Neoorthogonius Tian & Deuve, 2006

Tian, Mingyi & Deuve, Thierry, 2006, Neoorthogonius orientalis, New Genus And New Species Of Orthogoniini (Coleoptera: Caraboidea) From India, The Coleopterists Bulletin 60 (2), pp. 89-94 : 90-91

Neoorthogonius Tian & Deuve , new genus

Type Species. Neoorthogonius orientalis Tian & Deuve , new species.

Etymology. The name of this new genus means ‘‘new Orthogonius ,’’ referring to the dominant genus in the tribe, Orthogonius Macleay.

Diagnosis. Small in size for Orthogoniini , head (with compound eyes) wide, subequal to pronotum, antennae moderate in length, antennomeres 5–10 submoniliform, pronotum subquadrate, lateral marginal bead hardly explanate and reflexed, fore tibiae with outer apical angles acute, outer margin distinctly serrate; hind femora extraordinarily dilated, abdominal ventrites 4, 5, and 6 with cilia at hind margins, genitalia of form Orthogonius , but basal portion expanded, and dorsally opened throughout.

Relationships with Other Genera in the Tribe Orthogoniini . Neoorthogonius represents a unique lineage of Orthogoniini , with the combined features mentioned above, especially the sub-moniliform antennae, ciliate hind margins of abdominal ventrites, the extraordinarily dilated hind femora, wider head and narrower pronotum, and the structure of male genitalia, make it different enough from any genus of the tribe in generic level. Neoorthogonius seems more closed to Orthogonius Macleay because of ligula bisetose at apex, elytra striate-punctate and male genital structure. It is easily distinguishable from other Oriental genera of Orthogoniini by using the following key.

1. Ligula bisetose or quadrisetose.................................. 2

– Ligula sexsetose............................. Hexachaetus Chaudoir

2. Right mandible with markedly internal tooth.......... Actenoncus Chaudoir

– Right mandible without markedly internal tooth...................... 3

3. Pronotum trapezoid, paraglossae adnate to ligula, legs stout....................................................... Nepalorthogonius Habu

– Pronotum quadrate or subquadrate, paraglossae not adnate to ligula, legs slender...................................................... 4

4. Pronotum subquadrate, hind femora extraordinarily dilated, abdominal ventrites 4, 5, and 6 with cilia at hind margins, antennomeres 5–10 sub-moniliform........................................... Neoorthogonius , new genus

– Pronotum quadrate, hind femora normal, abdominal ventrites 4, 5, and 6 without cilia at hind margins, antennomeres 5–10 not sub-moniliform........................................................ Orthogonius Macleay

Generic Range. Bombay, India. At present known only from the type locality. It is a monotypic genus based on N. orientalis Tian & Deuve , new species, described hereby .