. Pseudepiphallic parameres well sclerotized. Ectophallic invagination: ectophallic apodemes elongated; ectophallic arc dorsal, thin, almost indistinguishable, below pseudepiphallic medial lophi; ectophallic fold elongated, strongly sclerotized (Figs. 5A–C, 6A–C, 9A–C, 12A–C). Endophallus: endophallic sclerite small, related to ectophallic fold; endophallic cavity reduced (Figs. 5A–C, 6A–C, 9A–C, 12A– C).
Female. Larger than males (Figs. 3A, 8A). FW small, very reduced (Figs. 3B, 8B). Ovipositor short; apex of ovipositor modified, with conspicuous concavity; apex pointed and curved in lateral view, with ventral protuberance (Figs. 3A, E–G, 8A, E–G). Female genitalia. Copulatory papilla small, rounded; base medially extended ventrally; apex membranous (Figs. 5D–F, 10A–C).