Agamopus unguicularis ( Harold, 1883 )

Costa-Silva, Vinícius, Carvalho, Edrielly & Vaz-De, Fernando Z., 2022, A taxonomic revision of the New World genus Agamopus Bates, 1887 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae: Ateuchini), European Journal of Taxonomy 806 (1), pp. 64-89 : 76-79

Agamopus unguicularis ( Harold, 1883)

Figs 2A , 3 , 8

Canthon unguicularis Harold, 1883: 430 (original description).

Agamopus martinezi Pereira, 1947: 1 (original description). Considered junior synonym for Halffter & Martínez 1968: 237.

Canthon unguicularis — Gillet 1911: 34 (catalogue). — Schmidt 1922: 72, 81 (catalogue). — Balthasar 1939: 225 (redescription). — Blackwelder 1944: 202 (catalogue). — Vulcano & Pereira 1964: 633- 634 (catalogue).

Agamopus unguicularis — Halffter & Martínez 1968: 237 (new combination). — Louzada & Carvalho- Silva 2009: 48 (dung beetles from pastures). — Vaz-de-Mello et al. 2017: 2 (list of dung beetles from Mato Grosso do Sul). — Tissiani et al. 2017: 405 (species list and key to dung beetles from Brazilian pastures).

Differential diagnosis

Agamopus unguicularis is distinguished from A. viridis and A. joker sp. nov. by the absence of small tubercles on the head, which are present in the last two species. In its brown colour, A. unguicularis is more similar to A. lampros and A. castaneus , but can be easily separated from A. lampros by the head fully covered by micropunctation (smooth in the latter), and from A. castaneus by a presence of a one row of several yellow setae along the anterior edge of the sulcus ( Fig. 2A ). Agamopus castaneus has just two or three setae in the centre of anterior edge of sulcus.

After examination of the type-specimens of Agamopus martinezi , we agree with Halffter & Martínez’s arguments (1968) and maintain this species as a junior synonym of A. unguicularis .

Type material examined

Lectotype of Canthon unguicularis Harold, 1883 (here designated) ( Fig. 8A–C ) BRAZIL • ♀; first label [green, typeset]: “ Sn Joao d’el Rey.”; second label [white, typeset]: “ Coll. Camille / Van Volxem”; third label [white, typeset]: “M.R. Belg”; fourth label [aged white, Harold’s handwriting]: “ Canthon / unguicularis / typ. Hrld”; fifth label [aged white with black border, typeset]: “Ex. Musaeo / E. Harold”; sixth label [white, typeset]: Muséum Paris / 1952 / Coll. R. Oberthur”; seventh label [aged white, partly typeset, partly in Halffter’s handwriting]: “ Agamopus ♀ / unguicularis / G. Halffter y (Har.) / A. Martinez det 1968”; eighth label [red, typeset]: “TYPE”; ninth label [red, typeset]: “SYNTYPE”; tenth label [white, typeset] “SYNTYPE / Agamopus / unguicularis ( Harold, 1883) ”; eleventh label [white with black border]: “MNHN / EC10858 ” ( Fig. 8D ); MNHN .

Paralectotype of Canthon unguicularis Harold, 1883

BRAZIL • 1 ♂; first label [green, typeset]: “ Sn Joao d’el Rey.”; second label [white, typeset]: “ Coll. Camille / Van Volxem”; third label [red, typeset]: “SYNTYPE”; fourth label [white, typeset] “SYNTYPE / Agamopus / unguicularis ( Harold, 1883) ”; fifth label [white with black border, typeset]: “MNHN / EC10859 ”; MNHN .

Holotype of Agamopus martinezi Pereira, 1947 (by original designation)

BRAZIL • ♂; first label [aged white with black border, partly typeset, partly in unknown handwriting]: “ Rio Claro (S.P.) / XI-XII.942 / Coll. Claretiano ”; second label [red with black border, printed]: “HOLOTYPYS”; third label [aged white with black border, partly typeset, partly in Pe. Pereira’s handwriting]: “ Agamopus / martinezi / F. Pereira / P. Pereira det. 945”; fourth label [aged white, partly typeset, partly in A. Martínez’s handwriting]: “ Agamopus ♀ / unguicularis / (Har.) / Det. A. Martínez 1972”; MZSP .

