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| Rivetina archibaldi Kolnegari, in Kolnegari, Handal et Khormizi, 2026 |
Abstract
Iran, the world’s 18th-largest country, harbors a wide range of habitats and a rich diversity of Mantodea. The genus Rivetina Berland & Chopard, 1922 is represented in Iran by several morphologically similar ground-dwelling species. Here, we describe Rivetina archibaldi sp. nov. from the Zagros oak forests of Lorestan Province, western Iran. The new species is diagnosed based on external morphology and male genital structures and is compared with congeners occurring in Iran and Iraq. A dichotomous key to the Iranian species of Rivetina is also provided.
Keywords: Ground-dwelling mantis, Lorestan Province, Middle East, Persian Plateau
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| Head and pronotum of Rivetina archibaldi sp. nov. male (A, C) and female (B, D). |
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| Live habitus of Rivetina archibaldi sp. nov. (A, C) male and (B, D) female. |
Family Rivetinidae Ehrmann & Roy, 2002
Subfamily Rivetininae Ehrmann & Roy, 2002
Tribe Rivetinini Ehrmann & Roy, 2002
Genus Rivetina Berland & Chopard, 1922
Rivetina archibaldi Kolnegari, sp. nov.
Diagnosis.— The metazone minimum width is distinctly smaller in Rivetina archibaldi sp. nov. (mean = 1.78 mm) than in all examined congeners. The new species is morphologically similar to R. dolichoptera but differs in the shape of the pronotum, the shorter supra-anal plate, and distinct features of the male genitalia.
Etymology.— The specific epithet archibaldi is dedicated to Dr. George Archibald, a renowned conservationist who has devoted more than half a century of his life to the protection of wildlife, especially cranes (Aves, Gruidae), around the world. His lifelong efforts have played a central role in saving several crane species from extinction and in promoting the conservation of these legendary and symbolic birds across continents, including in the Middle East and Iran. The name honors his remarkable contribution to avian conservation and his inspiring legacy in global ornithology.
Mahmood Kolnegari, Elias Handal and Mahdi Zare Khormizi. 2026. Rivetina archibaldi sp. nov. (Mantodea, Rivetinidae), A New praying mantis from the Zagros Oak Forests of Iran. Journal of Orthoptera Research. 35(2): 283-292. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/jor.35.174839 [12 Jun 2026]