Cephennium cornutum, Assing, 2021

Assing, Volker, 2021, On the Cephennium fauna of Greece (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 52 (2), pp. 869-889 : 878-879

Cephennium cornutum nov.sp. ( Figs 10 , 37-38 )

Type material: Holotype ♂: "GR - Sterea Elada, Bez. Fthiotida, Timfristos-Gebiet , nördl. Pass , 2.5.82 leg. Brachat / unter Steinen / Holotypus ♂ Cephennium cornutum sp. n. det. V. Assing 2020" ( cAss) . Paratypes: 2♂♂, 4♀♀: same data as holotype ( cAss).

Etymology: The specific epithet (Latin, adjective: with horns) alludes to the horn-shaped internal structures of the aedeagus.

Description: Body length 1.0 mm; habitus ( Fig. 10 ) slender. Body yellowishred to pale-reddish.

Eyes reduced to minute rudiments composed of approximately three weakly defined ommatidia with pigmentation. Punctation of pronotum fine, but more distinct than that of elytra. Elytra slender, but broader than pronotum, anteriorly with small transversely oval impressions with tomentose pubescence; humeral carinae distinct, approximately as long as the combined length of the basal five antennomeres. Hind wings completely reduced. Mesotibia apically curved.

♂: protibia unmodified; metaventrite with extensive median impression; aedeagus ( Figs 37-38 ) 0.24-0.25 mm long, dorso-ventrally depressed; ventral process apically broadly truncate; internal sac with a pair of pronounced horn-shaped lateral spines and with additional median structures; paramere thin, apically slightly extending beyond apex of median lobe and with short apical seta.

Comparative notes: Based on the morphology of the aedeagus (dorsoventrally flattened; apex of median lobe trunctate; shapes and arrangement of internal structures; parameres with short apical seta), as well as on external characters (small body size; pale colouration; eyes composed of few ommatidia), this species belongs to the C. corruptum group (see ASSING & MEYBOHM in press). Among the species of this group, it is characterized particularly by the shapes of the internal structures of the aedeagus.

Distribution and natural history: The type locality is situated in Oros Timfristos, Fthiotis, Greece. The specimens were found under stones.

Figures

Figs 6-10: Male habitus of Cephennium vitsiense (6), C. catax (7), C. dramanum (8), C. fibuliferum (9), and C. cornutum (10). Scale bar: 1.0 mm.

Figs 30-41: Cephennium dramanum (30-33), C. fibuliferum (34-36), C. cornutum (37-38), C. brachati (39), and C. catax (40-41): (30-32, 34-35, 37-38) aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view; (33, 36, 39-40) internal structures of aedeagus; (41) metatibia. Scale bars: 30-32, 34-35, 37-38, 41: 0.1 mm; 33, 36, 39-40: 0.05 mm.