Cretomalus, Jan & ºimon-Pražák & Yamamoto & Lackner & Fikáček & Prokop & Michael & Caterino, 2024

Simon-Pražák, Jan, Yamamoto, Shûhei, Lackner, Tomáš, Fikáček, Martin, Prokop, Jakub & Caterino, Michael S, 2024, A bonanza of Cretaceous fossils provides insights into the evolution of antennal protection in clown beetles (Coleoptera: Histeridae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (zlae 137) 202 (3), pp. 1-28 : 6

Cretomalus gen. nov.

Type species: Cretomalus tibiodentatus sp. nov..

Diagnosis: Prolonged, rectangular, parallel-sided, and flattened body shape. Frontoclypeal area slightly convex with a complete and thin frontal stria. Labrum short and trapezoidal. Antennae with a flat and round club with two visible annuli. Astriate elytra. Basal prosternal margin rounded, projecting posteriorly. Antennal cavities are vaguely defined and widely open, located posterolaterally (covered by the front leg when retracted). Mesoventrite very short and wide (1: 3 ratio). Anterior margin curved inwards to fit the basal prosternal margin. Outer protibial margin serrated with symmetrical teeth.

Etymology: ‘Creto-’ signifies the Cretaceous origin, ‘-malus’ is shared with other Paromalini genera to which it is related (e.g. Eulomalus , Paromalus , and Pachylomalus ), masculine.