Coelometopon brincki, Perkins, 2005

Perkins, Philip D., 2005, A revision of the African hygropetric genus Coelometopon Janssens, and description of Oomtelecopon new genus (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 949 (1), pp. 1-103 : 1-103

Coelometopon brincki new species

(Figures 17, 18, 74)

Type Material. Holotype (male): Lesotho: Mamathes, 5 mi. E. Tayateyaneng, [29° 9' S, 27° 50' E], SSAE 252, 3/29/1951, Brinck & Rudebeck; deposited in the LUM . Paratypes (51): Same data as holotype — (39 LUM); Lesotho: Quthing, wet rock wall, 30° 23' S, 27° 43' E, 15 March 1951, Brinck & Rudebeck (SSAE 234) — (5 LUM); South Africa :

Cape Prov., Xalanga District, Cala Pass, tributary of Tsomo River , on wet rocks, 31° 31' S, 27° 41' E, 26–27 March 1954, J. Balfour­Browne (stn. 102) — (7 BMNH). Representative specimens deposited in MCZ and TMSA .

Diagnosis. Similar in several dorsal features to C. natalensis , differing in having a distinct depression on the elytral 7th interval where the unilinear row of granules is interrupted, and below which the 8th interval is widened, thickened and multi­granulate; body larger and wider than C. natalensis (Figs. 17, 38). The relationship is also indicated by the aedeagi, which are similar but distinct (Figs. 18, 39).

Description. Size (length/width, mm x 100) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 256/111, head 63/63, pronotum 52/82, elytra 167/111. Dorsum black. Maxillary palpus slightly shorter than width of anterior margin of clypeus, last three palpomeres subequal in length and maximum width. Mentum weakly produced apicomedially; depressed on each side of midline near base. Clypeus, frons and pronotum nearly uniformly granulate, granules slightly sparser on lateral depressions of pronotum. Pronotum with sides roundly produced at midlength, emarginate in front of and behind widest part.

Elytral intervals: 2nd subcostate in front of and behind weak saddle and irregularly over posterior declivity; 4th raised slightly in interrupted sections; 1st, 3rd and 5th each with unilinear row of granules, granules of a row separated by 1–3x granule diameter; 7th with unilinear row of granules interrupted at depression in basal 1/3 where 8th widened and thickened. Metasternum with elongate oval depression. Female last sternite apicomedially weakly emarginate, subapical depression rimmed posteriorly; last tergite strongly bilobate, each lobe bearing a group of strong short spines.

Aedeagus length 0.61 mm; mainpiece markedly sinuate, ridged process angulate; gonopore process angled to left in ventral aspect, tip well above ridged process, slightly longer than both angulate process and membranous process; membranous process widened distally; parameres slightly enlarged apically (Figs. 18).

Etymology. Named in honor of Per Brinck.

Distribution. Currently known from two localities in Lesotho, and one at a similar longitude in eastern Cape Province (Fig. 74).