Taxonomy of Podoscirtinae (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). Part 4: African Podoscirtini and geography of the tribe

Abstract

Eight genera belonging to a generic group with the modified male genitalia (similar to those of the Indo-Malayan genus Truljalia) are characterized. They are distributed only in Africa south of Sahara. Four new genera, 13 new species, and unknown male of one species are described; some other African genera and species are considered (i.e., type material is revised, a lectotype for Dolichogryllus camerunensis Bol. is designated, and information on the systematic position of some forms is given). The distribution of the Podoscirtini genera is considered; 7-8 regions with almost endemic generic composition are outlined. Preliminary hypotheses for the origin of the Podoscirtini faunas of these regions are proposed. New replacement names (Valiatrella, nom. n. and Stenotrella, nom. n.) are proposed for the genera Valia Gorochov, 1985 (non Alexeev, 1979) and Stenogryllodes Chopard, 1952 (non Chopard, 1936), respectively.