Ptomaphaginus anas, Schilthuizen & Perreau, 2008

Schilthuizen, Menno & Perreau, Michel, 2008, New species and new records of Ptomaphaginus Portevin from the Sunda region, Southeast Asia (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Cholevinae), Zool. Med. Leiden 82 (19), pp. 189-210 : 199-200

Ptomaphaginus anas spec. nov.

( figs 16-17 ).

Type material.— Holotype ♂: Malaysia: Selangor: 15 miles N of Kuala Lumpur, Universiti Malaya Field Station , Ulu Gombak, x-xi.1977 leg. B. Bendell (in SBPC, due to be deposited at CMNC) . Paratypes same locality as holotype: 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀ (in BOR) , 3 ♂♂ 1 ♀ (in SBPC) , 1 ♀ (in FRCS) ; Malaysia: Pahang: Berinchan, Cameron Highlands , 26.iii.1977, leg. T. Jaccoud: 1 ♂ (in MHNG) ; Malaysia: Sarawak: Semongak , 9-16.i.1978 leg. B. Bendell: 1 ♂ (in SBPC) ; Malaysia: Sabah: Batu Punggul Resort env., 24.vi-1.vii.1996, vegetation debris and forest floor litter accumulated around large trees near river: 2 ♂♂ (in CJRZ) ; Malaysia: Sabah: Mt. Kinabalu Park Headquarters , 1500 m alt., 8-16.v.1987, interception trap, leg. A. Smetana: 1 ♂ (in MHNG) ; Malaysia: Sabah: Kibongol , (7 km N of Tambunan), 700 m alt., 20.v.1987, leg. Burckhardt & Löbl: 4 ♂♂ and 2 ♀♀ (in MHNG and CMPR) .

Additional material (not included in the type series).— 36 fragmented individuals in preservative from the type locality ( MSC, to be deposited in SBPC).

Diagnosis.— This new species is relatively large and convex. The aedeagus is characteristically shaped ( figs 16-17 ): strongly curved, distally tapering into a narrow, flattened, and slightly upturned apex. In general shape reminiscent of the aedeagus of P. murphyi , which, however, is characterized by a squarish, subapical expansion.

Description.— Habitus ovoid, relatively convex. Reddish brown to black (though the dark colouration in some specimens may be due to preservation); the tarsi and the edges of thorax and elytra lighter brown. Length 2.3-2.9 mm (n = 9). Antennae slender but not very long, 1.1 times as long as the width of the head (n = 3). Articles 9 and 10 slightly broader than long; article 6 square. Male protarsi moderately dilated: the protibia at its largest width (excluding the lateral spines) is 1.4 times broader than the first article of the protarsus (n = 1). Female protarsi undilated. Thorax 1.65 times as wide as long (n = 3), convex, with the caudal corners distinctly drawn out. The mesosternal carina is strongly developed, its edge somewhat thickened. Elytra short, 1.1 times as long (measured from the caudal tip of the scutellum) as their combined width (n = 3). Elytral apices moderately truncate, identical in both sexes. Aedeagus ( figs 16-17 ) in dorsal view gradually narrowing towards the apex. The tip is triangular and slightly asymmetric. A broad medial furrow runs over the dorsal side of the aedeagus, and dissolves just short of the apex. In lateral view, the aedeagus is strongly curved, almost semicircular, and distinctly thickened at the point of strongest curvature. In some specimens, the tip of the internal stylet is seen to emerge just ventral of the aedeagal apex. Male genital segment relatively narrow, spoon-shaped, four times as long as wide.

Distribution.— Apparently widely distributed in the Malay Peninsula and Borneo.

Remarks.— Based on aedeagal shape, P. anas may be related to several other species from Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, viz., P. tarsalis Szymczakowski , P. rufus Jeannel , P. lacertosus Szymczakowski , and P. murphyi Szymczakowski. The Sumatran P. jacobsoni Szymczakowski , known from females only, appears similar to P. anas , but has its caudal thoracal corners not as strongly drawn out.

Etymology.— anas , a Latin noun in apposition, meaning ‘duck’. The name refers to the tip of the aedeagus, which has the shape of a duck-bill.

Figures

Figs 16-25. 16, Ptomaphaginus anas spec. nov. holotype; aedeagus, dorsal view. 17, Ptomaphaginus anas spec. nov., holotype; aedeagus, lateral view. 18, Ptomaphaginus similipes spec. nov., holotype; aedeagus, dorsal view. 19, Ptomaphaginus similipes spec. nov., holotype; aedeagus, lateral view. 20, Ptomaphaginus bryantioides spec. nov., paratype (from Kiansom); aedeagus, dorsal view. 21, Ptomaphaginus bryantioides spec. nov., paratype (from Kiansom); aedeagus, lateral view (basal part partly obscured by the genital segment). 22, Ptomaphaginus latimanus spec. nov., holotype; aedeagus, ventral view. 23, Ptomaphaginus latimanus spec. nov., holotype; aedeagus, lateral view. 24, Ptomaphaginus kinabaluensis spec. nov., holotype; aedeagus, dorsal view. 25, Ptomaphaginus kinabaluensis spec. nov., holotype; aedeagus, lateral view.