Laccophilus tigrinus Guignot, 1959

Bistroem, Olof, Nilsson, Anders N. & Bergsten, Johannes, 2015, Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), ZooKeys 542, pp. 1-379 : 37-38

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Dytiscidae

Laccophilus tigrinus Guignot, 1959 Figs 38-39, 237-239, 394, 532

Laccophilus tigrinus Guignot 1959c: 76, 78, 79 (original description, faunistics); Guignot 1961a: 931 (faunistics); Wewalka 1980: 724, 726 (faunistics); Nilsson 2001: 251 (catalogue, faunistics); Nilsson 2015: 218 (catalogue, faunistics).

Type locality.

Comoro Islands: Anjouan, Foret de M’Remani.

Type material, studied

(5 exs.). Holotype: male: "Type / F. Guignot det. 1955 Laccophilus tigrinus sp. n. Type, male symbol" (MNHN). - Paratypes: Same data as holotype but labelled “Paratype” (1 ex. MNHN); "Anjouan Fet de M’Remani X-1953 (Millot) / male symbol / Paratype" (1 ex. MNHN; habitus in Fig. 394); "Moheli Foret de Fomboni 600 m 2eme torrent 6.54 (JM) / male symbol / Paratype" (1 ex. MNHN); Same data but provided with label "Coll. Guignot" and a peculiar label with the following text: "R. Mouchamps det. 63 Laccophilus mohelicus sp. n. paratype" (1 ex. MNHN).

Additional material studied

(5 exs.): Comoro Islands: "Grande Comore Nioumbadjou 9.8. 1981 R. Joqué” (2 exs. MRAC, 1 ex. MZH); "Moheli Foret de Fomboni 600 m 2eme torrent 6.54 (J.M.)" (2 exs. IRSNB).

Diagnosis.

Laccophilus tigrinus resembles most of all species of Laccophilus comes , Laccophilus alluaudi and Laccophilus furthi , but it is often slightly larger and penis in lateral view almost evenly curved and not angled. Additionally, penis of Laccophilus tigrinus on one side, provided with a latero-basal expansion which is absent in Laccophilus comes , Laccophilus alluaudi and Laccophilus furthi . Resembles also of Laccophilus pseustes but size of body smaller.

Description

(only diagnostically important differences to description Laccophilus alluaudi are recognized):

Body length 3.6-4.0 mm, width 2.1-2.3 mm. Dorsal, colour pattern of body distinct (Fig. 394).

Head: Posteriorly head often becomes gradually a little darker.

Pronotum: Frontally in middle with a vague, somewhat darker area.

Elytra: Very fine, sparse punctures form a discal, a dorsolateral and a lateral row of punctures discernible on each elytron. Pre-apical, lateral furrow rather shallow; punctate with fine hairs.

Ventral aspect: Metacoxal plates in part blackish. Apical ventrite as in Fig. 38.

Legs: Pro- and mesotarsus slightly enlarged and extended, provided with distinct suckers.

Male genitalia: Penis, in lateral aspect evenly curved towards apex, in dorsal aspect, slightly sinuate; basally provided with a distinct enlargement (Figs 237-239).

Female: Pro- and mesotarsus slender. Apical ventrite as in Fig. 39.

Distribution.

Comoro Islands (Fig. 532).

Collecting circumstances.

Unknown.