Cryptocephalomorpha genieri Baehr, 1997

Gómez, R. Antonio, 2013, The Afrotropical Species Cryptocephalomorpha genieri Baehr (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Pseudomorphinae): Discovery and Description of the Male and Relationships of the Species, The Coleopterists Bulletin 67 (4), pp. 539-543 : 540-542

Cryptocephalomorpha genieri Baehr, 1997

Cryptocephalomorpha genieri Baehr 1997: 381–382

Supplement to Original Description ( Figs. 1–2 ). The description of the female holotype by Baehr (1997) covers most of the morphological characters of the males examined here, excluding the sexually dimorphic and male genitalic characters, which are described below. These additional specimens, including the four adult females, also provide the opportunity to describe intraspecfic variation of C. genieri .

Apart from primary sexually dimorphic characters, males differ from females in possessing a pilose, glandular area on abdominal sternum VII ( Fig. 2J ) similar to males of Cryptocephalomorpha gaverei Ritsema , in lacking squamulae on tarsomere III on all tarsi, and in being slightly smaller. Although little variation was observed in antennal shape ( Fig. 2C ) and shape of the terminal palpomeres of the maxillary and labial palpi ( Fig. 2 A-B) between the sexes, these features in the male were also illustrated in order to follow the taxonomic style of Baehr’ s (1997) plates.

Measurements of Males. TL = 4.3–4.4 mm; GW = 2.0– 2.1 mm; PL = 1.4–1.5 mm; PW = 2.0– 2.1 mm; HW = 1.3–1.4 mm; EW = 0.9–1.0 mm; TL/GW = 2.09–2.15; PL/PW = 0.70–0.71; HW/EW = 1.40–1.44.

Ventral Surface. Last visible abdominal sternum (sternum VII) of male with a large, more or less circular, glandular, densely pilose area near basal margin ( Fig. 2J ).

Legs. Male protarsus not broadened. Tarsomere IV of all legs ventrally with biseriate squamose setae; pro- and mesotarsomeres II-III each with two ventral spatulate setae, metatarsomeres II-III each with only a single ventral spatulate seta, located proximally on the tarsomere.

Male Genitalia. Ring sclerite rather broad, ovoid, slightly asymmetrical, with short, broad apex, with large, asymmetrical, deeply emarginate base ( Fig. 2E ). Sternum VIII symmetrical, not membranous apically, base strongly emarginate, basal angles slightly angulate ( Fig. 2D ). Median lobe rather short, symmetrical; in lateral aspect, slen- der and curved medially before broadening subapically, apex slightly narrowed, tip short, bent ventrad ( Fig. 2G ). Median lobe in ventral aspect bottle-shaped, very broad basally, margins curved basally, slightly divergent apically, apically narrowed, apex broadly rounded ( Fig. 2F ). Orifice symmetrical, broad; internal sac rather simply folded ( Fig. 2 F-G). Lateral lobes elongate, dissimilar, left broader than right, apices bearing fine setae. Left lateral lobe sinuate, apically curved dorsad, apex broadly rounded ( Fig. 2H ). Right lateral lobe rather straight and slender, apex rounded ( Fig. 2I ).

Variation. Apart from the sexually dimorphic characters, there is slight variation in body size between individual specimens and minor differences in coloration. On all specimens, the area adjacent to the elytral suture is slightly lighter than the disk to a varying degree, and in some specimens the yellowish apical area on the elytra is lighter and more extensive than in others.

Vivipary. Not confirmed in the material examined. Two of the four available adult females were dissected in order to confirm the identification of the material as members of C. genieri . Numerous eggs were observed, but no larvae were present.

Habits. As reported by Baehr (1997), next to nothing is known of the way of life of C. genieri . All specimens thus far known have been collected using light traps, when collecting methods are specified. This series from Zambia was collected in late October and November, around the same time of year that the female holotype was taken in South Africa. The remaining specimens reported in literature were collected in January and December ( Baehr 2009).

Geographical Distribution. Cryptocephalomorpha genieri is known from a few collection sites in tropical south central Africa : one in the far north of the Republic of South Africa (the type locality) , one in Botswana, and two nearby localities in Zambia ( Fig. 3 ). The range of this species also likely includes nearby countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zimbabwe .

