Quammenis Erwin, new genus

(Fig. 1a)

Type Species. Quammenis spectabilis Erwin, new species, here designated.

Derivation of Name. The generic name, Quammenis, is a latinized masculine noun based on the surname of David Quammen, author of The Song of the Dodo (1996, Simon & Schuster, New York), a book that should be required reading for every student of biology and every student interested in conservation.

Diagnosis. Unique (Fig. 1a) among new world Carabidae; with metallic green dorsum and elytra with large purplish ocellate foveae; head and pronotum with fine, closely spaced ridges, longitudinally arranged on head, transversely arranged on pronotum.

Description. Head across eyes slightly broader than prothorax; elytral apex deeply arcuate; pronotum without setae.

Notes. This genus is related to Stenocheila Laporte of South America, which is known to have two species.