Bothynus spinophallicus (Ratcliffe & Cave, 2021) Duarte & Grossi & Dupuis, 2022

Duarte, Paulo R. M., Grossi, Paschoal C. & Dupuis, Fabien, 2022, A taxonomic revision of the Bothynus villiersi Endrödi, 1968 species group (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae), Zootaxa 5093 (1), pp. 49-66 : 58-62

Bothynus spinophallicus (Ratcliffe & Cave, 2021) , new combination

( Figs. 2D ; 3D ; 6G–H ; 9 )

Coelosis spinophallicus Ratcliffe & Cave 2021: 45 (original description)

Type material examined. Holotype male ( UNSM), labeled: “ Paraguay: San Pedro Capiibary Marzo.1994 col. R.C. Aguilar J.” [white label, handwritten] / “ COELOSIS SPINOPHALLICUS RACLIFFE & CAVE HOLOTYPE ” [red label, partially handwritten, with data inscribed within a black border rectangle] / “ BOTHYNUS SPINOPHALLICUS (RATCLIFFE & CAVE) det B.C. Ratcliffe 2021” [white label, partially handwritten, with data inscribed within a black border rectangle] ( Fig. 2D ).

Additional material examined. BRAZIL: PARANÁ: Jaguariaíva, Parque Estadual do Cerrado , v. 2011, 870 m, C.S. Costa and Equipe — 2 males ( CERPE) .

Diagnosis. Bothynus spinophallicus distinguishes from other species of the B. villiersi species group by the right paramere with a strong process located on the middle of the inner margin combined with the left paramere devoid or only with a weak triangular process on the inner margin ( Fig. 6H ). This configuration of parameres is close to those found in B. villiersi , but the apex of parameres is shortened in B. spinophalicus , instead of elongate such as B. villiersi .

Description. Male ( Fig. 3D ). Length: 27.0– 27.8 mm. Width: 13.8–14.0 mm. Color: Mostly reddish brown; protibial margins, tarsi, meso- and metatibiae dark. Head: Clypeal surface rugose. Frontoclypeal ridge strongly raised, slightly arched. Frons transversely rugose. Interocular width about 4.1 transverse eye diameters. Mouthparts: Mandibles bearing apical tooth triangular; medial and basal teeth lobed; apical and medial teeth separated by a deep notch, medial and basal by a shallow notch. Pronotum: Anterior tubercle conical; concavity wide, deep, confined on discal anterior area; surface transversely rugose on concavity; sides bearing dense, deep, contiguous punctures; posterior disc smooth. Legs: Inner protarsal claw subequal to outer claw. Abdomen: Ventrites 1–2 completely setose; 3–5 bearing a transverse row of setigerous punctures confined on sides, disc glabrous, weakly punctate. Ventrite 6 rugopunctate on sides, weakly punctate on disc. Venter: Prosternal process columnar, produced between coxae, conical apically. Aedeagus: Parameres, in lateral view (left side) ( Fig. 6G ), subtriangular, bent downward at apex. Parameres, in dorsal view ( Fig. 6H ), oval, short apically, subapically with one small process on external sides of each paramere; right paramere bearing a strongly middle process on inner margin; left paramere with no or only with a weak, triangular process at middle of inner margin.

Female. Unknown.

Remarks. We transfer the species from Coelosis Hope, 1837 to Bothynus after holotype examination and comparison with two other specimens. The species is related to Bothynus by the head bearing a transverse ridge, columnar prosternal process, and meso- and metatibia with the medial carina devoid of tooth. Instead, Coelosis have a horn or tubercle on the head, triangular prosternal process, and the meso- and metatibia sometimes with a tooth on the medial carina ( Iannuzzi & Marioni 1995). After publication of C. spinophallicus, Ratcliffe and Cave realized the species is related to Bothynus (personal communication to PRMD, 2021). The species was published during the finalization of our revision on the Bothynus villiersi species group, whose B. spinophallicus is related and, for this reason, was included here.

Distribution. The two additional specimens examined here were collected in Cerrado areas from southern Brazil.

Type locality. Capiibary , San Pedro, Paraguay .

Geographical records ( Fig. 9 ). BRAZIL: Santa Catarina (new record). PARAGUAY: San Pedro.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Holotype dorsal habitus with their respective labels on the right side: A, Bothynus villiersi Endrödi, 1968; B, Bothynus horridus Endrödi, 1968; C, Bothynus alvarengai Martínez, 1983; D, Bothynus spinophallicus (Ratcliffe & Cave, 2021).

FIGURE 3. Male dorsal habitus: A, Bothynus villiersi Endrödi, 1968; B, Bothynus horridus Endrödi, 1968; C, Bothynus alvarengai Martínez, 1983; D, Bothynus spinophallicus (Ratcliffe & Cave, 2021); E, Bothynus belemensis new species (holotype).

FIGURE 6. Aedeagus in lateral view and parameres in dorsal view, respectively: A–B, Bothynus villiersi Endrödi, 1968; C–D, Bothynus horridus Endrödi, 1968; E–F, Bothynus alvarengai Martínez, 1983; G–H, Bothynus belemensis new species. lmp = left medial process, rbp = right basal process, rmp = right medial process. Arrow indicating elongated parameres apex in B.

FIGURE 9. Geographic distribution of the Bothynus villiersi species group. The star inscribed by a red circle indicates a possible mislabeled record.