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 : 47-48

Coprophanaeus (C.) cerberus ( Harold, 1869)

Fig. 9 , 95 , 104 , 113 , 124-128

Phanaeus cerberus Harold, 1869: 65

Coprophanaeus cerberus (Harold) (recomb. by Blackwelder 1944: 209) Type. Lectotype male (des. by Arnaud, 1982:115), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris (examined by photo).

Diagnosis. General – Dorsum black or brown, lacking metallic coloration. Clypeal margin noticeably angulate or explanate lateral to median teeth ( Fig. 124, 127 ). Pronotum weakly granulose anterolaterally, disk smooth except for elongate, anteriorly narrowed depression filled with coalesced coarse granules often mixed with punctures extending from posterior margin toward middle of disk ( Fig. 95 ). Basal pronotal fossae effaced or only weakly indicated. Length 19-25 mm.

Male ( Fig. 95 , 104 , 126-128 ) – Middle process of head horn short, length about one-fourth that of horn base. Anteromedian pronotal concavity shallow, bordered posteriorly by weak transverse carina bearing rounded central tubercle; ends of transverse carina thickened, lacking distinct tubercle.

Female ( Fig. 124-125 ) – Cephalic carina straight, trituberculate, tubercles equal-sized and closely set, distance between lateral tubercles about one-half of interocular distance. Pronotum lacking anteromedian concavity, with simple transverse carina at upper edge of smooth, declivitous area reaching anterior margin; declivity bounded on each side by shallow depression extending toward eye.

Specimens examined – 66.

Distribution. Brazilian Atlantic Coast Forest province of Paranaian subregion ( Fig. 113 ).

Collection Records. BRAZIL: Espiritu Santo – Parque Estadual Pedra Azul, 1500 m (Feb-Mar). Minas Gerais – Poco de Caldas (Jan, Dec) ; Poços do Coicos (Dec). Rio de Janeiro – 17 km E Nova Friburgo, 22 o 23’04”S 42 o 33’30”W, 750 m (Jan) ; Mury, 8 km E. Nova Friburgo , 22 o 21’49”S 42 o 33’07”W, 1150 m (Jan) ; Itatiaia, 700 m (Feb, Nov); Tijuca Forest (Jan). São Paulo – Catareira (Mar) ; Piauiti; 50 km SE Mogi das Cruzes, Estacão Biológica Boraceia ( Serra do Mar ), 800-900 m (Oct, Dec) ; Bocaina (Apr) .

Comments. Olsoufieff’s (1924) erroneously synonymized P. perseus Harold with C. cerberus (see comments under C. corythus ).

The coarse sculpturing of the posteromedian groove of the pronotum links this species with C. spitzi and C. acrisius (cf. Fig. 95 and 97 ). The form of the female pronotum is unique to the genus and more reminiscent of females of Phanaeus mexicanus group than other Coprophanaeus . Sculpturing of head and pronotum is weakest of species in the jasius group.

Figures

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

Figure 5-12. Characters of Coprophanaeus. 5) Ventral view of front left tibia of C. ensifer (arrow marks elongate tuft of setae). 6) Same, C. dardanus. 7) Left anterolateral pronotal margin of C. spitzi (arrow indicates unbroken circumnotal carina. 8) Same, C. magnoi (arrow indicates broken circumnotal carina). 9) Base of left hind wing of C. cerberus. 10) Same, C. horus. 11) Lateral view left occipital lobe of C. ensifer (asterisk marks swelling). 12) Same, C. spitzi (asterisk marks flat area).

Figure 95-101. Characters of the Coprophanaeus (s. str.) jasius species group. 95) Dorsal view of pronotum of male C. cerberus. 96) Same, C. jasius. 97) Same, C. spitzi. 98) Same, C. cyanescens. 99) Dorsal view of cephalic process of female C. gamezi. 100) Detail of elytral surface of C. acrisius. 101) Same, C. spitzi.

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 124-128. Coprophanaeus cerberus. 124-125) Female habitus. 126-127) Male habitus. 128) Aedeagus (lateral view on left; dorsal view on right).