Graphipterus minutus goryi Chaudoir, 1848: 127

Renan, Ittai, Assmann, Thorsten & Freidberg, Amnon, 2018, Taxonomic revision of the Graphipterusserrator (Forskal) group (Coleoptera, Carabidae): an increase from five to 15 valid species, ZooKeys 753, pp. 23-82 : 42

Graphipterus minutus goryi Chaudoir, 1848: 127 Figs 7d, 9g, 19, 23b

Types.

Holotype: ♂ (White label with brown margin, brown typewritten): <EX Musaeo/Chaudoir>. (Red label, black typewritten): <TYPE>. Deposited in BMNH, Chaudoir collection [examined].

Diagnosis.

Small-sized taxon with 28-30 mostly elongated white spots, usually with several spots fused with lateral margin, and with series of usually ten elongated spots, regularly at least several are fused to each other along median suture. Two marginal extensions elongated from humeri posteriorly. Median lobe of aedeagus with wide and flat tip.

Comparisons.

Graphipterus minutus goryi resembles G. minutus minutus , for further details see Graphipterus minutus minutus .

Description.

BL male: 11.2-11.8 mm, average 11.5 ±.02 mm; BL female: 11.4-13.6 mm, average 12.2 ± 0.9 mm.

Head wide; HW/PW: 0.78; EYL: 1.1-1.3 mm; EYL/EL: 0.19. Frontal ridge absent. Male with two short parallel frontal stripes of decumbent white scales usually diverging apically became wispy, not reaching the level of supraorbital setae. Mentum with two pronounced teeth (cf. Fig. 3e).

Pronotum strongly cordiform; PL/PW: 0.57; BPW/PW: 0.5; posteriomedially flat and without white margin; white lateral margin as twice as antennomere II long.

Elytra almost rounded, humeri strongly rounded, lateral margin continuously rounded; EL: 5.9-7.3 mm, average 6.2 mm; EW: 5.2-6.8 mm, average 5.7 mm; EL/EW: 1.1. Lateral cross section convex. Scales black, disc not visible between them (cf. Fig. 6a). White lateral margin nearly as wide as antennomere I long and with six, rarely fewer, elongated extensions; extensions I elongated from humeri posteriorly; extensions II and III in front and behind the middle of lateral margin, usually much longer than lateral margin wide. White posterior margin becomes narrower toward the tip, usually disappearing in front of it; gap at suture as wide as lateral margin. Disc with 28-30 mostly elongated spots, several spots fused with lateral margin resulting in extensions II and III, a series of 10, (rarely 12-14), elongated spots fused to each other parallel to suture, anterior spot as wide as extension I. stridulatory structure absent. Apical sinuation almost lacking, apex almost absent, not rounded (Fig. 7d). Suture inconspicuous.

Legs short; MTIL: 2.5-3.3 mm, average 3.0 mm; El/MTIL: 1.9. Metatibial secondary spur brown. MTAL: 2.1-3.8 mm, average 2.9 mm; MTAL/MTIL: 0.87. Claws of hind legs brown at base.

Median lobe of aedeagus with wide and flat tip (Fig. 9g).

Habitat.

Unknown.

Co-occurring species.

No co-occurring species.

Distribution.

Saudi Arabia and Iraq (Fig. 19). There are old records from Iran (Perse), but without indication of exact locality.

Conservation.

The species does not seem to be endangered as it has a wide distribution range in desert regions that are not strongly affected by human activities.