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| Salassa sunwukongi Zheng & Wang, 2023 (A-D) male; (E, F) female. |
Abstract
Salassa is a genus of the family Saturniidae. It comprises over 30 species that are widely distributed in Asia. This study describes a new species, Salassa sunwukongi sp. nov., found in Chinese Yunnan province. The first molecular study of Salassa was conducted using COI fragments. Molecular and morphological analyses revealed the presence of a monophyletic group, royi-group, distributed in the Himalayas. A key to members of the royi-group, along with species lists and distinguishing characteristics of all three groups of Salassa, is provided.
Lepidoptera, Salassinae, giant silk moth, systematics, taxonomy
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| Adults of Salassa sunwukongi sp. nov.: (A) male holotype (dorsal view); (B) male holotype (ventral view); (C) male paratype (dorsal view); (D) male paratype (dorsal view); (E) female paratype (dorsal view); (F) female paratype (ventral view). Scale bars: 10.0 mm. |
Salassa sunwukongi sp. nov.
Distribution. China: Yunnan Province.
Etymology. The new species was named after Sun Wukong, the Monkey King in Chinese Mythology, for the diverse colours and monkey-face-like pattern in the hindwing of the new species.
Xuhongyi ZHENG and DONG WANG. 2023. Description of A New Species and A New Group of Salassa Moore, 1859 (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) with a molecular study based on partial COI. Zootaxa. 5375(2); 285-296. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5375.2.10
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