Diastellopalpus, van Lansberge, 1886

Daniel, Gimo M., Strümpher, Werner P., Josso, Jean-François & Davis, Adrian L. V., 2024, Taxonomic revision of Mozambique dung beetle species in the genus Diastellopalpus van Lansberge, 1886 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), Zootaxa 5447 (1), pp. 29-54 : 51

Identification key to the species of Diastellopalpus recorded from Mozambique

1. Anterior declivity of the pronotum with three depressions, two lateral and one medial; distinct tooth-like tubercle strongly projected laterally to lateral depressions; transverse pronotal carina blunt......................................... 2

- Anterior declivity of the pronotum with only one shallow median depression; without any tooth-like pronotal tubercle; transverse pronotal carina sharp-edged (Central Mozambique: Manica Province: Manica; Sofala Province: Gorongosa National Park) ( Fig. 28 )...................................................... Diastellopalpus quinquedens Bates, 1888

2. Vertex with a transverse carina in both males and females..................................................... 3

- Vertex with a long coniform horn in males, with four rough transverse tubercles in females (Central Mozambique: Zambézia Province: Mount Mabu) ( Fig. 24 )........................................ Diastellopalpus neavei d’Orbigny, 1914

3. Pronotum with non-interrupted transverse carina. Anterior declivity without two longitudinal carinae toothed in the middle.. ................................................................................................... 4

- Pronotum with distinct transverse carina toothed in the middle ( Fig. 7 ). Anterior declivity with two longitudinal carinae toothed in the middle. Mozambique (Central Mozambique: Sofala Province: Gorongosa National Park) ( Fig. 26 ).................................................................................. Diastellopalpus orbignyi Péringuey, 1904

4. Pronotal surface matt, smooth and finely punctate in the anterior half ( Fig. 5 ). Parameres with abrupt and strong lateral protrusions in dorsal view ( Fig. 13 ) (Central Mozambique: Sofala Province: Beira and Dondo; Zambézia Province: Mount Mabu) ( Fig. 4 )............................ Diastellopalpus scholtzi Daniel, Strümpher, Josso & Davis , new species

- Prontal surface shiny, rugose and heavily punctate in the anterior half ( Fig. 6 ). Parameres simple, without abrupt and strong lateral protrusions in dorsal view ( Fig. 14 ) (north-western Mozambique: Niassa Province, Lugenda River)............................................................................. Diastellopalpus infernalis van Lansberge, 1887

Figures

FIGURES 28–29. Diastellopalpus quinquedens Bates, 1888, lectotype (MNHN). 28, habitus, dorsal view; 29, labels. Photos courtesy of Olivier Montreuil, copyright MNHN.

FIGURES 24–25. Diastellopalpus neavei (d’Orbigny, 1914), lectotype (MNHN). 24, habitus, dorsal view; 25, labels. Photos courtesy of Olivier Montreuil, copyright MNHN.

FIGURES 5–7. Head and pronotal disc, dorsal view. 5, Diastellopalpus scholtzi Daniel, Strümpher, Josso & Davis new species, holotype (Photo by W.P. Strümpher); 6, Diastellopalpus infernalis van Lansberge, 1887, holotype (Photo courtesy of Yvonne van Dam, copyright RMNH); 7, Diastellopalpus orbignyi Péringuey, 1904, valid species (Photo by W.P. Strümpher).

FIGURES 26–27. Diastellopalpus orbignyi Péringuey, 1904, status revalidated, lectotype (SAMC). 26, habitus, dorsal view; 27, labels. Photos courtesy of G.M. Daniel, copyright SAMC.

FIGURES 8–17. Male genitalia, lateral view (8–12) and dorsal (13–17). Diastellopalpus scholtzi Daniel, Strümpher, Josso & Davis new species, holotype (8, 13); Diastellopalpus infernalis van Lansberge, 1887 (9, 14); Diastellopalpus neavei (d’Orbigny, 1914) (10, 15); Diastellopalpus orbignyi Péringuey, 1904, valid species (11, 16); Diastellopalpus quinquedens Bates, 1888 (12, 17). Photos by W.P. Strümpher (8, 10–12, 13, 15–17) and J.-F. Josso (9, 14).

FIGURES 1–4. Diastellopalpus scholtzi Daniel, Strümpher, Josso & Davis new species, holotype (SANC). 1, habitus, dorsal view; 2, head and pronotum; 3, habitus, lateral view; 4, holotype labels. Photos by W.P. Strümpher.