Taxonomic revision and phylogenetic analysis of Paraphasma Redtenbacher, 1906 (Phasmatodea: Pseudophasmatidae: Stratocleinae: Stratocleini)

• Grant number: 15/08808-2
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2015
• Effective date (End): July 13, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal researcher: Eliana Marques Cancello
• Grantee: Pedro Ivo Chiquetto Machado
• Home Institution: Museu de Zoologia (MZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/08022-4 - Study of type material of Paraphasma Redtenbacher, 1906 and other genera in the tribe Stratocleini (Phasmatodea: Pseudophasmatidae: Stratocleinae), BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The phylogenetic relationships within the order Phasmatodea are still very uncertain, especially among genera and species, due to the small number of researchers who addressed the issue. In addition, there are currently no specialists working on the group in Brazil, emphasizing the need of taxonomic and phylogenetic studies on the Brazilian fauna of stick insects. Considering the context above, this project aims to contribute to the knowledge of the neotropical genus Paraphasma Redtenbacher, 1906, which currently contains ten species. The project includes a taxonomic revision, with delimitation and redescription of the species, and cladistic analysis based on morphological data, presenting a phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus and testing its monophyly. In order to render the taxonomic revision more robust, it will be based on other information sources in addition to morphology, such as egg capsule characteristics and gene sequencing (DNA barcode). The work will also include a detailed analysis of internal genitalia, which is an almost unexplored structure in the study of Phasmatodea. Although a substantial number of Paraphasma representatives are available at the Museu de Zoologia of the Universidade de São Paulo, additional material will be obtained by means of collecting, captive rearing and loan from other institutions. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CRISPINO, EDGAR B.; CHIQUETTO-MACHADO, I, PEDRO; ENGELKING, PHILLIP W.; CANCELLO, ELIANA M. Contributions to the knowledge of Canuleius Stal (Phasmatodea: Heteronemiidae): taxonomy, morphology and notes on the biology of two species. Zootaxa, v. 4743, n. 4, p. 511-535, FEB 27 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.

CHIQUETTO-MACHADO, PEDRO IVO. Redescription of the Brazilian stick insect Pseudophasma cambridgei Kirby (Phasmatodea: Pseudophasmatidae), with first description of the female and egg. AUSTRAL ENTOMOLOGY, v. 57, n. 4, p. 392-402, NOV 2018. Web of Science Citations: 1.