4. Pterotiltus finoti Dominique, 1900

Pterotiltus finoti Dominique, 1900: 207 .

Pterotiltus finoti – Kirby 1910: 386. — Johnston 1956: 259. — Dirsh 1965: 236 — Hollis 1975: 226.

Type material

Holotype (not examined)

REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO • ♂; Linzolo; 4.41° S, 15.11° E; R.P. Luec leg; NTM [lost].

Description

Dominique’s description of the external morphology is mostly concerned with what we now know to be generic characters, with very few that might be specific. However, the holotype luckily had a distinctive morphology of the male 10 th tergite, such that it might be recognized from the original description: as in P. impennis, the male furcula is fused, forming a bifid medial process, but the fork is appreciably wider and less elongate than in impennis, and with widely spreading apices (“Il forme deux dents courtes, assez écartées”). Unfortunately, it is not certain that Dominique’s description would apply to all individual males of finoti, or allow them to be identified as such, because some species of Pterotiltus ( coeruleocephalus, occipitalis, q.v.) show marked variation between individual specimens in their extent of furcular fusion.

No information on colouration could be given by Dominique, as the specimen was in alcohol and completely lacking in colour. Sadly, the three figures of this specimen in the original publication (Dominique 1900: pl. III figs 11–13) are uninformative, though they confirm the generic identification.

Measurements (from Dominique 1900)

Length of body: 22 mm; length of posterior femur: 14 mm.

Remarks

The type locality is SW of Brazzaville, on the north bank of the Congo River. The unique holotype was deposited in the Muséum d’Histoire naturelle, Nantes, France (NTM). After repeated enquiries, we received in 2022 a letter from Dr F. Meurgey of that institution stating that the holotype could not be found in the collection and must be presumed lost.

Status of taxonomic material

Disastrous. In the absence of a type specimen, the taxon has effectively ceased to exist. Requires new collection and designation of a neotype. Even if the holotype were to be rediscovered, the female is unknown.