Anthracus angusticollis (PÉRINGUEY, 1908)

Jaeger, Bernd, M, Boris & W, David, 2016, New synonyms, and first and interesting records of certain species of the subtribe Stenolophina from the Palaearctic, Oriental and Afrotropical regions (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Harpalini, Stenolophina), Linzer biologische Beiträge 48 (2), pp. 1255-1294 : 1262-1266

Anthracus angusticollis (PÉRINGUEY, 1908)

Acupalpus angusticollis PÉRINGUEY 1908: 284 (type locality: RSA: " Cape Colony (Dunbrody)".

Acupalpus (Anthracus) stenothorax KUNTZEN 1919: 138 (type locality: Namibia: "Gross-Okatjeru, Sandfeld, ca. 50 km südlich von Waterberg).

Anthracus descarpentriesi JEANNEL 1948: 720 (type locality: Madagascar: Quest: Province d`Analalava: environs d’Antsohihy). Syn. nov.

Type material: Anthracus descarpentriesi JEANNEL : Holotype: 1♀ ( MNHN) labelled "MUSEUM PARIS / MADAGASCAR / PROV. D’ANALALAVA / DISTRICT D’ANTSOHIHY / BASSE AMJINGO ET BASSE MAEVARANA / J. DESCARPENTRIES 1908" [printed on blue paper]; "NOVEMBRE" [printed]; "DÉCEMBRE" [printed]; "longipennis / n. sp."[handwritten]; "TYPE" [printed on red paper]; "HOLOTYPE ♀ / Anthracus / descarpentriesi / Jeannel, 1948 / labelled B. Jaeger 2010 " [printed on red paper] and " Anthracus / angusticollis / (Péringuey, 1908) / det. B. Jaeger 2010 " [printed].

Remark: Although the type bears no label of Jeannel which refers to " A. descarpentriesi " the specimen represents undoubtly the holotype of this species. Probably, Jeannel wanted to describe the species first as " longipennis " refering to the long elytra of the species, but decided later to dedicate the species to the collector J. Descarpentries, but did not change the label of the specimen.