Paratype of Agamopus martinezi Pereira, 1947

BRAZIL • 1 ♀; first label [aged white with black border, partly typeset, partly in unknown’s handwriting]: “ Rio Claro (S.P.) / XII.942 / Coll. Claretiano ”; second label [white with black border, printed]: “H. & A. Howden / COLLECTION / ex. A. Martínez coll.”; third label [red with black border, printed]: “PARATYPUS”; fourth label [aged white with black border, partly typeset, partly in Pe. Pereira’s handwriting]: “ Agamopus / martinezi / F. Pereira / P. Pereira det. 945”; fifth label [aged white, partly typeset, partly in A. Martínez’s handwriting]: “ Agamopus ♀ / unguicularis / (Har.) / Det. A. Martínez 1972”; CNM .

Additional material examined (153 specimens)

BRAZIL – Piauí • 1 ♀; Currais , Agropecuária Rotilli ; 8°57′22″ S, 44°25′49″ W; 28 Jan. 2014; R. Maciel leg.; human feces; CEMT. – Mato Grosso • 9 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Cáceres; Fazenda Santa Fé; 16°8′13″ S, 58°29′44″ W; 26‒28 Nov. 2013; F. Coletti leg.; CEMT • 2 specs; Diamantino, Upper Rio Arinos ; Jan. 2001; E. Furtado leg.; CEMT • 1 spec.; Nova Xavantina, Parque Natural Municipal do Bacaba ; 14°42′26″ S, 52°21′06″ W; alt. 327 m; 13‒15 Feb. 2019; R.J. Silva and R.S.A. Silva leg.; pitfall with human feces; Cerrado; CEMT • 4 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀; Porto Estrela, Serra das Araras Ecological Station , Boca do José ; 15°37′47″ S, 57°11′39″ W; Nov. 2017; T.F. Conceição leg.; pitfall; CEMT • 1 ♂; Porto Estrela, Serra das Araras Ecological Station ; Sep. 2011; M. Souza leg.; CEMT • 1 ♂; Porto Estrela, Serra das Araras Ecological Station , trilha do Heliporto ; 15°21′49″ S, 56°57′32″ W; 12 Oct. 2011; F.Z. Vaz-de-Mello leg.; CEMT • 14 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀; Tangará da Serra, Fazenda Bahia; 14°37′14″ S, 57°25′15″ W; alt. 419 m; 12‒14 Jan. 2011; R.J. Silva leg.; pitfall with a mixture of human and pig dung; CEMT • 8 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Tangará da Serra, Fazenda Bahia; 14°37′13″ S, 57°24′50″ W; alt. 428 m; 26‒28 Jan. 2012; R.J. Silva leg.; pitfall with a mixture of human and pig dung; semi-deciduous forest; CEMT • 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; Tangará da Serra, Filé do Boi Farm ; 14°38′07″ S, 57°24′41″ W; alt. 439 m; 25‒27 Jan. 2011; R.J. Silva leg.; pitfall with a mixture of human and pig dung; CEMT • 1 ♂; Tangará da Serra, Sítio Mauá ; 14°39′42″ S, 57°24′18″ W; alt. 462 m; 19‒21 Jan. 2011; R.J. Silva leg.; pitfall with a mixture of human and pig dung; semi-deciduous forest; CEMT. – Bahia • 1 ♀; Encruzilhada ; alt. 980 m; Nov. 1972; M. Alvarenga leg.; CEAH • 1 spec.; Encruzilhada ; Dec. 1997; A. Bello and F. Vaz-de-Mello leg.; CEMT • 4 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; Encruzilhada ; Nov. 1974; M. Alvarenga and A. Martínez leg.; light; CMN. – Distrito Federal • 1 ♂; Brasília, Brazlândia ; Jan. 1994; E. Grossi leg.; CEMT. – Minas Gerais • 1 ♂; Águas Vermelhas ; 15°45′ S, 41°27′ W; Dec. 1997; A. Bello and F. Vaz-de-Mello leg.; CEMT • 1 ♂; Cordisburgo, Fazenda Pontinha ; Dec. 1993; F.Z. Vaz-de-Mello leg.; CEMT • 3 ♂♂; Cordisburgo ; Jan. 1994; F.Z. Vaz-de-Mello leg.; CEMT • 1 ♂; Cordisburgo ; Jan. 1998; F.Z. Vaz-de-Mello leg.; CEMT • 1 ♂; Felixlândia, EPAMIG Farm ; 19°09′14″ S, 44°51′09″ W; alt. 480 m; 25 Jan. 2012; R. Macedo leg.; human dung; pasture; CEMT • 22 specs; Ijaci, Fazenda FAEPE [Fundação de Apoio ao Ensino, Pesquisa e Extensão]; Nov. 2002; J. Louzada leg.; CEMT • 1 ♂; Ingaí, Boqueirão ; 21°20′ S, 44°59′ W; 11 Nov. 2012; CEMT • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Juramento ; Jan. 2003; L.C. Rocha leg.; CEMT • 2 ♂; Lavras ; 19 Jan. 1999; J. Louzada leg.; CEMT • 1 ♀; Lavras ; 21°18′09″ S, 44°59′26″ W; 20 Jan. 2008; M.S. Rocha and D.I.H. Takahashi leg.; CEMT • 1 ♂; Lavras ; 21°18′11″ S, 44°59′24″ W; 20 Jan. 2008; M.S. Rocha and D.I.H. Takahashi leg.; CEMT • 1 ♂; Lavras ; 21°18′19″ S, 44°59′37″ W; 20 Jan. 2008; M.S. Rocha and D.I.H. Takahashi leg.; CEMT • 2 ♂♂; Lavras, Campus UFLA [= Federal University of Lavras] ; Nov.–Dec. 2001; F.Z. Vaz-de- Mello leg.; CEMT • 1 ♂; Lavras, Mata do Capivari ; 21°16′25″ S, 44°16′57″ W; Dec. 2001; G. Schiffler leg.; CEMT • 1 spec.; near to Lavras, Poço Bonito ; 21°19′ S, 44°58′ W; Nov. 2002; J. Louzada leg.; CEMT • 2 specs; Lavras, near to Poço Bonito; 21°19′ S, 44°58′ W; Dec. 2002; J. Louzada leg.; CEMT • 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Montes Claros ; Jan. 2000; Louzada and Louzada leg.; Cerrado; CEMT • 2 ♂♂; Montes Claros, Morro Agudo ; 16°21′25″ S, 43°55′28″ W; alt. 816 m; 2 Feb. 2012; R. Macedo leg.; human feces; pasture; CEMT • 1 ♂; Montes Claros, Morro Agudo ; 16°50′35″ S, 44°05′19″ W; alt. 879 m; 12 Feb. 2012; R. Macedo leg.; human dung; pasture; CEMT • 3 ♂♂; Montes Claros ; Dec. 1994; J. Louzada leg. CEMT • 1 ♀; Nova Era ; Oct. 1987; CEMT • 6 ♂♂; Paracatu ; Dec. 1997; S. Lourenço leg.; CEMT • 1 ♀; Pedra Azul ; alt. 700 m; Nov. 1972; Seabra and Oliveira leg.; CEAH • 1 ♀; Pirapora, Sérgio’s Farm ; 17°26′33″ S, 44°46′56″ W; alt. 457 m; 27 Jan. 2012; R. Macedo leg.; human feces; cerrado; CEMT • 1 ♀; Pirapora, Sérgio’s Farm ; 17°26′07″ S, 44°46′09″ W; alt. 512 m; 27 Jan. 2012; R. Macedo leg.; human dung; pasture; CEMT • 1 ♂; Santana do Riacho, Lapinha da Serra ; Nov. 1981; Celso Jr leg.; CEMT • 1 ♀; Viçosa ; 30 Dec. 1993; Louzada and Silva leg.; CEMT. – São Paulo • 1 spec.; Barueri ; 23 Mar. 1957; K. Lenko leg.; DZUP .

