Acylophorus nitens Lott, 2010

Lott, Derek A., 2012, Further studies of African Acylophorus Nordmann (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae), Zootaxa 3168, pp. 39-52 : 41-42

Acylophorus nitens Lott, 2010

( Fig. 2 )

Material examined. BOTSWANA: Okavango Delta, Moremi Wildlife Reserve, 18O14’S 23O21’E, M Uhlig, 10.iii.1994, 1Ƥ ( ZMHB); Shakawe: banks of Okavango, 18O22’S 21O49’E, M Uhlig, 3.iii.1994, 131Ƥ ( ZMHB). NAMIBIA: Kavango: Mahango Game Reserve, banks of Okavango, 18O14’S 21O43’E, M & B Uhlig, 24.xi.1993, 30.iii.1999, 3 ( ZMHB); Kavango: Popa Falls, banks of Okavango, 18O7’S 21O35’E, M Uhlig, 26.ii–3. iii.1992, 4 ( ZMHB). SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: Wilderness NP, Langvlei, Malachite Bird Hide, 33O59’S 22O40’E, M & B Uhlig 30.xi.1996, 23 ( ZMBH). SUDAN: Melut, Taufikia, J. Konietsko 25.xii.1913, 1Ƥ ( ZMBH). TANZA- NIA: Konde: “Langenburg”, Fülleborn, 8.viii.1899, 13 ( ZMHB). ZAMBIA: Rimo-Marine Motel, banks of Kafue River, 15O49’S 28O12’E, M Uhlig, 17.iii.1993, 13 ( ZMHB).

Discussion. The new records extend the known range of A. nitens to four new countries: Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. Fig. 2 updates the distribution map given by Lott (2010). The additional material studied exhibited wide variation in body colour, which supports the observation by Lott (2010) that particular geographic areas may be populated by distinctive colour forms. Zambian populations are dominated by individuals with bright orange pronota that contrast strongly with other body parts. Similar specimens also occur along the Okavango River, although they are mixed with specimens with darker pronota. The bodies of all the specimens examined from Zimbabwe, South Africa and Sierra Leone are uniformly dark in colour, although the number of specimens seen is too small to conclude with any confidence that these are dominant colour forms in these areas.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Distribution of Acylophorus nitens Lott.