Catharsius dux Harold, 1878

Génier, François & Josso, Jean-François, 2016, Notes on Afrotropical Catharsius species described by Edgar von Harold (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae), Zootaxa 4072 (3), pp. 333-342 : 338

Catharsius dux Harold, 1878

( Figs. 18–26 )

Catharsius dux Harold, 1878: 101

Type locality. Regn. Lunda ( Angola)

In the very brief description given by Harold there is a length range which indicates that more than one specimen was studied. The range is “38–40 mill.” and most likely fits the size of the two female syntypes. Furthermore, Harold states that the sex described is female. Both specimens are labelled as “Lunda, Pogge”. The largest female specimen is selected as lectotype (present designation) and bear the following labels ( Fig. 20 ): [Pogge!] handwriting on green card; [ dux / Harold/ Regn. Lunda] handwriting on green card; [60062] white card; [Type] red card; [1285] green card; [SYNTYPUS / Catharsius / dux Harold, 1878 / labelled by MNHUB 2014] red card; [LECTOTYPE ♀/ Catharsius / dux / Harold, 1878 / dés. F. Génier, 2014] red card.

Remark. The type locality was previously cited in error as “ Guiné ” by Ferreira, (1960). This type locality most likely came from a misinterpretation of “im inneren Guinea ” as cited in Harold’s original description. At the end of the 19th century “ Guinea ” was a very vague term for the “Gulf of Guinea ”. Harold’s (1879) gave a detailed account of A.V. Homeyer and P. Pogge’s journey into “ Angola und im Luanda-Reiche” or former pre-colonial confederation of the Lunda Kingdom ( Moretto, 2014). The original syntype labels state “Regn. Lunda” as the locality where Pogge collected the specimens. Harold gives the collecting sites for Pogge on a line approximately along the 10th parallel from 17 to 22° of longitude. Most of this itinerary is located within Angola and for a short distance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Therefore, the exact type locality lies somewhere in the Malanje, North or South Lunda provinces of Angola.

The current cited distribution range of this species is from Guinea in West Africa to Mozambique and Namibia in Southern Africa. Such wide distribution is rare among Afrotropical dung beetle species. For now, we can confirm the presence of this species from Cameroon (Northwest Region), Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola and Zambia (examined specimens and pers. comm. P. Moretto). We consider records outside this range dubious and probably based on mislabeled or misidentified specimens. All other countries cited by Ferreira are most likely misidentifications of Catharsius gorilla Thomson.

Quedenfeldt (1884) described the male of C. dux from a series of specimens collected in Malange (=Malanje), Angola. In order to remain as conservative as possible and conform to the current accepted species concept we retain this interpretation which does not challenge the valid status of C. duciformis . Although not regulated by ICZN, we “link” a male specimen with specific diagnostic characters to the female lectotype of this species (see Dechambre, 2002). This is especially important for nomenclatural stability as the female specimens of this species are undistinguishable from females of Catharsius duciformis Ferreira, 1959 . To our knowledge, C. dux and C. duciformis have never been collected from the same locality. Furthermore, the parapatric distribution pattern of C. dux and C. duciformis is also problematic for species recognition. This alloreferent, a well-developed male specimen (fig. 22–26), is from northwest Zambia and bears the following label data ( Fig. 24 ): [ ZAMBIE NW Prov./ 10Km N Mwinilunga/ 06-XII-2012 / S11°34’ E24°24’ / leg. Josso Juhel Minetti]; [ALLOREFERENT ♂/ Catharsius / dux / Harold, 1878 / dés.: F. Génier & J.-F. Josso, 2015]. The alloreferent male is deposited together with the lectotype female (ZMHB).

Figures

FIGURES 18 – 21. Catharsius dux Harold (lectotype ♀). 18. habitus, dorsal view; 19. head, dorsal view; 20. labels; 21. head and pronotum, frontal view.

FIGURES 22 – 26. Catharsius dux Harold (alloreferent ♂). 22. habitus, dorsal view; 23. head, dorsal view; 24. labels; 25. parameres, dorsal view; 26. aedeagus, lateral view.