Molytophilus carinatus Hartmann, 1904 (Figs. 1A–G)

Molytophilus carinatus Hartmann, 1904: 388 –389 (description)

Type locality: Ostafrika, Usambara.

Type specimens: Primary: Lectotype (Figs. 1A–E), male (MTD), herein designated to maintain taxonomic stability: “Usambara Speyer [handwritten, =h] \ [male sign] [h] \ Typus [h] [red label] \ Molytophilus carinatus Hrtm. [h] \ Samml. K.F. Hartmann Ankauf 1941.1 [printed, =p] [blue label] \ Staatl. Museum für Tierkunde. Dresden [p] \ LECTOTYPE Molytophilus carinatus Hartmann, 1904 V.Grebennikov des., 2013 [p] [red label]”. Secondary: 2 Paralectotypes (Fig. 1F) (MTD), each with male and female handwritten sign, respectively, same labels as lectotype, except the locality label “Usambara” is written in another hand and without “Speyer”, and with labels “ PARALECTOTYPE Molytophilus carinatus Hartmann, 1904 V.Grebennikov des., 2013” [p; yellow label]; handwritten identification label is absent. Described from unknown number of syntypes, but since “Hartmann” appears on labels of these specimens I consider them part of the type series. Non-type specimens: (Fig. 1G) 2 (MNHN): “ SOMALIA Genale, F.Bili 5-935 [p] \ Molytophilus carinatus Hartm. [h] MUSEUM PARIS 1968 Coll. A.HOFFMANN [p]”.

Remarks. For diagnostic purposes this species is easily recognized among likely all Molytinae by its characteristic habitus, along with the following three characters: 1, all tibiae with large spines on inner apical part (arrows, Fig. 1F); 2, lateral side of rostrum with deep groove adjacent to anterior edge of eye (arrow, Fig. 1B); and 3, robust antennae with narrow club (Fig. 1B). It remains uncertain in which of the two currently recognized Usambara regions, Western versus Eastern Usambara (Grebennikov 2017), the type series has been collected. Phylogenetic affinities of this species and, consequently, of the herein re-defined genus Molytophilus are entirely unknown. It appears probable that, unlike many East African Molytinae, this species does not inhabit the forest leaf litter since not a single specimen has been re-sampled in Western or Eastern Usambara during my recent litter sifting campaign (Grebennikov 2017).