Cerhomalus Quedenfeldt, 1884

Frolov, Andrey V. & Akhmetova, Lilia A., 2021, Taxonomic revision of the Afrotropical scarab beetle genus Cerhomalus Quedenfeldt, 1884 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Orphninae), European Journal of Taxonomy 739 (1), pp. 36-50 : 37-38

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2021.739.1265
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:74FECDCE-5FF3-479F-A46F-130EFD976321
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4604847
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/8D23E94B-6B1E-FFF1-FD85-F935C70C8E99
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Cerhomalus Quedenfeldt, 1884
status

Treatment

Figs 1–6 View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig

Cerhomalus Quedenfeldt, 1884: 289 , pl. VIII, fig. 7.

Cerhomalus – Karsch 1887: 5. — Quedenfeldt 1888: 165. — Arrow 1912: 30. — Schmidt 1913: 71. — Paulian, 1948: 11.

Orphnus (Cerhomalus) Quedenfeldt – Petrovitz 1971: 2.

Type species

Cerhomalus mechowi Quedenfeldt, 1884 , by monotypy.

Diagnosis

The largest orphnines (body length 15–22 mm). Colour uniformly dark brown to black. Clypeus of both sexes with a transverse keel, higher and apically bilobate in males ( Fig. 1A View Fig ) and lower but distinct in females ( Fig. 1G View Fig ). Pronotal disc of males more or less depressed, sometimes slightly excavated, but distinct pronotal lateral processes always absent. Elytra convex, without ridges, with humeral umbones. Elytral surface sparsely covered with rounded punctures; punctures arranged in longitudinal striae, which are more distinct on disc. Protibiae with 3 strong outer teeth similar in both sexes. Apical protibial spur absent in males. Middle and posterior legs similar in shape; posterior femora and tibiae about ½ longer than middle ones. Parameres symmetrical, not setose apically, very wide in lateral view; inner sides of parameres with longitudinal excavations in 3 species ( Fig. 1E View Fig ). Ventroapical part of phallobase strongly sclerotized, in shape of 2 incompletely separated sclerites ( Figs 1C View Fig , 5A View Fig , va. phlb. sc.).

Species composition

The genus comprises four species including two new ones described below.

Distribution

The genus occurs in Central and West Africa with the majority of records from the Congo Basin ( Fig. 6 View Fig ).

Key to species of Cerhomalus (males)

1. Apices of parameres rounded in apical view, without semi-circular excavations ( Fig. 2G, J View Fig ) and without keels or fossae on ventral side ( Fig. 2K View Fig ); base of elytra with somewhat tile-shaped punctures ( Fig. 2 View Fig A–B) .................................................. Cerhomalus absconditus ( Petrovitz, 1971) comb. nov.

– Apices of parameres with semi-circular excavations in apical view ( Figs 1E View Fig , 3F View Fig , 4F, J View Fig ) and with more or less developed fossae on ventral sides bordered with keel ( Fig. 1F View Fig ); base of elytra smooth ( Figs 1A, G, I View Fig , 3A, C View Fig , 4A, C View Fig ) ............................................................................................................ 2

2. Ventral fossae on apices of parameres not bordered proximally ( Fig. 4G, K View Fig , arrowed); apices of parameres in lateral view acute-angled ( Fig. 4D, H View Fig ) ................... Cerhomalus quedenfeldti sp. nov.

– Ventral fossae on apices of parameres completely bordered ( Figs 1F View Fig , 3G View Fig ); apices of parameres in lateral view right-angled ( Figs 1C View Fig , 3D View Fig ) ............................................................................................ 3

3. Widened part of paramere (in lateral view) about half length of paramere ( Fig. 1C View Fig ); ventral fossa of paramere shorter and wider ( Fig. 1F View Fig ) ............................... Cerhomalus mechowi Quedenfeldt, 1884

– Widened part of paramere (in lateral view) about two thirds length of paramere ( Fig. 3D View Fig ); ventral fossa of paramere longer and narrower ( Fig. 3G View Fig ) .............................. Cerhomalus petrovitzi sp. nov.