Copelatus amphibius, Ranarilalatiana, Tolotra & Bergsten, Johannes, 2019

Ranarilalatiana, Tolotra & Bergsten, Johannes, 2019, Discovery of a specialist Copelatinae fauna on Madagascar: highly ephemeral tropical forest floor depressions as an overlooked habitat for diving beetles (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 871, pp. 89-118 : 92-94

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.871.36337
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:56C3FB7D-AF71-4C1B-8BD1-08417883D624
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/440DF910-AAFD-4430-BDF8-EE5E59B1907C
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:440DF910-AAFD-4430-BDF8-EE5E59B1907C
treatment provided by	ZooKeys by Pensoft
scientific name	Copelatus amphibius
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Copelatus amphibius sp. nov. Figs 1A View Figure 1 , 2A View Figure 2

Type locality.

Masoala National Park [15.6713S; 49.9672E] (Madagascar, Analanjirofo region, Maroantsetra)

Type material.

Paratypes: -7♂ GP, 6♀, 45 ex. (Alc.) (NHRS, DEUA & PBZT/MBC): // NHRS-JLKB | 000011230-1, 65651-2, 66016, 66347-9, 66351-5, 11232(Alc.) // Madagascar: Toamasina: Analanjirofo: | Masoala NP: lowalt. rainforest | MAD18-53: depression on forest floor | on path ~1.6 km NE of Andranobe camp | 15.6713S, 49.9672E, 220 m, 18.II.2018 | Leg. J. Bergsten & T. Ranarilalatiana // Paratype | Copelatus amphibius sp. nov. | Det. Ranarilalatiana | & Bergsten, 2019 //

-3♂ GP, 5♀, 42 ex. (Alc.) (NHRS, DEUA & PBZT/MBC): // NHRS-JLKB | 000011234, 65649-50, 65788, 65790, 65795, 65435-6, 11233(Alc.) // Madagascar: Toamasina: Analanjirofo: | Nosy Mangabe, Masoala NP: MAD18-58 | rainfallpool with dead leaves nr path | after lighthouse, lowalt. rainforest | 15.5079S, 49.7641E, 195 m, 19.II.2018 | Leg. J. Bergsten & T. Ranarilalatiana // Paratype | Copelatus amphibius sp. nov. | Det. Ranarilalatiana | & Bergsten, 2019 //

Diagnosis.

A small species with medially infuscated testaceous elytra and oblong-oval body shape. Penis in lateral view with low ventral ”hump”, apical blade with acute apex and somewhat curved non-straight ventral margin, in ventral view apical blade is left-angled ( Fig. 2A View Figure 2 ). Significantly smaller than described species from Madagascar with similar type of genitalia such as C. owas Régimbart, 1895 and C. acamas Guignot, 1955, and genitalia details also clearly different.

Description.

Body length: 4.6-5.4 mm (♀: 4.6-5 mm, ♂: 4.8-5.4 mm).

Body shape oval ( Fig. 1A View Figure 1 ).

Head rufotestaceous with a rather weak v-shaped infuscation between eyes. Pronotum dark brown medially and testaceous laterally. Elytra testaceous brown, variably with darker infuscation medially especially along the striae ( Fig. 1A View Figure 1 ). Basally, laterally and apically lighter testaceous. Appendages testaceous except metatarsus somewhat rufotestaceous.

Elytra with ten discal and one submarginal striae. Ninth striae avbreviated anteriorly. Submarginal striae present posteriorly only, starting at about middle. Posteriorly every second striae abbreviated (2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th). Pronotum striolated laterally and basally. Lateral margin of pronotum with a narrow bead, not reaching anterior corner. Head, pronotum and elytra with same type of microreticulation and micropunctures.

Ventral side rufotestaceous except metacoxal plate infuscated brown. Abdominal sternites with vague testaceous spots laterally. Metacoxal plate with coarse strioles, abdominal sternites II–IV with finer strioles. Metacoxal lines anteriorly diverging and ending well before metaventral suture. Prosternal process lanceolate, short, and anterior metaventral process rather broad.

Male protibia modified, angled at base and expanding distally. Pro and mesotarsal segments I–III dilated and ventrally equipped with adhesive discs (constellation I:3 (row 1), 4 (row 2), II:4, III:4). Longer metatibial spur apically slightly more curved than in female.

Male genitalia as in Figure 2A View Figure 2 . Penis curved and robust in lateral view with a comparatively low ventral hump and sinuate before the apical blade. Apical blade left-turned in ventral view. Right lateral side with strong rugosity or transverse ridges apically. Parameres as in Figure 2A View Figure 2 .

Dorsal structures of females not significantly different from male, but body size on average smaller.

Distribution.

The northeastern humid forest from Marojejy NP to Masoala NP including the island of Nosy Mangabe ( Fig. 4A View Figure 4 ).

Ecology and conservation.

C. amphibius sp. nov. was found in primary humid forests in dry shallow forest floor depression with dead leaves and soil at Masoala and in a rainwater-filled pool on Nosy Mangabe ( Fig. 8 View Figure 8 ). Both localities were at low altitudes but we also collected the species from Marojejy NP, in residual pools of a small stream at mid-altitude (860 m). Marojejy NP is unique in having continuous humid forest stretching from lowaltitude to the alpine zone and hence it is not surprising that the species can reach into the lower mid-altitude zone here. Both Marojejy and Masoala are since 2007 part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Rainforests of the Atsinanana. Unfortunately, since 2010 Atsinanana is also on the list of World Heritage in Danger following a surge in illegal logging and hunting threatening its outstanding biodiversity values.

Etymology.

The Latin adjective amphibius comes from the ancient Greek word “amphibios” and means capable of living both in water and on land.