Phanaeus victoriae Moctezuma, 2021

Moctezuma, Victor, Halffter, Gonzalo & Lizardo, Viridiana, 2021, The Phanaeus tridens species group (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea): a dung beetle group with genital morphological stasis but a changing ecological niche, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 61 (2), pp. 447-482 : 466

Phanaeus victoriae Moctezuma sp. nov.

( Figs 27–28, 41, 53)

Type material examined. MEXICO: Oൺඑൺർൺ: Hඈඅඈඍඒඉൾ ( Fig. 27): J, Santa María Chimalapa, Benito Juárez, 860 m., 16°43′41.8″N, 94°9′17.5″W, 18-X-2017, V. Moctezuma leg. from coprotrap ( IEXA). Pൺඋൺඍඒඉൾඌ: 76 JJ 63 ♀♀, same locality as the holotype, GHVM: 2 JJ 1 ♀; IEXA: 15 JJ 8 ♀♀; CEMT: 6 JJ 6 ♀♀; CNMN: 1 J 1 ♀; JLSHVM:9JJ 5♀♀; NMPC:2JJ 2♀♀; TAMU:2JJ 2♀♀; UVGC: 1 J; VMPM: 38 JJ 38 ♀♀).

Diagnosis. Metallic bright red species with green-yellow sheen ( Figs 27–28, 53). Sides of pronotal disc finely granulate to finely granulorugose ( Figs 27–28, 53). Posteromedial process of pronotum produced into denticle, distinctly widened laterally, slightly bifurcated apically ( Figs 41, 53). Anterolateral margins of pronotal disc with distinctly developed ridge of tubercles ( Fig. 53). Posterolateral angles of pronotum shorter than posteromedial process of pronotum ( Figs 41, 53). Elytral striae coarsely impressed and coarsely punctate. Elytral interstriae distinctly scabriculous ( Figs 27–28).

Description. Major male ( holotype). Total length from apex of clypeus to tergite VIII: 17 mm. Metallic bright red with green-yellow sheen ( Fig. 27). Head. Clypeus rounded dorsally, not spine-like laterally, black on anterior margin, with roughened sculpture ( Fig. 27). Paraocular areas of parietals with roughened sculpture ( Fig. 27). Cephalic horn black, curved posteriorly over pronotum ( Fig. 27). Pronotum. Sides of pronotal disc finely granulate to finely granulorugose ( Figs 27, 53). Pronotal disc coarsely, sparsely rugose ( Figs 27, 53). Posteromedial process of pronotum produced into denticle, distinctly widened laterally, slightly bifurcated apically ( Figs 41, 53). Anteromedial portion of pronotal disc with two denticles, distinctly separate ( Fig. 53). Anterolateral margins of pronotal disc with distinctly developed ridge of tubercles ( Fig. 53). Posterolateral angles of pronotum shorter than posteromedial process ( Figs 41, 53). Lateral and basal fossae distinctly impressed ( Fig. 27). Elytra. Striae scabriculous, coarsely impressed, coarsely punctate ( Fig. 27). Interstriae scabriculous, superficially punctate, convex ( Fig. 27). Protibiae. Quadridentate, with apical spine ( Fig. 27). Tergite VIII. Scabriculous sculpture, coarsely punctate with roughened punctures.

Variability. Total length from apex of clypeus to tergite VIII: 13–18 mm. This species is highly homogeneous in colour ( Figs 27–28). Minor male. Similar to major male, except for reduction of secondary sexual characters (i.e., cephalic horn, pronotal processes and posterolateral angles). Female. Similar to male, except for head showing trituberculate carina; pronotal sculpture granulate, becoming smooth to superficially punctate posteriorly; pronotum with anteromedial black macula, and anteromedial carina followed by posterior concavity ( Fig. 28).

Etymology. The first author is honored to dedicate this new species to his beloved daughter Victoria Peralta Vara.

Comments. The pronotal morphology of this species ( Figs 27–28, 41, 53) is similar to that of P. nimrod ( Figs 24–26, 40, 52, 60). Nevertheless, the posteromedial process of pronotum in major males of P. victoriae ( Figs 41, 53) is distinctly triangular and slightly bifurcated apically (medially widened and not bifurcated apically in P. nimrod , Figs 40, 52). The elytral striae in P. victoriae ( Figs 27–28) and P. eximius ( Figs 29–31) are deeply impressed and the elytral interstriae strongly convex. Nevertheless, the elytral interstriae are never vermiculate in P. victoriae ( Figs 27–28), and they are in P. eximius ( Figs 29–31). The posterolateral angles of pronotum are more rounded in P. victoriae ( Figs 41, 53) than in P. moroni ( Figs 33–44), while the pronotal disc of P. victoriae ( Figs 27, 53) is never wine-garnet red to black, as it is in P. moroni ( Figs 6–7, 44). Phanaeus victoriae is completely allopatric in relation to the remaining species within the P. tridens species group ( Fig. 67). Distribution. Eastern Oaxaca, Mexico. This species probably shows the smallest range (≈ 61 km 2) of the genus Phanaeus ( Fig. 67).