Megatympanon austroraptorum Mendes, Sobral & Silva-Neto sp. nov.

Figures 1, 5–9

Diagnosis. Pronotal disc posteriorly forming a triangular sharp projection in dorsal view (Fig. 5C). Tegmina ellipsoid with round apex (Fig. 6). Tegmina slightly longer than body, only with short portion of apex crossing the abdomen, in lateral view (Fig. 5A). Vein MA with four branch reaching apex of tegmina (Fig. 6). Cercus fang-shaped in dorsal view, conical in lateral view, apically with large tip curved inward (Figs. 5I–J). Subgenital plate trapezoidal, laterally concave and posteriorly bilobate with medial notch wide and V-shaped (Figs. 5I–K).

Description. Holotype Male.

Head. Head laterally wide, with frons and gena smooth, in frontal view (Fig. 5B); fastigium-vertex small and laterally compressed, in frontal view (Fig. 5B); Globular eyes (Figs. 5B–D). Mandibles symmetric (Figs. 5A–C).

Thorax. Pronotal disc rectangular, without carina, anteriorly straight, laterally sharp and narrowing posteriorly, forming a triangular sharp projection in dorsal view (Fig. 5C); triangular posterior projection pointing upward, in lateral and frontal view (Figs. 5B and 5D); Dorsal-lateral suture curved (Figs. 5D–E). Furcal suture bifurcated and concolorous with pronotal disc (Fig. 5E). Mesobasisternum triangular-shaped, anteriorly concave and posteriorly narrow (Fig. 5E). Lateral lobes of mesobasisternum triangular, forming a sharp projection (Fig. 5E). Metabasisternum trapezoidal (Fig. 5E). Lateral lobes of mesobasisternum triangular, laterally slightly convex and posteriorly rounded, with medial projection acuminated and projected (Fig. 5E).

Wings. Tegmina ellipsoid with round apex, presence of two big mirror cells in basal area (Fig. 6).

Vein R slightly sinuous with innumerous branches almost straight reaching anterior margin of tegmina; last branch of Vein R reaching only the beginning of apical area of tegmina. Vein MA with basal half wide and slightly curved, posteriorly almost straight with two bifurcation of main branches at apical region; vein MP slightly curved, with two main branches reaching posterior margin of tegmina; one branch connecting to branches of vein CuA. Vein CuA narrow, anteriorly curved, surrounding area of second mirror cell and posteriorly with six branches; the first branch turned to base and the other turned to apex of tegmina. Vein CuP curved, large, surrounding posterior margin of first mirror cell. Vein AA narrow, surrounding area of first mirror cell. Vein Sc sinuous with many small branches.

Left stridulatory file sinuous; teeth apical minor in relation to middle teeth (Fig. 7A). Total length of left stridulatory file 5 mm, greater vein width of 0.8 mm and a total of 54 teeth (Fig. 7A). Right stridulatory file sinuous, with basal half curved and apical half almost straight; basal half teeth short and increasing in size gradually to medial region; teeth on apical edges small (Fig. 7B). Total length file of 4 mm, widest vein of 0.7 mm and total of 55 teeth (Figs. 7B).

Legs. Fore femur straight, with apical region slightly curved, presence of seven pairs of short ventral spines, being one pair apical and shorter and the others at medial region bigger than apical one, in lateral view (Fig. 5F). Fore tibia straight with six pairs of long ventral spines, thick and slightly curved, in lateral view; tympanic region slightly widened and with tympanic cavity almost completely closed, forming a short crevice (Fig. 5F). Mid femur straight, with apical region slightly curved, with seven of small ventral spines, in lateral view (Fig. 5G). Mid tibia straight with nine pairs of ventral spines long, thick and slightly curved, in lateral view (Fig. 5G). Hind femur elongated, narrow and enlarged at basal half, with several large ventral spines (Figs. 5A). Hind tibia straight, narrow, with several small ventral and dorsal spines (Figs. 5A). All legs with short bristles (Figs. 5A, F–G).

Abdomen. Cercus fang-shaped in dorsal view, conical in lateral view, apically with large tip curved inward; apex of cercus not exceeding base of stylus; cercus with several short bristles (Figs. 5I–K). Subgenital plate trapezoidal, laterally concave and posteriorly bilobated with medial notch wide and V-shaped (Figs. 5I–K). Stylus long and narrow (Figs. 5I–K).

Concealed male genitalia. Not examined.

Coloration. Based on photos of live specimens (Fig. 8). Body mainly dark-green with smaller areas light green. Eyes dark brown with posterior strip greyish yellow. Scape greyish yellow; pedicel and the other antennomeres dark brown with black spots. Pronotal disc dark-green with posterior margin of lateral lobe with pale stripe. Tegmina dark-green; stridulatory area light brown with vein CuP pale anteriorly and light green posteriorly. Femora darkgreen with short spots light green; tibiae and tarsi light green with dorsal stripe orangish-pink. Abdominal segments light green.

Female: Unknown.

Etymology. The epithet is from Latin, austro (austral) + raptor (thief), meaning raptor austral, in reference to the predatory behavior of this katydid and to its distribution in southern Brazil.

Geographical records. Brazil: Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul (Fig. 9).

Type material. Holotype J. BRASIL, Santa Catarina, Rio Vermelho, ii.1950, Dirings leg. / MZSP 5366 (1J MZSP). Paratypes: Idem, ii.1960 / MZSP 5367 (1J MZSP); Idem, ii.1949 / MZSP 5365 (1J MZSP); Idem, 24.iii.1950 / MZSP 5368 (1J MZSP).

Measurements (mm). HolotypeJ: TL: 29,8; TegL: 34,2; TegH: 12,3; WF: 5,6; PL: 10,0; PH: 4,2; FF: 13,0; FT: 13,3; MF: 12,9; MT: 13,0; HF: 31,8; HT: 31,5; Lplac: 4,0; LC: 3,1.

ParatypesJ: TL: 29,2–28,7; TegL: 36,8–36,4; TegH: 11,4–10,1; WF: 5,8–5,6; PL: 11,2–10,1; PH: 5,2–4,5; FF: 12,4–10,2; FT: 13,9–13,5; MF: 12,3–12,2; MT: 13,9–13,8; HF: 32,0–31,4; HT: 33,1–33,0; Lplac: 5,0–4,8; LC: 3,2–2,8.

Comments. The new species was found mainly in areas corresponding to the Serra do Mar coastal forests ecoregion and with one record in the Alto Paraná Atlantic forest ecoregion. The distribution in the Serra do Mar is a feature shared by both species of Megatympanon, but M. austroraptorum sp. nov. occurs in a southernmost portion than M. speculatum. Despite the near distribution, we did not find evidence of sympatry between both species. The Serra do Mar coastal forests are characterized by the coastal plains and chain of mountains, ranging from 20 m up to 2000 m of elevation. These differences in altitudes provide differences in climate and vegetation, which allows for great biological diversity in this ecoregion (Carlucci et al. 2021). The Serra do Mar is characterized by a great diversity of large tree species such as Copaifera trapezifolia, Pouteria spp., Chrysophyllum spp., epiphytes, and also species of Myrtaceae and Melastomataceae (Schipper, 2023). That habitat unfortunately has been highly fragmented by anthropic influence, with lowland forests depleted to the construction of urban areas and to slash-and-burn agriculture (Carlucci et al. 2021; Schipper, 2023).