Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) proteus Fauvel, 1864

Asenjo, Angelico & Ribeiro-Costa, Cibele S., 2013, Revision of the neotropical subgenus Tropiochirus of the genus Leptochirus Germar 1824 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Osoriinae), Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 47 (19 - 20), pp. 1257-1285 : 1274-1277

Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) proteus Fauvel, 1864

( Figures 1A–F , 2F , 3F , 6M–R, 7 )

Leptochirus proteus Fauvel, 1864: 16 [original description; as synonym of L. maxillosus Erichson, 1840 . Type locality: “ Mexique, Colombie, Brésil ”]; Solsky, 1875: 26 [new record from Peru]; Sharp, 1887: 735 [geographic distribution]; Fauvel, 1891: 87 [new record from Venezuela]; Blackwelder, 1944: 110 [checklist from Neotropical region]; Herman, 2001: 1105 [world catalogue]; Newton, Gutiérrez and Chandler, 2005: 30 [checklist from Colombia].

Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) proteus: Bernhauer, 1903: 125 [characters in key, distribution]; Bernhauer and Schubert, 1910: 14 [world catalogue]; Scheerpeltz, 1933: 1000 [world catalogue].

Leptochirus maxillosus Erichson, 1840: 825 nec Fabricius, 1801: 93 pro parte [characters, distribution]; Bernhauer and Schubert, 1910: 14 [world catalogue, as synonym of L. proteus Fauvel, 1864 ]; Blackwelder, 1944: 110 [checklist from Neotropical region, as synonym of L. proteus Fauvel, 1864 ].

Type material. Leptochirus (T.) proteus . Lectotype (female): “ Puebla / Mexique ” “Equateur” “Proteus / Fvl.” “ L. proteus in / my collection.” “ R.I.Sc.N.B. 17.479 / Leptochirus / Coll. et det. A. Fauvel” “ Syntype ” “ LECTOTYPUS / Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) / proteus Fauvel, 1864 / Desig. Asenjo and Ribeiro-Costa, 2013” ( IRSNB). Paralectotypes (4): “ Colombia ” “ HK. amazones / quixus” “Coll. et det. A. Fauvel / Leptochirus / proteus Fauv. / R.I.Sc.N.B. 17.479” “ Syntype ” ( IRSNB). “ Colombia / la luzera” “la vega” “Tambillo / Kbu. ecorus” “Coll. et. det. A. Fauvel / Leptochirus / proteus Fauv. / R.I.Sc.N.B. 17.479” “ Syntype ” “ Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) / helleri Bernhauer, 1903 /Det. Asenjo and Ribeiro-Costa, 2013” ( IRSNB). “ Mexico ” “caracas” “Coll. et det. A. Fauvel / Leptochirus / proteus Fauv. / R.I.Sc.N.B. 17.479” “ Syntype ” “ Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) / helleri Bernhauer, 1903 /Det. Asenjo and Ribeiro-Costa, 2013” ( IRSNB). “ Mexico ” “caracas” “Coll. et det.(A. Fauvel / Leptochirus / proteus Fauv. / R.I.Sc.N.B. 17.479” “ Syntype ” “Santa Fe / de Bogota” “Coll. et det. A. Fauvel / Leptochirus / proteus Fauv. / R.I.Sc.N.B. 17.479” “ Syntype ” “ Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) / venezuelanus Wendeler, 1957 /Det. Asenjo and Ribeiro-Costa, 2013” ( IRSNB). All paralectotypes with label “ PARALECTOTYPUS / Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) / proteus Fauvel, 1864 / Desig. Asenjo and Ribeiro-Costa, 2013”.

Note: In the original description Fauvel (1864) did not specify how many specimens he studied but noted that they were females. He also studied an unspecified number of L. maxillosus Erichson, 1840 . We received from the IRSNB five specimens labelled “ Syntype ” of L. (T.) proteus , but two belong to L. (T.) proteus , two belong to L. (T.) helleri , and one belongs to L. (T.) venezuelanus . We designated as lectotype one of the syntypes correctly identified.

In the BMNH there is a specimen of L. (T.) proteus that belongs to Fauvel’s collection with the label “ Syntype ”. We studied photographs of that specimen and found it very similar to the specimen designated as lectotype from the IRSN.

Additional specimens

VENEZUELA. Aragua: Rancho Grande , 800 m, 24–25.ii.1971, H. and A. Howden col. (1 female CNC) ; Maracay , 22.viii.1992, O. Hillert col. (3 males, 1 female ZMHB) . Distrito Federal: El Avila National Park , 10 ◦ 33.01 ′ N, 66 ◦ 53.88 ′ W, 10.iii.1998, C. Schmidt col., under bark (1 male UICN) . UNDETERMINED COUNTRY. without locality, date and collector (2 males ZMHB) .