Other Material examined Mauretania: Rosso,J.L. Amiet (4- MRAC). Mali: Koutiala , Soudan Francaise, 1935, P. Gavard (1 - MRAC). Ethiopia: Abyssinie: Riv. Boule-Boulo, Coll. P. Basilewsky (1 - MRAC) ; Melka Werer , Harer Prov., 900 m, B. L. T., VIII.1972 (1 - MRAC). Uganda: Kasenyi, IX.1935, H.J. Bredo (1 - MRAC) ; same data, but VIII.1937 (4 - MRAC) ; same data but IX.1937 (1 - MRAC) ; NE of Kasese, II.2001, M. Snižek (2 - cFAC). Somalia: Gelib , Alessandra, IV.1937, F. Bigi (1 - MRAC). Kenya: Amboseli N.P., Masai campsite, 1300 m, 2.45 S 37.15E, 27.I.2004, L. Kühne (2 - MFNB) ; E of Garsen , Lamu Prov., IV.2004, M. Snižek (2 - cZIE) ; Kibwezi, No. 29, I.Nr. 54.06, Scheffler (3 - MFNB) ; Voi, 1830 Fuss hoch, V.1907, K. Schauer (1 – MFNB) ; Witu, Kipini , Lamu Prov., IV.2004, M. Snižek (1 cZIE). Democratic Republic of the Kongo Elisabethville [=Lubumbashi], II.1940, H.J. Bredo (1 - MRAC) ; Kivu: Luvungi , XII.1932, L. Burgeon (1 - MRAC) ; Mayumbe: Tshela , II.1916, R. Mayne (1 - MRAC). Tanzania: 15 km N Utete, pr. Pwani, 8°03,2'S 38°52,7'E, 70m, I. 2007, F. Kantner (1 - SMNS) ; 15 km SE of Morogoro ( Mzinga env.), III. 2002, M. Snižek (1 - cFAC) ; Makata Plain (Morogoro), III.2002, M. Snižek (5 - cBAS, cBUL) ; 8 km NO Mikumi, " Bushcamp ", 560 m, 07°23'S 37°02'E, lux, 28.II.2008, U. Heinig (2 - cWR) ; Longido, Masai Distr., 1500 m, IV.1957, P. Basilewsky & N. Leleup (1 - MRAC). Zambia: South Luangwa NP: Mfuwe Crocodile Farm , 13°06'03"S / 31°47'32"E, lux, 21./ 23.III.1993, M. Uhlig (11 - MFNB). Namibia: 30 km NE Katima Mulilo, Zambezi-Altwasserarm , lux, 17°31'S / 24°25'E, 6.III.1992, M. Uhlig (2 - MFNB), Hardap, 20km N Mariental, III.1994, E. Arndt & Gröger (1 - NME) ; Kamanjab, 1200m, IV.2005, W. Schawaller (2 - SMNS, cJAE), Katima Mulilo, Caprivi Zipfel , 15.-27.I.1995, M. Snižek (1 - cWR) ; Katima Mulilo , Zambezi, I.1995, 17°30'31''S, 24°15'59''E, M. Snizek (1 - cFAC) ; Katima Mulilo , Zambezi riv., 950m, I.1999, R. Kmeco (3 - cKME, cBUL) ; Kaudom-Camp, Wasserloch, Schilf + Gras-Gesiebe , 18°31'S / 20°43'E, 22.-25.II.1992, M. Uhlig (3 - MFNB) ; Klein Dobe, Bushmanland, 19°25'S / 20°21'E, lux, 19.-21.II.1992, M. Uhlig (1 - MFNB), Mudumu NP, Buffalo Trails Camp , 18°10'S / 23°26'E, lux, 12.III.1992, M. Uhlig (1 - MFNB) ; Mudumu NP, Nakatwa , 18°10'S / 23°26'E, lux, 8.-13.III.1992, M. Uhlig & U. Göllner (3 - MFNB) ; Brandberg, Pools on Wasserfallfläche , at light, 1900-0700, 21°10'40''S, 14°33'08''E, 2000m, 21.X.1998, R. Butlin & J. Altringham (1 – MFNB). Botswana: 5 km E Gweta, 900m, III.2006, W. Schawaller (1 - SMNS) ; 5 km NW San-ta-Wani Safari Lodge , 19°27'01"S / 23°38'46"E, lux, 8.-9.III.1993, M. Uhlig (1 - MFNB) ; Third Bridge Campsite, Moremi Wildlife Reserve, Okavango Delta , 19°14'22"S / 23°21'24"E, lux, 10.III.1993, M. Uhlig (1 - MFNB). Zimbabwe: Bulawayo Caravan Camp , ca. 1340 m, 20°09'S / 28°35'E, lux, 11./ 12.III.2000, U. Heinig (1 - cWR) ; Kyle Recr.Park at Lake Mutirikwi , 20°13'S / 31°00'E, lux, 1.-5.XII.1993, M. Uhlig (1 - MFNB) ; Matopos NP, 20°33'S / 28°30'E, lux, 28.XI.-2.XII.1993, M. Uhlig (1 - MFNB). R S A: Addo Elephant NP, Port Elizabeth , 27.-29.XII.1992, F. Koch (2 - MFNB) ; Dunbrody, E. Cape Prov., III.1904, J. O'Neil (1 - MRAC) ; Farm Zoetvlei , 2.I.1991, C. Bayer (1 - MFNB) ; King William Town, Rooikrans Dam , XII.2002, M. Snižek (1 - cFAC) ; Kruger Nat. Park, Lower Sabie , lux, 19.XI.1992, C. Bayer (1 - cWR) ; Mkuze NP, 27°36'S / 32°13'E, lux, Natal, 2.-3.II.1994, M. Uhlig (3 - MFNB) ; Mkuze NP, Inhlenhlela Pan : 27°36'S / 32°13'E, sievings gras, flood débris, Natal, 2.II.1994, M. Uhlig (1 - MFNB) ; KwaZulu-Natal: Ndumu Game Reserve, XI. 2002, W. Schawaller (1 - SMNS). Madagascar: Katsepy ( Majunga ), XII. 997, P. Pacholatko (3 - NHMB) ; Katsepy , 10 km W Majunga, II.2002, J. Bašta (3 - cBAS).

