Tyrannothroscus rex, 2019

Muona, Jyrki, 2019, Throscidae (Coleoptera) relationships, with descriptions of new fossil genera and species, Zootaxa 4576 (3), pp. 521-543 : 530

Tyrannothroscus rex new species

Figs. 6–10 , 23

Type material. Holotype labeled: Tyrannothroscus rex n. sp. / HOLOTYPE /J.Muona des. 10-2015. Reported to have been found from Jantarny. Sex unknown. Embedded in clear, flat, droplet-shaped Baltic Amber piece, 30 mm x 19 mm, narrow end with drilled hole with an attached silver loop for use as a pendant. A small number of tiny plant remains are present as well ( Fig. 23 ).

Diagnosis. Easily recognized by the generic characters and in the key below

Description. Length 8.2 mm. Head and pronotum with relatively sparse and fine punctation, on pronotum punctures of variable size, mostly small, microsculpture dense, isodiametric ( Fig. 10 ). Elytral striae sharp, minutely punctate, interstices very wide, anteriorly flat, towards apex convex ( Fig. 9 ). Venter strongly and moderately densely punctate, densest on first and second abdominal segment, vestiture visible on abdomen only, sparse, hairs fairly long.

Etymology. Tyrannothroscus rex is the largest throscid known. This in combination with the massive “eyebrows” creating an aggressive, fierce look and the wide body suggest it was a real monster among its own kind.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Tyrannothroscus rex n. sp., ventral view. A = antennal groove; MtG = metathoracic groove; AtG = abdominal tarsal groove, SAR = supra-antennal ridge.

FIGURE 7. Tyrannothroscus rex n. sp., head, ventrolateral view, slightly frontally. A = antennal groove; E = eye; F = frontoclypeal region; C = labrum; PL = ventrally bent fron margin of prosternum; PP = prosternal process; SAR = supraantennal ridge.

FIGURE 8. Tyrannothroscus rex n. sp., metatarsus. t4 = lobed tarsomere 4.

FIGURE 9. Tyrannothroscus rex n. sp., dorsal view.

FIGURE 10. Tyrannothroscus rex n. sp., occiput and pronotum, frontal view.

FIGURE 23. Tyrannothroscus rex n. sp., holotype.