Omophron (Omophron) capense pumilum, Anichtchenko & Valainis, 2023

Anichtchenko, Alexander & Valainis, Uldis, 2023, Revision of the subgenus Omophron (s. str.) Latreille, 1802 (Coleoptera: Carabidae Omophron) of the Afrotropical region, Zootaxa 5284 (2), pp. 201-246 : 224-225

Omophron (Omophron) capense pumilum ssp. n.

Type material. NAMIBIA: Holotype ♁ Namibia, Caprivi reg., 950m., 8km E of Katima Mulilo at Zambezi riv., 8.XII.2011, Rudolf Kmeco leg. [-17.546396, 24.557325] (8 ♁, 3 ♀, DUBC, RKC). ZAMBIA: Zambia, Western 13.1.2010, 30km NW Sesheke, S20°17.08, E24°08.49 [erroroneous coordinates, should be S17°17´21 E24°09´08], P. Schüle leg. [-17.289167, 24.152222] (1 ♁, PSC). ANGOLA: 9.XI.2011, Angola, Bié Province, 50km NEE Kuito, Chissamba Mission, P. Schüle leg. [-12.165524, 17.335280] (1 ♁, PSC); Angola, Kangumbe, Langué-Bungo River , 12.58449S, 18.66771E, 1298m, 18–21.xi.2019 ”, “NHMUK014373480-85” [-12.58449, 18.66771] (3 ♁, 3♀, BMNH).

Differential diagnosis. Members of this subspecies differ from those of the nominative subspecies in having a small size and very round body shape. The yellow pattern on the elytra in most specimens is more developed than in other subspecies. The sides of the pronotum are almost straight, similar to O. capense kmecoi ssp. n., while in O. capense s.str. they are slightly rounded. The apex of the aedeagus is narrower and more strongly curved ventrally. The sides of aedeagus taper sharply, forming the shape of a “bottle neck”.

Description. Body length 4.0– 4.5 mm; width 2.8–3.2 mm. Habitus ( Fig. 32 ). Venter ( Fig. 36 ).

General taxon characteristics correspond to those given in the description of the nominate subspecies. Distinguishing features are indicated in the differential diagnosis and key.Aedeagus ( Fig. 44 ) Endophallus is typical for the species: with two groups of medium sized spines. One is large and situated in distal part tubular formation, extended to basal orifice of median lobe, and covered with scales. The second group of spines is much smaller, located more apically and to the left of the first and extended apically beyond the first group by about half its length ( Figs. 49–50 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet pumilum is derived from the Latin word “pumilus”, meaning ‘dwarf’, and refers to the small size of subspecies.

Distribution. The new subspecies is known from Angola, Namibia and Zambia (Map. 3).

Figures

FIGURES 27–34. Habitus of subspecies of O. (O.) capense. dorsal view: 27—O. (O.) capense s.str. (Type); 28—O. (O.) capense s.str. (f. suturale); 29—O. (O.) capense s.str. (inland form, RSA); 30—O. dominicense Chaudoir, 1868 syn. n. (Type); 31—O. (O.) capense congoense stat. n. (Paratype); 32—O. (O.) capense pumilum ssp. n. (Paratype); 33—O. (O.) capense kmecoi ssp. n. (Holotype); 34—O. (O.) capense isolatum ssp. n. (Paratype). Scale bar 5 mm.

FIGURES 35–38. Habitus of subspecies of O. (O.) capense. ventral view: 35—O. (O.) capense s.str.; 36—O. (O.) capense pumilum ssp. n. (Paratype); 37—O. (O.) capense kmecoi ssp. n. (Paratype); 38—O. (O.) capense isolatum ssp. n. (Paratype). Scale bar 5 mm.

FIGURES 39–45. Aedeagus structure. a—right lateral view; b—apex, dorsal view:: 39—O. (O.) capense s.str. (RSA); 40— O. dominicense Chaudoir, 1868 syn. n. (Type); 41—O. (O.) capense s.str. (f. suturale); 42—O. (O.) capense kmecoi ssp. n. (Holotype); 43—O. (O.) capense congoense stat. n. (Paratype); 44—O. (O.) capense pumilum ssp. n. (Paratype); 45—O. (O.) capense isolatum ssp. n. (Paratype). Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURES 46–51. Endofallus structure of subspecies of O. (O.) capense. dorsal view: 46—O. (O.) capense s.str. (f. suturale); 47—O. (O.) capense kmecoi ssp. n. (Holotype); 48—O. (O.) capense congoense stat. n. (Paratype); 49—O. (O.) capense pumilum ssp. n. (Paratype; Angola: Kangube); 50—O. (O.) capense pumilum ssp. n. (Paratype; Namibia: Caprivi); 51—O. (O.) capense isolatum ssp. n. (Paratype). Scale bar 1 mm.