Xenonychus chobauti, (Thery, 1900), Thery, 1900

Lackner, Tomáš, 2013, Revision of the genus Ctenophilothis Kryzhanovskij, 1987 (Coleoptera: Histeridae: Saprininae), Zootaxa 3691 (2), pp. 273-282 : 274-278

Ctenophilotis chobauti (Théry, 1900)

( Figs. 1–17)

Xenonychus chobauti Théry, 1900: 32 .

Styphrus chobauti: Bickhardt (1910) : 107.

Philothis chobauti: Peyerimhoff (1936) : 220, Figs. 2 , 225; Mazur (1984): 109.

Ctenophilothis chobauti: Kryzhanovskij (1987) : 25, Fig. 1; Olexa (1990): 146, 153, Figs. 6, 9, 10 , 22 , 27 , 52, 53; Mazur (1997): 268; Mazur (2004): 91; Lackner (2010): 91, figs. 17, 43, 46, 78, 85, 114, 266–281; Mazur (2011): 213.

Type locality. Algeria, Touggourt.

Type material examined. Ctenophilothis chobauti . NEOTYPE (here designated): male, with genitalia extracted and glued to the same card as the specimen: ‘3’ [written]’, followed by: ‘ Maroc - Tafilalet; dunes / à la sortie Sud de Mer- / zouga; st° 47; 720m / 31°04' N 04°00' W’ [printed], followed by: ‘Mission 2010 / H. Labrique, Y. Gomy / et G. Chavanon’ [printed], followed by: ‘ Ctenophilohis / chobauti (Théry) / Y. Gomy det. 2010’ [printed-written], followed by: ‘ Xenonychus / chobauti Théry 1900 / NEOTYPUS / Des. T. Lackner 2013 [red, hand-written label]’ (CCEC).

Additional material examined. ALGERIA: 2 3 & 3 ♀, Béni Abbès, 20.x.1980, A. Olexa lgt.; 7 specs., ibid, but 11.iv.1988; 1 3, ibid, but v.1960 (collector unknown); 2 3 & 1 ♀, Iglu, 12.iv.1988, A. Olexa lgt.; 1 ♀, ibid, but O. Kapler lgt.; 1 spec., Timimoun, 18.10.1980, A. Olexa lgt.; 2 3 & 1 ♀, Aïn Sefra, 26.iv.1987, A. Olexa lgt. (TLAN).

Comment. The type specimen of this species has not been located in the collections of MNHN during author’s visit in 2009. A subsequent search in different museums as well as MNHN undertaken during the years 2009–2013 was unsuccessful. Therefore, it is necessary to designate a neotype for this species to fix its identity as the type species of Ctenophilothis . The neotype will be housed at CCEC.

Differential diagnosis. Similar to the following species, differing from it by narrower elytral humeri, rounded mandibles (almost perpendicularly angled in C. altus ), and, especially the shape of protibia, which is quite different between the two species (see also Differential diagnosis of C. altus and compare Figs. 10 and 20 ).

Biology. The type specimen was collected by Chobaut in sand near the rotten stems of Broomrapes ( Orobanche sp.; Théry 1900). Gomy et al. (2011) collected two specimens of C. chobauti in southern Morocco at the foot of plants in a sand dune. According to Olexa (1990), who collected most known Palaearctic psammophilous Saprininae genera, Ctenophilothis and Philothis are capable of burrowing rapidly in the sand and can be found as deep as 50 cm.

Distribution. Algeria (known from Touggourt, Iglu, Timimoun, Aïn Sefra and Béni Abbès); Morocco (Merzouga) ( Fig. 27 ).

Remarks. This species has been re-described by the author (Lackner 2010), and its re-description is not repeated here. However, for the better recognition of these two rare species, the SEM micrographs and drawings of male genitalia are shown again.

Figures

FIGURE 27. Distributional map of Ctenophilothis.

FIGURES 2 – 10. Ctenophilothis chobauti (Théry, 1900), SEM micrographs: 2 — habitus, dorsal view; 3 — ditto, ventral view; 4 — right antenna, dorsal view; 5 — head, dorsal view; 6 — ditto, ventral view; 7 — prosternum; 8 — mesoventrite and metaventrite; 9 — lateral disc of metaventrite, metepisternum and fused metepimeron; 10 — protibia, ventral view.

FIGURES 18 – 26. Ctenophilothis altus (Lewis, 1885), SEM micrographs: 18 — habitus, dorsal view; 19 — ditto, ventral view; 20 — protibia, ventral view; 21 — head, dorsal view; 22 — mentum, ventral view; 23 — prosternum; 24 — mesoventrite; 25 — antennal club, ventral view; 26 — lateral disc of metaventrite + fused metepimeron and metepisternum.