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Issue: Vol. 5807 No. 3: 12 May 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-05-12
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5807.3.9
Page range: 571-580
Abstract views: 85
PDF downloaded: 6

The Hidden Dragon-Katydid: a new genus and species of predatory Listroscelidinae katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from Diamantina National Park, Northeastern Brazil

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia; Universidade Federal do Paraná; Curitiba; Brazil.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia; Universidade Federal do Paraná; Curitiba; Brazil.; Universidade de São Paulo; Museu de Zoologia. São Paulo; SP; Brasil.
Universidade de São Paulo; Museu de Zoologia. São Paulo; SP; Brasil.
Orthoptera caatinga biome taxonomy morphology Neotropical region endemism

Abstract

Tettigoniidae is one of the most diverse families of Orthoptera, comprising more than 8,000 described species worldwide. Within it, Listroscelidinae is distinctive for its predatory habits, a rare condition among katydids. Members of this subfamily exhibit morphological adaptations associated with active predation, including robust mandibles and spined forelegs. In Brazil, Listroscelidinae are mainly known from the Atlantic Forest, while seasonally dry biomes such as the Caatinga remain poorly studied. Herein, we describe a new genus of predatory katydids from the Caatinga biome of northeastern Brazil based on detailed morphological examination. Draconatus Fianco gen. nov. is diagnosed by a combination of several characters, as the labrum white, short tegmina with yellowish veins contrasting against dark cells, and tibia II bearing a single dorsal spine. Comparative analysis reveals clear morphological differences from other Neotropical genera, including Cerberodon Perty, Listroscelis Serville, Monocerophora Walker, Venatorellus Mendes, Chamorro-Rengifo, Rafael & Carliella Karny particularly in head sculpture and coloration, labral proportions, tegminal condition, tibial armature, and female terminalia. Carliella is also considered as the senior synonym of Isocarliella Mello-Leitão syn. nov. and Macrometopon Bruner syn. nov. The new genus is endemic to the central Caatinga, highlighting the underestimated diversity of predatory katydids in xeric Brazilian biomes.

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How to Cite

Fianco, M., Alasmar, L. & Engelking, P.W. (2026) The Hidden Dragon-Katydid: a new genus and species of predatory Listroscelidinae katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from Diamantina National Park, Northeastern Brazil. Zootaxa, 5807 (3), 571–580. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5807.3.9