Atrichelaphinis (Eugeaphinis) deplanata minettii, Rojkoff, Sebastien & Perissinotto, Renzo, 2015

Rojkoff, Sebastien & Perissinotto, Renzo, 2015, Review of the genera Anelaphinis Kolbe, 1892 and Atrichelaphinis Kraatz, 1898 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae), ZooKeys 482, pp. 91-142 : 109

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Scarabaeidae

Atrichelaphinis (Eugeaphinis) deplanata minettii subsp. n. Figure 10

Type specimens.

Holotype male, Zambia: Central Province, Mfwanta, S13°07' 247", E30°19' 345", 1429 m, R. Minetti leg., XI-2010 (MNHN). Paratypes, Angola: Huila Prov., 2 km S Negola, S14°08'53", E14°28'16", à vue S. Rojkoff rec., 9-XII-2012, 1♀ (PCSR). Congo-Brazzaville: Pool, Mabaya, Bruno Le Rü leg, III-1989, 1♂ (PCDC). Congo-Kinshasa: Katanga, Manika, Ch. Seydel leg, C 19101, X-1931, 1♀ (MRAC); Kafakumba, F.G. Overlaet, IV-1932, 1♂ (MRAC); Lualaba, Zilo, Dr. V. Allard leg., XI-1974, 1♂ (MNHN Coll. Ruter); Lulua, Kapanga, F.G. Overlaet , IX-1933, 1♀ (MRAC); Katanga, exploration du PNU, riv. Kapelo, Miss. Hasson & Bouyer, Projet ICCN-NA-SEA, PNU082A, 10/16-XI-2002, 1♂ (CPTB); Katanga, exploration du PNU, env. Lusinga, Miss. Hasson & Bouyer, Projet ICCN-NA-SEA, PNU063, 25-X/5-XI-2002, 1♀ (CPTB). Malawi: West, Dzelanyama Fst., 4200 ft, 25-II-1985, 1♂ (PCTG); Mzuzu, Nhorongoro, S11°29' E33°59', 1375 m, R.J. Murphy leg, 26-XII-1996, 1♀ (PCTG); same locality, 4500 ft, R.J. Murphy leg, 30-XII-1996, 1♂ (PCTG). Mozambique: Sierra de Choa, D. Camiade leg, XI/XII-2012, 1♀ (PCDC). Rwanda: Rinkwavu, J. Roggeman leg, VI-1970, 1♂ (MRAC); Rwinkwavu, Montfort leg, IV-1976, 2♂ (IRSN, Coll. Alexis I.G. 30 374); Mayaga, J. Roggeman leg, VI-1972, 3♀ (MRAC); Kigali, Dr. V. Allard leg, II-1971, 1♂, 1♀ (MNHN, Coll. Ruter); Nyarubuye (Kibinga), Dr. V. Allard leg, 5-XII-1972, 1♂? (abdomen absent), 2♀ (MNHN, Coll. Ruter). South Africa: Afriq. Austr., Linokana, Dr. E. Holubi, 1894 (170-357), 1♀ (MNHN); Transvaal, ex. Coll. Oberthür, 2♂ (MNHN); Pretoria N., Van Son G., II-1936, Transvaal Mus. don, 1♀ (MRAC). Zambia: same data as holotype, 1♀ (PCSR); Central Province, 50 km E Serenje, S. Rojkoff & K. Werner leg, 7/8-XII-2005, 1♂ (PCSR); SE Lusaka, S15°33' 662", E28°30' 646", 1281 m, in fruit-baited trap, J. Touroult leg, 22-XI-2006, 1 ♀ (PCJT). Zimbabwe: Rhodésie du Sud, Selukwe, A. Ellenberger 1915, 1♂ (MNHN), 1♀ (PCSR).

Description

(n = 31). Size: length ♂, 9.1-11.5 mm; ♀, 10.2-11.5 mm; width ♂, 5.2-6.4 mm; ♀, 5.7-6.5 mm. This new subspecies differs from the nominal form by exhibiting the following characters: smaller size; black/brown markings more regularly disposed and reduced; background colour more reddish; anterior pronotal elevation more enhanced; lateral pronotal angles less round and hind part of lateral border slightly longer; antescutellar concavity weak; pilosity of sternum thinner, especially in male; parameres with lateral sides subparallel, apex with dull lateral angles, shape more squared.

Derivatio nominis.

This subspecies is named after the French collector Robert Minetti, who brought to the authors’ attention the holotype specimen from Zambia.

Remarks.

There was initially some reservation in erecting this new subspecies, despite the morphological differences with the other forms mentioned above. Only the study of a large series of Atrichelaphinis (Eugeaphinis) deplanata from various localities made it possible to isolate the new subspecies, considering also its broad geographic distribution. It is here given subspecies status because some of the specimens from Rwanda and Kenya actually represent a transition between the two forms, exhibitng intermediate characteristics such as coloration, shapes of pronotum and aedeagus. However, no potential intermediate forms were available from Congo-Brazzaville, where both subspecies are known to occur, but in separate parts of the country. Despite the Rwanda-Kenya transition zone, the new subspecies has a separate geographical distribution area from the nominal subspecies, which is restricted to western and central Africa. The new subspecies is distributed from central to east Africa and throughout the eastern half of southern Africa.