Kingdom

Microsynthera

Phylum

Plasticae

Class

Occlupanida

Order

Orthogonidectes

Family

Toxodentidae

Genus

Neotessera

Species

N. eclipsis

External morphology

small rounded isoform lateral palps. Size 21.6 mm x 23.7 mm

This jet-black hyaline toxodentid is in all respects virtually identical in morphology to Neotessera vitripalpus, save for its color. While this would usually classify it as a color morph, it has been given its own designation as Neotessera eclipsis, owing to the poetic fact that the occlupanid whose niche it is eclipsing is none other than Palpatophora stellanova, which is itself a jet-black color morph elevated to species status nearly 20 years prior. Although instruments that measure self-referential cyclical irony are imprecise, such data nonetheless provides sufficient scientific cover to designate N. eclipsis as its own species.  Instead of grocery stores, this occlupanid seems to favor the back pantries and kitchens of fast-food chain restaurants, where it has been found to replace P. stellanova in greater numbers.
Species described by S. Sword (FORC). Specimen submitted by O. Ohm of the Fargo Moorhead Center for Occlupanology, obtained from a Wendy’s in Gary, IN on bags of Bimbo brand buns.