BOLIVIA – Santa Cruz • 1 ♂; Ichilo, Buena Vista ; Feb. 1950; Martínez coll.; CMN • 3 ♂♂; José Miguel de Velasco, San Ignácio de Velasco ; 16°24′ S, 61°11′ W; alt. 430 m; 16 Jan. 2010; Vidaurre leg.; CEMT .

Geographic distribution

Agamopus unguicularis shows a wide distribution in non-Amazonian Brazil. The species is also recorded in Bolivia ( Fig. 3 ).

Figures

Fig. 2. Ventral view of the abdomen. A. Agamopus unguicularis (Harold, 1883), dissected specimen (CEMT), with one row of several yellow setae along the anterior edge of the pygidial sulcus (black arrows). B. Agamopus castaneus Balthasar, 1938, dissected specimen (CEMT) with three (sometimes two) yellow setae in the centre of the pygidial disc (black arrows). Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 3. Geographical distribution map of Agamopus joker sp. nov. (blue circle); A. unguicularis (Harold, 1883) (green circles); and A. castaneus Balthasar, 1938 (red circles).

Fig. 8. Canthon unguicularis Harold, 1883 [now Agamopus unguicularis]. Lectotype, ♀ (MNHN). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, ventral view. C. Habitus, lateral view. D. Labels. Photographs: Christophe Rivier, MNHN.