Coryphomodes Jeannel, 1960

Chinese common name: Ềȁà甲¤

Coryphomodes Jeannel, 1960: 416; Newton & Chandler 1989 (catalog); Chandler 2001 (redescription); Löbl & Kurbatov 2001 (discussion of relationship). Type species: Coryphomodes cristatus Jeannel, 1960: 418 (original designation).

Members of Coryphomodes have the inner two basal foveae of the elytra close, or to a greater degree, fused, and have marginal spines of the pronotum small or absent. Further characterization of this genus appears to be difficult, as the included species may represent polyphyletic and geographically widely separated groups. For example, C. cristatus (type species), C. calcaratus Jeannel and C. humeralis Jeannel from India share long carinate discal striae of the elytra and short first visible tergites (IV) (Löbl & Kurbatov 2001), while C. dionysius (Schaufuss, L. W.) from Japan and the diverse Australian members have short or lack elytral discal striae, and the tergites 1 (IV) are much longer than tergites 2 (V) (Jeannel 1958; Chandler 2001). The three new species described here all have three basal elytral foveae, as does the type species, but have long tergites 1 more than twice the length of tergites 2. The Tibetan species may be linked by the coarsely punctate elytral disc, and may be separated by using the following key.

Key to Tibetan species of Coryphomodes (male)

1 Body length over 2.0 mm; vertex lacking lateral impressions (Fig. 45B)......................... C. chenzhilini sp. nov.

- Body length less than 2.0 mm; vertex with round lateral impressions............................................. 2

2 Vertex lacking mediobasal carina (Fig. 43B); areas lateral to median tubercle on frons smooth (Fig. 43B); marginal tubercles of pronotum more distinct (Fig. 43B); punctures of elytral disc sparser (Fig. 43C)........................ C. budda sp. nov.

- Vertex with short mediobasal carina (Fig. 44B); areas lateral to median tubercle on frons with setose tufts (Fig. 44B); marginal tubercles of pronotum tiny (Fig. 44B); punctures of elytral disc coarser (Fig. 44C)................. C. cephalicus sp. nov.