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Ceroys (Miroceroys) indicattii sp. nov. (Figs 10–17) Holotype, 1♀: MZUSP V0641, Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Petrópolis, Cascatinha district. Atlantic Forest, near Pico do Couto, 22°27'56.8"S, 43°17'23.5"W, 1650m of altitude, 30.XI.2021., V. M. Ghirotto, M. Gomes & R. P. Indicatti coll. [MZUSP]. Paratype, 1♂: MZUSP 0529, Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos, Núcleo Teresópolis, 22°27'14"S, 42°59'32"W, 1200–1300m of altitude, 5-6.XII.2015, P. I. Chiquetto-Machado & A. Z. Ramin col. Etymology. The specific name is a patronym in honour of Dr. Rafael Prezzi Indicatti, an expert Brazilian arachnologist and exemplary researcher. He acted as a mentor for VMG in some of VMG's first taxonomic practises while an undergraduate in biology at UNESP, working with mygalomorph spiders. Furthermore, he always supports Projeto Phasma - a freestanding phasmid research group of which all the authors are part of. Besides insightful institutional and research advice, he is frequently skilfully collecting specimens of stick insects when possible and organizing and aiding in fieldtrips with Projeto Phasma members, as the one which resulted in the collection of the new species. This comes in form of our sincerely gratefulness for kindly helping us and supporting research on Phasmatodea in Brazil. Diagnosis. Ceroys (Miroceroys) indicattii sp. nov. resembles Ceroys (Miroceroys) saevissimus and differs from all remaining species of the genus by the conspicuous dorsolateral medial widening of the mesonotum (Fig. 10B, 13B) and overall pattern of ornamentation, such as lateral and dorsal expansions in abdominal segments and several strong spines in the thorax (Fig. 10B), less prominent in males (Fig. 13). It differs from females of Ceroys (Miroceroys) saevissimus by the shorter and less deflexed posterior margin of tergite X (anal segment) and shorter sternite VIII (subgenital plate), with both not forming a duck-bill shape (Fig. 12B) as in C. saevissimus, the larger dorsal expansions on tergites IV, V and IX (Figs 10B, 12B) and by the tergite VIII slightly wider than IX and X, not constricted (Fig. 10A). Males are recognized by the straight mesonotum in lateral view, smaller, less jagged triangular thoracic projections and less spiny body with abdomen segments without lateral spines in both anterior and posterior margins (Fig. 13). |
