Hemiosus fittkaui Oliva, 1994

Clarkson, Bruno & Ferreira-Jr, Nelson, 2009, Three new species of Hemiosus Sharp (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) and new state records of Hemiosus fittkaui Oliva and H. moreirai d’Orchymont from Brazil, Zootaxa 2139, pp. 61-68 : 67

Hemiosus fittkaui Oliva, 1994

Material examined. DZRJ: 1 3 ( Coleoptera 1822 ), BRASIL: Bahia, Mucuri,/ Rio Mucuri,/ 26.VIII.1988,/ A. L. Carvalho, G. R. da/ Silva & L. F. M. Dorvillé/ leg.; 4 Ƥ DZRJ: ( Coleoptera 2546 ), BRASIL: Bahia, Mucurí,/ Rio Mucurí,/ 26.VIII.1988,/ A. L. Carvalho, G. R. da/ Silva & L. F. M. Dorvillé/ leg.

Remarks. The holotype of H. fittkaui was described from Rio Itu in Amazonas State, Brazil. Oliva (1994) considered this species (like others occurring in northern South America) as a relictual species associated with a putative South America refugium, because their preference for sandy bottom habitats might restrict their dispersion ( Oliva 1994, 2007). However in this case, the restricted distribution she found is most likely related to a lack of sampling; Hemiosus fittkaui is herein the first record from Bahia State, Brazil. Although, habitat notes were not given in the collecting labels, the material was collected from the potamal region of the river (A. L. Carvalho, pers. comm.).