Recognition. Presently, C. genieri is one of three species of Cryptocephalomorpha that lack a

tinctly punctate. Lateral margin of mandible excised and with acute spine. Male lateral lobes asetose; male median lobe in ventral aspect simply shaped, without subapical sinuation. Australia, New Guinea, Solomon Islands...... 5 distinct elytral spot, and because of the discovery of the male of C. genieri , the males of all these species are known. Therefore, although the key presented by Baehr (1997) does not require significant changes in order to identify adults of C. genieri , the incorporation of male characters and their respective illustrations presented here as well as in Baehr (1997) should aid in future identifications.

Modification of second statement of couplet 1 of Baehr (1997): 377:

– Elytra without distinct light spot. Apex of aedeagus regularly acute, or broadly rounded in ventral aspect ( Fig. 2F ) and slightly bent ventrad in lateral aspect ( Fig. 2G ). Distribution different..................................................4

Modification of couplet 4 of Baehr (1997): 378:

4. Larger, wider species, length> 4 mm. Lateral margin of elytra near base with elongate setae. Surface not distinctly punctate. Lateral margin of mandible regularly curved. Male lateral lobes with 3–4 fine setae at apex ( Fig. 2 H-I); male median lobe in ventral aspect bottle-shaped ( Fig. 2F ). South Africa, Botswana, Zambia............................................. genieri Baehr

– Smaller, narrower species, length <3.5 mm. Lateral margin of elytra asetose. Surface dis-

Phylogenetic Aspects. Baehr (1994, 1997) listed several reasons for the challenges associated with inferring the evolutionary relationships within the Pseudomorphinae , including the relative scarcity of specimens (depending on the species), the divergent morphological features of the group that include many putative character reductions, and, perhaps most importantly, the unsettled sister group of the subfamily, which greatly impacts postulation of the polarity of characters. The systematic position of Cryptocephalomorpha is not fully resolved, but current thinking suggests Cryptocephalomorpha is either sister to the clade that includes Adelotopus Hope , Cainogenion Notman , and Paussotropus Waterhouse or represents an independent lineage within Pseudomorphinae that convergently evolved several characters states similar to those characteristic of this clade ( Baehr 1997). Cryptocephalomorpha genieri is an important taxon because it is thought to be the sister to the remaining members of the genus ( Baehr 1997), and therefore it is significant for inferring the ground plan morphology for the genus and its placement within the subfamily.

As stated above, members of Cryptocephalomorpha are very similar to one another, and species diagnoses rely on detailed examination of structural features (e.g., presence or absence of microreticulation, shape of the median lobe). However, within the subfamily, the genus is unusual in possessing greatly reduced mouthparts (i.e., small mandibles and potentially non-functional laciniae), a concealed labrum, and a hypognathous head capsule among other autapomorphic character states ( Baehr 1997). The discovery of the adult male confirms the hypothesis that C. genieri is sister to all other Cryptocephalomorpha . Plesiomorphic character states discovered here are the presence of apical setae on the male lateral lobes (absent from all other Cryptocephalomorpha excluding C. gaverei ), the bilaterally symmetrical shape of the male median lobe with a symmetrical apex, and the fairly elongate orifice. The presence of a densely pilose, glandular area on abdominal sternum VII in the male was not coded by Baehr (1997), perhaps because it was only known in the male of C. gaverei , but it may be an important character for future reconstructed phylogenies. The confirmation of the systematic position of this taxon provides further evidence that the genus likely evolved in the Southern Hemisphere and attained its current distribution following the breakup of Gondwana, as hypothesized by Baehr (1997).

Figures

Fig. 1. Cryptocephalomorpha genieri, adult male, dorsal habitus. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 2. Cryptocephalomorpha genieri, male morphological characters. A) Terminal palpomeres of maxillary palpus, B) Terminal palpomeres of labial palpus, C) Antennomeres V–XI, D) Abdominal sternum VIII, E) Ring sclerite, F) Median lobe, ventral aspect, G) Median lobe, lateral aspect, H) Left lateral lobe, lateral aspect, I) Right lateral lobe, lateral aspect, J) Abdominal sternum VII, ventral aspect, with arrow indicating glandular, pilose area near base.

Fig. 3. Map of southern Africa, showing positions of localities for Cryptocephalomorpha genieri based on examined specimens and published reports.