Rhombocoleites danutae Ponomarenko & Mostovski, 2005

Ponomarenko, Alexandr G. & Mostovski, Mike B., 2005, New beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) from the Late Permian of South Africa, African Invertebrates 46, pp. 253-260 : 257-258

Rhombocoleites danutae Ponomarenko & Mostovski , sp. n.

Fig. 3

Etymology: Species named after Dr Danuta Plisko.

Description: Body over 4 mm long, elytron 3.6 mm long, 0.84 mm wide. Small oblong and flattened beetle. Pronotum slightly narrower than elytra, markedly narrowed anteriorly, almost 0.5 times as long as wide basally, longer than prosternum. Fore coxae large, rounded, separated. Scutellum large and triangular. Mesoventrite short, transverse, almost ribbon-like. Mesepimeres just slightly larger than mesepisternes, forming an almost regular rectangle. Mid coxae longer than wide. Metaventrite transverse, occupies most of metathorax, 0.5 times as long as wide at rear margin, with rounded lateral margins. Metepisternes reaching hind coxal pits, strongly but evenly widened anteriorly; their anterior margin 2 times as wide as their posterior margin. Hind coxae completely separating metathorax and abdomen, slightly wider than long; large coxal plates probably existed. Elytron narrow, over 4 times as long as wide, narrowing in apical 1/3. ‘Schiza’ long, situated opposite beginning of abdomen, sutural margin bordered, epipleural border narrow. Punctate striae visible only in sutural part of anterior half of elytron. Whole body densely covered with large tubercles, which are especially large on pronotum and thoracic ventrites.

Holotype: NMSA, no. 0999, beetle compression, head and legs missing. SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZuluNatal: Howick , locality of Lidgetton ; Upper Permian, Ecca Group, Volksrust Formation.

Comparison: Rh. danutae sp. n. differs from the other species in having a broad narrowing anteriorly pronotum, fore coxae situated closer to the rear margin of the prothorax (it cannot be observed whether the hind coxae are open or closed), almost triangular metepisternes that are closer in size to the metepimeres, shorter metaventrite, and in the metepisternes being stronger widened anteriorly.

Figures

Fig. 3. Rhombocoleites danutae Ponomarenko & Mostovski, sp. n., holotype NMSA, no. 0999: (A, B) beetle compression under different illumination; (C, D) explanatory drawings, dorsal and ventral aspects. Scale bar = 1 mm.