identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
515F8784F04EFFE2FF6F8D1D634D41D0.text	515F8784F04EFFE2FF6F8D1D634D41D0.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Rhinoscapha degei Bollino and Zhang 2026	<div><p>Rhinoscapha degei Bollino and Zhang sp. nov.</p><p>(Figure 1A–C; 2A–D)</p><p>http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: AE955BD0-234A-456D-BB8A-2FA4D4C8C213</p><p>Holotype: ♂, Fiji — Viti Levu I. / Navai village— <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=177.99017&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-17.620083" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 177.99017/lat -17.620083)">Mt. Tomanivi</a> / 17°37’12.3”S 177°59’24.6”E / 20–30 January 2026 -m 750 a.s.l. / Lgt. local people (typed on white card) // HOLOTYPE / Rhinoscapha degei / BOLLINO &amp; ZHANG, 2026 (typed on red card) (NHMUK) .</p><p>Paratypes (14♂♂, 16♀♀):</p><p>1♀, Fiji — Viti Levu I. / Navai village— <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=177.99017&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-17.620083" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 177.99017/lat -17.620083)">Mt. Tomanivi</a> / 17°37’12.3”S 177°59’24.6”E / 20–30 January 2026 -m 750 a.s.l. / Lgt. local people (NHMUK);</p><p>2♀♀, 10.1.2016 / Fiji —Viti Levu / Navai Village / Lgt. B. Bubenik (MBLI) ;</p><p>6♂♂, 4♀♀, Fiji — Viti Levu I. / Navai village— <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=177.99017&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-17.620083" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 177.99017/lat -17.620083)">Mt. Tomanivi</a> / 17°37’12.3”S 177°59’24.6”E / 20–30 January 2026 -m 750 a.s.l. / Lgt. local people —coll. Bollino (MBLI) ;</p><p>6♂♂, 6♀♀ same data as holotype (YZPA);</p><p>1♀, Mt. Tomanivi / Viti Levu / Fiji / December 2023 / Lgt. local people (CMNC)</p><p>1♂, 2♀♀, Navai, Viti Levu / Viji / December 2016 (KTBG) .</p><p>1♂, same data as holotype (KTBG)</p><p>The additional label: “ PARATYPE / Rhinoscapha degei / BOLLINO &amp; ZHANG, 2026” (typed on red card) was added to all paratypes.</p><p>Specimens not seen by us or examined only in photos and therefore not included in the type series (1♂, 3♀♀): 1♀, Fiji: VITILEVU / Coloisuva Compt.23 / ex Kauvula leaves / 6 th Mar. 1995 ES. // ex leaves of / E. macrophylla / coll. E Senivasa; 1♀, FIJI IS. VITI LEVU / COLO-I-SUVA / Compt. #23. 29.III.95 / coll. E. Koko, both in Colo-I-Suva Forestry Station, Suva. 1♂, 1♀, Rewa, FIJI / Viti Levu / Febr. 4, 1952 (ANIC) .</p><p>Diagnosis</p><p>The most evident characters that allow Rhinoscapha degei sp. nov. to be distinguished from the most closely related species ( Rh. lagopyga Fairmaire, 1881; Rh. albofasciata Heller, 1935; Rh. leguilloui (Guérin-Méneville, 1841); Rh. cristovallensis (Montrouzier, 1855); Rh. ribbei Heller, 1935 and Rh. aequata Heller, 1935), all occurring in eastern Melanesia from the Solomon Islands to Fiji, are the pattern of the patches of whitish-yellow and ferruginous scales (the latter a feature almost unique within the genus Rhinoscapha, but shared by the three Fijian species). The shape of the everted endophallus also allows the new species to be distinguished from the sympatric Rh. lagopyga by the different length and dilation of the basal portion, as well as by the different dilation of the lateral diverticula at the base of the apical portion. We did not have male specimens of Rh. oblita available, so we were unable to examine the endophallus of this species; however, the external pattern is so different (elytra almost uniformly covered with ferruginous scales in the type of Rh. oblita, black elytra with patches of whitish-yellow and ferruginous scales in Rh. degei) that it leaves no doubt about the distinction between the two taxa.</p><p>Description</p><p>Male. Dimensions: LB: 13.3–15.5 (HT: 13.8 mm; â: 14.3); LR: 3.1–3.7 (3.3 mm; â: 3.4); WR: 1.9–2.1 (1.9 mm; â: 2.0); LP: 3.7–4.3 (3.7 mm; â: 3.9); WP: 3.7–4.5 (3.9 mm; â: 4.0); LE: 9.1–10.9 (9.5 mm; â: 9.9); WE: 5.5–6.6 (5.8 mm; â: 6). N=10</p><p>Integument shiny black. Body, head and legs covered with oval, pale-beige scales of a matte texture (hereafter referred to as pale scales) and rounded, reddish-brown scales of a glossy texture (hereafter referred to as dark scales); scales forming spots on dorsal, lateral and ventral sides. Rostrum beneath scrobes with thin band of pale to brownish setae extending and broadening posteriad below eyes as far as anterior margin of pronotum. Pronotum above procoxae with longitudinal patch of reddish-brown scales, bordered by pale scales. Elytra each with following markings: 1) a basal elongate patch of reddish-brown scales extending from elytral margin to the second puncture of stria 5 and across interstriae 5 and 6; 2) a