The True Nature of the Genus Lophotettix Hancock, 1909 (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae): A Brief Taxonomic Revision

Abstract

The genus Lophotettix, belonging to the Neotropical subfamily Lophotettiginae of the family Tetrigidae, has hitherto been known only from five specimens, i.e. the holotypes of each of its five species. The most important diagnostic criterion for delimiting species was the morphology of the projection of the median carina of the pronotum, known as the crest. Gathered and examined are all the records of this genus in order to determine the intra- and interspecific morphological variability. The crest is found to be morphologically quite variable. In light of this finding, a taxonomic revision of the genus is performed in order to solve the now-apparent ambiguities. Within the genus Lophotettix, we defined two subgenera: (i) L. Lophotettix Hancock, 1909, a nominotypical subgenus, now encompassing L (L.) brevicristatus and L. (L.) zumbadoi, with the latter exhibiting marked variability, suggesting that it could be a complex of species, and (ii) L. Corticotettix Kasalo et Skejo subgen. nov. which encompasses L. (C.) alticristatus and the L. (C.) (unicristatus) species group with the species L. (C.) (u.) unicristatus and L. (C.) (u.) hancocki. An annotated key to the species of the genus Lophotettix is given.