Diagnosis

Leptochirus (T.) proteus and L. (T.) helleri have the median sulcus of head gradually broadening anteriorly ( Figures 1A , 2A, F ), but L. (T.) proteus can be distinguished by the left mandible with first dorsal tooth bifurcate ( Figure 3F ).

Redescription

BL: 14.14, BW: 2.43

Body strongly depressed, all black except tarsi red-brown.

Head. Transverse ( Figures 1A , 2F ). Inner lateral teeth separated by a depression extending to base. Inner and outer lateral teeth fused and resembling a septum; median sulcus deep, gradually broadening anteriorly; laterofrontal depressions oval. Labrum with outer edge strongly angled and lateral-apical edge concave. Mandibles ( Figures 1A , 2F , 3F ) with lateral longitudinal ridge occupying less than two-thirds of apical region; external margin developed, attenuated anteriorly. Left mandible ( Figure 3F ) with first dorsal tooth developed, straight and bifurcate, accessory tooth near lateral longitudinal ridge; second dorsal tooth little developed and resembling a small hill; first ventral tooth with accessory tooth, third ventral tooth consisting of two structures with the bases not fused. Submentum with setae arranged in row on anterolateral margin.

Thorax. Pronotum ( Figures 1A , 2F ) wider than long (PL: 2.43, PW: 2.84); superior marginal line of hypomeron not interrupted, not bent to dorsal region at anterior margin and bent to dorsal region at posterior margin; without pair of small depressions near basal constriction. Inferior marginal line of hypomeron reaching anterior margin. Apex of prosternal process strongly expanded and resembling a circular plate, extending considerably beyond the lateral process of hypomeron. Metaventrite with sparse fine punctures in middle region and without small longitudinal median depression near posterior edge. Mesoscutellum with apex pointed. Elytra slightly longer than broad and without pair of small depressions on posterolateral edge (EL: 3.11, EW: 2.68).

Abdomen. Cylindrical. Sternite III with keel of apex rounded ( Figure 1F ). Tergite IX ( Figure 6P) sclerotized with left and right plates separated, each with six setae of various lengths. Tergite X ( Figure 6P) almost membranous except for sclerotized apical part, with two pairs of long apical setae.

Male. Sternite IX ( Figure 6Q) composed of two plates, distal plate sclerotized except for membranous apex, anterior margin sinuous, posterior margin with small acute projection in the middle, and with two long setae; proximal plate less sclerotized, greater than apical, broadened in middle and with a projecting angle at posterior border. Aedeagus ( Figure 6M–O) with median lobe slightly bulbous at base, rounded at apex, weakly sclerotized on dorsal side and a small plate sclerotized on ventral side that is joined with the sclerotized region on dorsal side; parameres short, pointed and fused dorsally.

Female. Similar to male, except for the gonocoxites divided longitudinally ( Figure 6R). The distal plate with internal edge and apex membranous, and long seta; proximal plate with the posterior region pointed.

Distribution

Leptochirus (T.) proteus is widely distributed in the New World, from Central to South America. In the current study this species is listed from Mexico and Venezuela. Herman (2001) lists Leptochirus (T.) proteus from Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Brazil. Newton et al. (2005) also cite this species from Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Brazil. Fauvel (1891) cite Venezuela and Solsky (1875) from Peru ( Figure 7 ).

Biological notes

This species has been found under bark, associated with fermenting decaying logs.

Figures

Figure 1. Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) proteus. (A) Head and prothorax, dorsal view; (B) head and protorax, dorsal view; (C) left and right mandible, dorsal view; (D) labrum, dorsal view; (E) head and protorax, lateral view; (F) metaventrite and sternite III, ventral view. Scale bars: (A, B, E) = 1.0 mm, (C, D) = 0.25 mm, (F) = 0.5 mm.

Figure 2. Head and protorax of Leptochirus (Tropiochirus). (A) L. (T.) helleri; (B) L. (T.) marina sp. nov. holotype; (C) L. (T.) mery sp. nov. holotype; (D) L. (T.) milton sp. nov. holotype; (E) L. (T.) pachoensis; (F) L. (T.) proteus; (G) L. (T.) venezuelanus; (H) L. (T.) yunganus; (I) L. (T.) zischkaianus. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

Figure 3. Left and right mandible, dorsal view. (A) Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) helleri; (B) L. (T.) marina sp. nov. holotype; (C) L. (T.) mery sp. nov. holotype; (D) L. (T.) milton sp. nov. holotype; (E) L. (T.) pachoensis; (F) L. (T.) proteus; (G) L. (T.) venezuelanus; (H) L. (T.) yunganus; (I) L. (T.) zischkaianus. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

Figure 7. Distribution map of Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) proteus, L. (T.) venezuelanus, L. (T.) yunganus and L. (T.) zischkaianus.