Coprophanaeus, Olsoufieff, 1924

Edmonds, W. D. & Zidek, J., 2010, A taxonomic review of the neotropical genus Coprophanaeus Olsoufieff, 1924 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae), Insecta Mundi 2010 (129), pp. 1-111 : 50-52

Coprophanaeus (C.) abas ( MacLeay, 1819)

Fig. 102, 105, 110 , 113 , 135-139

Phanaeus jasius abas MacLeay, 1819: 126

Phanaeus rex Balthasar, 1939: 239 (syn. by Arnaud 1982c: 125)

Coprophanaeus abas (MacLeay) (recomb. by Blackwelder 1944: 209 [as synonym of C. jasius ])

Type. P. abas – neotype male (des. by Arnaud 2002b: 3), The Natural History Museum, London (examined) ; P. rex – holotype male, National Museum , Prague (examined) .

Diagnosis. General – Metallic color green to yellowish green and confined to posterior areas of head and pronotal sides and margins. Clypeal margin clearly explanate/angulate lateral to median teeth ( Fig. 135, 138 ). Posteromedian portion of pronotum smooth, bearing sparse, effaced puncturing (weakest in large males). Sulcus paralleling carinate posterior margin of pronotum ( Fig. 110 ) with obvious sculpturing (x25); carina entire. Posterior pronotal fossae with sparse puncturing and/or microgranules. Length 20- 29 mm.

Male ( Fig. 102 , 137-139 ) – Head horn long, tip reaching level of summit of pronotum; anterior surface of horn base usually only weakly punctured; central process (viewed laterally) inclined slightly posteriorly from base, its length at least twice that of base. Pronotal process strongly produced medially as lobate tooth, itself sometimes weakly bilobed, flanked on each side by small, acute tooth (process reduced to strongly angulate transverse carina in smallest individuals). Parameres long, length at least three-fourths that of phallobase.

Female ( Fig. 105 , 135-136 ) – Cephalic carina bowed or angulate medially, median tooth larger than laterals. Vertex moderately punctured. Pronotal ridge ( Fig. 105 ) strongly elevated, quadrate, summit strongly trituberculate, width at summit slightly more than interocular width. Anteromedian pronotal concavity oval, deep, posterior (upper) margin clearly bitumose (except in smallest individuals).

Specimens examined – 57.

Distribution. Mesoamerica – Venezuelan Llanos province and adjacent Amazonia ( Fig. 113 ).

Collection Records. COLOMBIA: Guaviaré – San José [Finca Esmeralda], 2 o 33’N 72 o 38’W, 240 m (Oct). Caquetá – Puerto Solario, PNN La Serranía de Chiribiquete, 0 o 12’47.8"N 72 o 25’25.4"W, 250 m

(Feb-Mar). TRINIDAD – TOBAGO: 11 km SE Arima [ Arena Forest Reserve ], 80 m (Jun-Jul) ; 13 km S Arima, 2 km N Talparo , 50 m (Jun-Jul) . VENEZUELA: Amazonas – Gavilán (May). Araugua – 20 km NW Maracay [Rancho Grande], 1000 m ( Jun ). Barinas – Barinitas [Mpio. Libertador, Quebrada Miraflores], 650 m (Aug). Bolívar – Lago Guri Islands , 7 o 21’N 62 o 52’W (Jun) ; Río Caura , Las Trincheras (Aug) ; 85 km S El Dorado (Aug) ; 33 km S El Dorado , 220 m (Aug) ; Sipao [110 km E Caicara del Orinoco] (Jun-Aug) ; 26 km N Guasipati (Jun-Jul) ; Canaima [220 km SSE Cd. Bolívar] (Aug) ; Caura River, Jabillal, Orinoco , 200 m (Aug) .

Comments. This species, along with C. acrisius , was proposed by MacLeay (1819) as a variety of C. jasius (q.v.); in accordance with Article 45.6.4 ( ICZN 1999), its original name is Phanaeus jasius abas MacLeay. In smaller individuals the large median pronotal tab is replaced by a central tubercle and the overall appearance becomes more similar to C. jasius . We do not understand well the distribution of this species, which may later become clearer as more material is collected. Our information suggests that it occurs in the Venezuelan Llanos province (?mainly along gallery forests of the Orinoco basin) and adjacent Amazonian provinces. The general area, especially in the Venezuelan state of Bolívar, is also home to C. jasius and eastern populations of C. gamezi ; but we do not know if they are ecologically sympatric in the region.

Figures

Figure 113. Approximate geographic distribution of Coprophanaeus (s. str.) species in the jasius species group.

Figure 102-112. Characters of the Coprophanaeus (s. str.) jasius species group. 102) Anterior view of head of male C. abas. 103) Same, C. jasius. 104) Same, C. cerberus. 105) Pronotal crest of female C. abas. 106) Same, C. gamezi. 107) Same, C. jasius. 108) Same, C. spitzi. 109) Section of posterior pronotal margin of C. jasius. 110) Same, C. abas. 111) Same, C. gamezi. 112) Prosternal spine of C. spitzi.

Figure 135-139. Coprophanaeus abas. 135-136) Female habitus. 137-138) Male habitus. 139) Aedeagus (lateral view on left; dorsal view on right).