Phryganistria tamdaoensis

Phryganistria tamdaoensis
Male Phryganistria tamdaoensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmatodea
Family: Phasmatidae
Subfamily: Clitumninae
Tribe: Pharnaciini
Genus: Phryganistria
Species:
P. tamdaoensis
Binomial name
Phryganistria tamdaoensis
Bresseel and Constant, 2014[1]

Phryganistria tamdaoensis is a species of stick insect belonging to the family of giant sticks. It was described in 2014 based on specimens from the Tam Đảo National Park in Vietnam, hence, the specific name tamdaoensis.[2] It was described by Joachim Bresseel and Jérôme Constant, biologists of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS). In the same paper they also reported the discovery of another new subspecies, Phryganistria heusii yentuensis, which – measuring 32 cm long – is the second biggest insect known to date.[3] In contrast, P. tamdaoensis, measuring only 23 cm long, is one of the smallest species under giant sticks.[4]

In 2015, the International Institute for Species Exploration names it as one of the "Top 10 New Species" for new species discovered in 2014.[5] They were included in the list because of their body shape and colour, making them "masters of camouflage".[6][7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference bresseel was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Berenson, Tessa (21 May 2015). "These Are the Top 10 New Species Discovered Last Year". Time. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  3. ^ Verbeke, Reinout (27 November 2014). "New Species of Stick Insect is Second Largest Insect in the World". naturalsciences.be. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  4. ^ Clemens, Danny (22 May 2015). "Top 10 New Species of 2015: Not-so-Giant Walking Stick". Discovery. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  5. ^ "The ESF Top 10 New Species for 2015". State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  6. ^ "Taxonomy Experts Announce Top 10 New Species Discovered in 2014". Breaking Science News | Sci-News.com. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
  7. ^ Shi, Chaofan; Shih, Chungkun; Chen, Sha; Ren, Dong (2019-03-15), Ren, Dong; Shih, Chung Kun; Gao, Taiping; Yao, Yunzhi (eds.), "Phasmatodea - Stick Insects and Leaf Insects", Rhythms of Insect Evolution, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, pp. 165–173, doi:10.1002/9781119427957.ch13, ISBN 978-1-119-42795-7, S2CID 92426100