Symetriophasma Hennemann and Conle, 1996

Type species: Symetriophasma brevitarsa Hennemann and Conle, 1996

Geographic distribution: New Guinea.

Derivation of the name: The name is in reference to the atypically symmetrical pattern of body spinosity.

Description: Small, brown, compact body form. Body surface rough, partially spinous; spines invariably symmetrical. Undersurface of body smooth. Head round, possessing two pairs of conspicuous spines. Antennae with clearly reduced segments, about as long as the forelimbs; last segment clearly longer than the rest. Pronotum broader than the head, apically strongly tapered, spinose. Mesonotum broader than the pronotum, somewhat longer than broad, laterally with discrete large spines; anteromedially with four distinct spines. Metanotum three times broader than long, laterally spinose. Median segment fused to the metanotum by an indistinct suture; less than half the length of the metanotum. Abdomen distally tapered, each segment distolaterally with a large spine. Rostrum fused to the anal-segment; suture indistinct. Femora all straight, square, dorsally spinous. Tibiae unarmed, round in cross-section. Tarsi short.

Relationships: This genus is reminiscent of Labidiophasma Carl, 1915, to which it is most closely related, but from which it can be distinguished by the very compact total body form, longer antennae, and short first tarsomere. By the flat, cross-sectionally sharp-edged and laterally spinous thorax, it is similar to Eurycantha Boisduval, 1835, and, in view of the four distinct spines directly behind the anterior margin of the mesonutum, particularly E. coronata Redtenbacher, 1908. This genus can be distinguished from Trapezaspis Redtenbacher, 1908, by the lack of trapezoidal mesonotal expansion as well as by the longer antennae and the much stronger spinosity of the body; and from Microcanachus Donskoff, 1988, to which it is also closely related, by the strong body spinosity. All other eurycanthine genera are quite distinct and much larger in size.

Included species:

  Symetriophasma brevitarsa Hennemann and Conle, 1996

  Symetriophasma echinata (Günther, 1963)