Onthophagus pilauco, Tello & Verdú & Rossini & Zunino, 2021

Tello, Francisco, Verdu, Jose R., Rossini, Michele & Zunino, Mario, 2021, Onthophagus pilauco sp. nov. (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae): evidence of beetle extinction in the Pleistocene-Holocene transition in Chilean Northern Patagonia, ZooKeys 1043, pp. 133-145 : 133

Type species Onthophagus pilauco sp. nov. Fig. 2

Description.

Holotype. Male, minor form. Clypeus sub-trapezoidal and slightly elongated forward, with anterior margin narrowly and slightly reflexed, head margin barely sinuated at the clypeo-genal junction. Fronto-clypeal region without carina, frons with two close, weak tubercles, strongly advanced in position, in line with the anterior margin of the eyes (Fig. 2A, C ). Head surface very finely and evenly punctate. Latero-clypeal region with deeper ocellate punctures. Color dark with metallic green to bronze sheen (Fig. 2D ). Pronotum and elytra not found.

Female unknown.

Diagnosis.

Onthophagus pilauco sp. nov. is considered to be a close relative of O. confusus Boucomont, 1932 and O. insularis Boheman, 1858, as it shares the following morphological characters with these species: sub-trapezoidal shape of the clypeus; small, slightly deeper cephalic punctation, coupled with very shallow wrinkles in proximity to the genal and clypeal margins. Although the fronto-clypeal region is significantly damaged, there is no indication of a possible carina.

Proposed English and Spanish vernacular names.

The Pilauco dung beetle (EN) and estercolero de Pilauco (ES).

Etymology.

The name of the new species refers to the archeopaleontological site from which the fossil remains were collected.

Figures

Figure 2. Holotype of Onthophagus pilauco sp. nov. A dorsal B ventral and C frontal views D detail of the microsculpture.