Notes on synonymy and variability: JEANNEL (1948: 729) compared Anthracus descarpentriesi only with A. madecassus JEANNEL, 1948 but not with A. stenothorax (KUNTZEN, 1919) , A. overlaeti (BURGEON, 1936) or A. angusticollis (PÉRINGUEY, 1908) which were described or recorded from South Africa (PÉRINGUEY 1908: 284), South West Africa (KUNTZEN 1919: 138-139) or from Belgish Kongo (BURGEON 1936: 303). Thus, JEANNEL did not realize, that A. descarpentriesi is very similar to A. angusticollis (PÉRINGUEY, 1908) (= stenothorax KUNTZEN ). BASILEWSKY (1948:10) who studied the types of Acupalpus angusticollis PÉRINGEY, 1908 , transferred the species to the genus Anthracus and synomized A. stenothorax KUNTZEN, 1919 with it. Three years later in his monograph on African Harpalini, BASILEWSKY (1951: 252-253 , 254), presented redescriptions for A. angusticollis as well as for A. descarpentriesi and treated both species in the key of the genus Anthracus . Surprisingly, he did not mention that both species are very similar and closely related.

The study of the holotype of A. descarpentriesi and about 100 additional specimens of A. angusticollis from various parts of the African continent, the United Arab Emirates and Madagascar revealed that A. descarpentriesi falls in all external characters in the range of variation of Anthracus angusticollis and is regarded here a junior synymym of the latter species.

It should be remarked that the examined Madagascan specimens ( Figs 1-3 ) have the elytra often somewhat narrower and shorter relative to pronotal width and length, and the antennae somewhat shorter relative to prontal length, if compared with members of continental populations. However, a comparison of the aedeagi, with the characteristic spiny group in right basal half of the internal sac (seen from figures), of two recently collected males from Madagascar ( Figs 4-6 ) and various other males from African continent and the United Arab Emirates show no significant difference between them, and therefore these populations represent undoubtly units of one species. The mentioned differences in the body proportions are regarded here as normal differences between geographically separated populations, which do not require a formal taxonomic rank. More material from Madagascar is necessary to increase our knowledge abouth the character variation within Madagascan populations.

BASILEWSKY (1951: 252) recorded Anthracus angusticollis from Ethiopia, Zaire, South Africa and Namibia, and later also from Tanzania ( BASILEWSKY 1962:152), Somalia ( BASILEWSKY 1968: 5) and Mauretania ( BASILEWSKY 1970: 170). MATEU (1966: 1533) recorded the species also from Chad, BAEHR (2003: 409) from Gambia, and JAEGER & FELIX (2005: 111) from the United Arab Emirates. After revision of the abovementioned material of Anthracus angusticollis deposited in different museums and private collections the species is also recorded from Mali, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana for the first time. For Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Ethiopia additional records are provided. The general distribution based on examined material and mentioned literature records is shown in Fig. 7 .

Figures

Figs 1-3: Anthracus angusticollis (PÉRINGUEY, 1908). Habitus, head and pronotum. (1-3) Madagascar, Katsepy.

Figs 4-6: Anthracus angusticollis (PÉRINGUEY, 1908). Median lobe of aedeagus, lateral and dorsal aspects. (4-6) Madagascar, Katsepy.

Fig. 7: Anthracus angusticollis (PÉRINGUEY, 1908). Distribution.