Eurydera simplica Kavanaugh and Rainio, 2016

Kavanaugh, David H. & Rainio, Johanna, 2016, Twenty-six New Species of Predaceous Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Adephaga: Carabidae) from Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 63 (7), pp. 201-268 : 247-249

Eurydera simplica Kavanaugh and Rainio , sp. nov.

Figures 27–28

Eurydera sp. ; Rainio and Niemelä 2006: 227 (informal designation).

Eurydera n. sp. 3; Rainio 2009: 31, Rainio 2012: 72 (informal designation).

TYPE MATERIAL.— Holotype ( Figs.27A–B ), a male, in CAS, labeled: “ MADAGASCAR, Ranomafana NP., Talatakely , 900 m, Trail SP at 50 m mark, 08.03.2004 ”/ “collected by hand in daytime in secondary montane rainforest, F. Ratalata & J. Rainio collectors”/ “106” [handwritten label]/ “ HOLOTYPE Eurydera simplica Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. n. 2015” [red label]. Paratypes (only 1): a female (in MNHN) labeled ““ MADAGASCAR, Ranomafana NP., Talatakely , 900 m, Trail B at 1000 m mark, 15.06.2000 ”/ “collected by hand in daytime in secondary montane rainforest, F. Ratalata & J. Rainio collectors”/ “7/13” [handwritten label]/ “ PARATYPE Eurydera simplica Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. n. 2015” [yellow label].

TYPE LOCALITY.— Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park .

DERIVATION OF SPECIES NAME.— The species epithet, simplica , is an adjective derived from the Latin word, simplex, meaning simple. The name refers to the relative simplicity of form and surface macrosculpture of member of this species compared with those of other species of Eurydera .

RECOGNITION.— Size average for genus, SBL of male = 13.1 mm, of female = 12.4. Members of this species ( Figs. 27A ) are unlike those of any other species in the genus. In Jeannel’s (1949) key species of Eurydera , they key to his unicolor species group, based on the following features: size medium; head ( Fig. 28A ) with posterior part of frons formed as a broad, flat, smooth, elevat- ed plateau, laterally delimited by deep furrows extended posteriorly beyond the level of the posterior margin of the eye then slightly and arcuately convergent posteriorly and terminated abruptly at the level of the posterior margin of the ocular swelling and just less than halfway from the midline to the lateral margin of the head, area between the furrow smooth and only slightly elevated; mandibles moderately short and broad; median lobe of male genitalia without a large, angulate projection on the ventral margin of the shaft near the base. Jeannel included only Eurydera unicolor ( Klug 1833) in this species group, but Mateu (1973) added another species, Eurydera fossulata Mateu to the group, in part based on the shared lack of sexual dimorphism in the front tarsi in members of these two species. Unlike males of most Eurydera species, those of E. unicolor and E. fossulata have tarsomeres 1 to 3 no wider than in females and without ventral adhesive setae. Members of E. simplica are easily distinguished from those of these two species, as well as from all other described Eurydera species, by the uniquely shaped pronotum ( Fig. 27A ), which is relatively small and short for the genus, with the disc smooth, lateral explanation very narrow, lateral margins with very short and shallow sinuation anterior to markedly obtuse hind angles, and basal margin obliquely angulate laterally. Unlike males of E. unicolor and E. fossulata , those of E. simplica have front tarsi with tarsomeres 1 to 3 wider than in females and with at least a few adhesive setae ventrally, which may call into question a close relationship with these two these species. Members of E. simplica also differ from those of E. unicolor in having the pronotum with anterior angles much less projected anteriorly. They differ from members of E. fossulata in having the posterior part of the head, between the lateral furrows, smooth and slightly convex, whereas E. fossulata members have a deep, transverse medial depression, the bottom of which is flat and covered with deep transverse creases, on that part of the head. They also have the elytral intervals without the roughened surfaces typical of members of several species in genus, including E. fossulata (at least subapically), and the sutural spines are very long and straight (similar to those in E. unicolor and E. fossulata members). Finally, the median lobe of male genitalia of the holotype of E. simplica ( Fig. 28B–C ) has the shaft much narrower basally and the apical orifice shorter than in E. unicol- or males (see Jeannel 1949, Fig. 495). No male of E. fossulata has been available for comparison.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.— At present, known only from the type locality.

HABITAT DISTRIBUTION.— The two known specimens of this species both were collected by hand in daytime in secondary montane rainforest in the Talatakely area at elevations ranging from 900 to 1000 m.

Figures

FIGURE 27. Digital images of holotype male of Eurydera simplica Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. nov. A. Habitus, dorsal aspect; B. Labels. Scale line = 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 28. Digital images of holotype male of Eurydera simplica Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. nov. A. Head, dorsal aspect; B–C. Median lobe of aedeagus of genitalia; B. Left lateral aspect; C. Dorsal aspect. Scale lines = 0.5 mm.