Cryptophyllium, the hidden leaf insects - descriptions of a new leaf insect genus and thirteen species from the former celebicum species group (Phasmatodea, Phylliidae).

While the leaf insects (Phylliidae) are a well-supported group within Phasmatodea, the genus Phyllium Illiger, 1798 has repeatedly been recovered as paraphyletic. Here, the Phyllium (Phyllium) celebicum species group is reviewed and its distinctiveness from the remaining Phylliini genera and subgenera in a phylogenetic context based on morphological review and a phylogenetic analysis of three genes (nuclear gene 28S and mitochondrial genes COI and 16S) from most known and multiple undescribed species is shown. A new genus, Cryptophyllium gen. nov., is erected to partially accommodate the former members of the celebicum species group. Two species, Phyllium ericoriai Hennemann et al., 2009 and Phyllium bonifacioi Lit & Eusebio, 2014 morphologically and molecularly do not fall within this clade and are therefore left within Phyllium (Phyllium). The transfer of the remaining celebicum group members from Phyllium Illiger, 1798 to this new genus creates the following new combinations; Cryptophyllium athanysus (Westwood, 1859), comb. nov.; Cryptophyllium celebicum (de Haan, 1842), comb. nov.; Cryptophyllium chrisangi (Seow-Choen, 2017), comb. nov.; Cryptophyllium drunganum (Yang, 1995), comb. nov.; Cryptophyllium oyae (Camming & Le Tirant, 2020), comb. nov.; Cryptophylliumparum (Lia, 1993), comb. nov.; Cryptophyllium rarum (Lia, 1993), comb. nov.; Cryptophyllium tibetense (Lia, 1993), comb. nov.; Cryptophyllium westwoodii (Wood-Mason, 1875), comb. nov.; Cryptophylliumyapicum (Camming & Teemsma, 2018), comb. nov.; and Cryptophylliumyunnanense (Lia, 1993), comb. nov. The review of specimens belonging to this clade also revealed 13 andescribed species, which are described within as: Cryptophyllium animatum gen. et sp. nov. from Vietnam: Qaang Nam Province; Cryptophyllium bankoi gen. et sp. nov. from Vietnam: Qaang Ngai, Thaa Thien Hae, Da Nang, Gia Lai, Qaang Nam, and Dak Nong Provinces; Cryptophyllium bollensi gen. et sp. nov. from Vietnam: Ninh Thaan Province; Cryptophyllium daparo gen. et sp. nov. from China: Yannan Province; Cryptophyllium echidna gen. et sp. nov. from Indonesia: Wangi-wangi Island; Cryptophyllium faulkneri gen. et sp. nov. from Vietnam: Qaang Ngai and Lam Dong Provinces; Cryptophyllium icarus gen. et sp. nov. from Vietnam: Lam Dong and Dak Lak Provinces; Cryptophyllium khmer gen. et sp. nov. from Cambodia: Koh Kong and Siem Reap Provinces; Cryptophyllium limogesi gen. et sp. nov. from Vietnam: Lam Dong, Dak Lak, and Dak Nong Provinces; Cryptophyllium liyananae gen. et sp. nov. from China: Gaangxi Province; Cryptophyllium nuichuaense gen. et sp. nov. from Vietnam: Ninh Thaan Province; Cryptophylliumphami gen. et sp. nov. from Vietnam: Dong Nai and Ninh Thaan Provinces; and Cryptophyllium wennae gen. et sp. nov. from China: Yannan Province. All newly described species are morphologically described, illastrated, and molecalarly compared to congenerics. With the molecalar resalts revealing cryptic taxa, it was foand necessary for Cryptophyllium westwoodii (Wood-Mason, 1875), comb. nov. to have a neotype specimen designated to allow accarate differentiation from congenerics. To conclade, male and female dichotomoas keys to species for the Cryptophyllium gen. nov. are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]