series of elongate patches positioned progressively more distally from interstriae 9 to 1, arranged as follows: on interstria 9 as a proximal band of pale scales about one-third of total elytral length and a distal band extending from approximately middle to apex; on interstria 8 as a band of almost entirely reddish-brown scales, slightly shorter than preceding one and placed more distally; on interstria 7 as a short band of pale scales with reddish-brown scales in centre, located at distal end of preceding band; on interstria 6 as a rounded pale spot with a centre of reddish-brown scales; on interstria 5 as an elongated band of pale scales; on interstria 4 as a patch of reddish-brown scales on distal three-quarters and pale scales on proximal quarter; on interstria 3 with a band of pale scales except for central third composed of reddish-brown scales; on interstriae 2 and 1 with small spots of pale scales. Mesanepisterna, mesepimera, metanepisterna, lateral margins of ventrites 1 and 2 covered with pale and reddish-brown scales, as well as lateral margins of metaventrite and lateral portion of metacoxae. Ventral surface covered with pale scales, denser on prosternum, mesoventrite, ventral portion of coxae and trochanters and posterior margins of ventrites 2, 3, 4 and 5. Meso- and metafemora with both inner and outer margins covered with pale scales in basal half. Tibiae densely covered by appressed pale scales; metatibiae with sparsely setose corbel. Eye height approximately 1.7 × width. Rostrum 1.33 × longer than width at base; maximum width at antennal insertions 1.15 × basal width; dorsally trisulcate with a broad and deep median furrow extending from base of rostrum to beginning of apical declivous portion and flanked by a pair of sublateral furrows separated from median one by a broad ridge with blunt edges. Antennae with scape straight, strongly compressed (except at apex) and reaching almost to posterior margin of eye; funicle with segments 1 and 2 elongate and of equal length, segments 3–7 each about 5/7 the length of segment 1; club equal in length to segments 5 + 6 + 7 combined. Pronotum widest at base, slightly wider than long (WP/LP: 1.025), generally smooth and shiny with sparse, short, adpressed setae and impressed by large foveoles; posterior margin fringed with dense, short, pale setae. Elytra 2.13 × longer than width at humeri; 1.11 × wider at humeri than maximum width of pronotum; widest near middle, where 1.3 × wider than at humeri; humeri evenly rounded, with protruding knob-like swelling; all interstriae flat or very slightly convex; striae distinct, with large and deep foveae. Metaventrite and ventrite 1 widely, conjointly depressed on disc, forming an oval depression covered by adpressed setae. Genitalia. Penis and everted endophallus as in Figure 2A–D.</p><p>Female. Dimensions: LB: 18.5–20.6 (â: 19.4); LR: 3.8–4.2 (â: 4.0); WR: 2.5–2.7 (â: 2.6); LP: 4.3–5.0 (â: 4.7); WP: 5.3–5.8 (â: 5.5); LE: 13.8–15.2 (â: 14.5); WE: 8.5–9.4 (â: 8.9). N=10. On average larger than males (♀♀ LB / ♂♂ LB: 1.35), with slightly more oval elytra. Metaventrite and ventrite 1 flat. Metafemora shorter than in male, approximately 0.5 × as long from base of ventrite 1 to apex of ventrite 5 (in male about 0.66 ×). Elytra with two patches of reddish-brown scales placed side by side on interstriae 2 and 3 at beginning of declivity. Other characters as in male.</p><p>Distribution</p><p>This species appears to be endemic to the island of Viti Levu, inhabiting high-precipitation forests from 250 to 750 metres above sea level. It is sympatric with Rhinoscapha lagopyga and can sometimes be found on the same tree (local collector, pers. comm.). So far, no Rhinoscapha specimens are known from the other Fijian islands, but further fieldwork may be required to confirm their absence.</p><p>Derivation of name</p><p>Degei is the supreme serpent god in Fijian folklore and regarded as the creator of the world. In Fijian mythology, Degei formed the mountains and rivers of Fiji using his movements through the landscape and laid an egg from which the first humans hatched. As this new species was found at the foothills of Mount Tomanivi, the highest peak in Fiji, it is named in honour of this deity. The species epithet is a noun in apposition.</p><p>(Figure 3A–B)</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/515F8784F04EFFE2FF6F8D1D634D41D0	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Bollino, Maurizio;Zhang, Yikai	Bollino, Maurizio, Zhang, Yikai (2026): A distinctive new species of Rhinoscapha Montrouzier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae: Eupholini) from Fiji. Zootaxa 5849 (1): 141-146, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5849.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5849.1.8
