Metaleptobasis falcifera, Ellenrieder, 2013

Ellenrieder, Natalia Von, 2013, <p> <strong> A revision of <em> Metaleptobasis </ em> Calvert (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) with seven synonymies and the description of eighteen new species from South America </ strong> </ p>, Zootaxa 3738 (1), pp. 1-155 : 32-35

Metaleptobasis falcifera new species

Figs. 1g ; 3g ; 4g ; 5g ; 6g ; 8g ; 9g ; 10g ; 11g ; 12g ; 13c ; 14f

Metaleptobasis sp. D — Paulson (1985: 12; mention).

Etymology. From Latin falcifera (adjective), meaning 'carrying a scythe', referring to the shape of female S8 sternal prongs in lateral view.

Types. ( all *). Holotype ♂: PERU, Madre De Dios Dep., Pakitza, Reserved Zone, Manu National Park , T 2 to R2 to T1 to base camp (11°55'48''S, 71°15'18''W, 250 m), 17 ix 1989, J.A. Louton leg. [ USNM]; 1 ♀ paratype, same data but 18 ix 1989 [ USNM]; 2 ♀ paratypes, same data but trail 2, marker 18, seeps (11°56'S, 71°18'W, 250 m), 16 ix 1989, N.E. Adams [ USNM]; 1 ♂, same data but Pantiacolla Lodge, Manu National Park (12°38'37''S, 71°14'21''W, 400 m), 15 xi/ 15 xii 2010, C. Bota-Sierra leg. [ CEUA]; 3 ♂, 4 ♀ paratypes, same data but Tambopata- Candamo Reserved Zone, Explorer's Inn on Río Tambopata , 39 km SW of Puerto Maldonado (12°50'18''S, 69°17'59''W, 300 m), 3 22 vii 2002, D.R. Paulson & N. Smith leg. [ DRP]; 1 ♂ paratype, same data but Camp 5, flooded forest, 25 ix 1992, M. Butt [ BMNH]; 1 ♂ paratype, same data but Trocha B, 30 xii 1992 [ LB]; 1 ♀ paratype, same data but Boca Río La Torre , 20 ii 1982, G. Lamas leg. [ DRP]; 1 ♀ paratype, same data but (12°50'12''S, 69°17'36''W, 300 m), 11 vii 2008, TF leg. [ TF]; 1 ♀ paratype, same data but 30 km (air) SW Puerto Maldonado (12°50'S, 69°20'W, 290 m), 4–19 ix 1984, D.H. Kavanaugh leg. [ CAS]; 2 ♂, 2 ♀, paratypes, same data but Camp 3, the Collpa, Río Tambopata W bank, flooded forest (13°8'31''S, 69°36'46''W), 16 ix 1992, M. Butt [ BMNH]; 1 ♂ paratype, BRAZIL, Acre State, Feijo, on sub affluent of Jurua on Amazonas line (8°25'S, 70°25'W, 199 m), xii 1956 [ RWG]; 1 ♂ paratype, same data but Senador Guiomard, trail of Igarapé Floresta, Fazenda Experimental Catuaba # 1186 (10°4'20''S, 67°36'53''W, 175 m), 22 xi 2008, P.S. Ferreira-Peruquetti leg. [ RWG].

Specimens examined. 11 ♂, 13 ♀.

Description of male holotype. Labium and rear of head ivory; base of mandible pale yellow with a brown spot; labrum yellowish orange with dark brown line along latero-basal margins and distal margin yellow; gena pale greenish yellow with a brown spot to the side of antefrons; anteclypeus pale greenish yellow with a pair of mediolateral brown spots; postclypeus distal half black, basal half brown; antefrons pale bluish yellow; postfrons and epicranium black with metallic green reflections and pale spots and stripes orange as depicted in Fig. 1g i ; postocular lobes posterior to vertex yellowish orange; eyes dull green dorsally, pale green ventrally, color in life unknown; postocular lobes rounded. Thorax. Color as described for genus, with mid-dorsal dark stripe on pterothorax black with metallic greenish-blue reflections, wider than inter-laminal sinus, maximum width at 0.30 of pterothoracic length of 0.50 of mesanepisterna width, about parallel sided posteriorly, extended along sides of antealar sinus ( Fig. 3g i ). Pronotum anterior lobe ( Figs. 4 g i ; 5g i ) smooth; propleuron smooth; anterior and middle lobes of pronotum separated dorso-laterally by a groove; anterior margin of middle lobe of pronotum with an antero-lateral laminar tongue-like lobe on each side (e.l.), as long as about twice its width, with tip rounded and posterior surface slightly concave; pronotum posterior lobe trilobed, with medial lobe smoothly convex and lateral lobes narrowing to angled lateral corners, as long as 0.50 of medial lobe length. Mesanepisternal horns with bases separated, horns as long as 1.2 times mesostigmal plate width, thin, cylindrical, slightly diverging from each other in posterior view, directed antero-dorsally at an angle of 45° with dorsum in lateral view, ending on a bluntly pointed tip ( Figs. 4g i ; 5g i ). Wings hyaline, veins reddish brown; Pt sub-rectangular, with anterior and posterior sides longer than distal side, and membrane pale brown margined by pale yellow; 12 pnx in Fw and Hw. Abdomen. Postmortem background color pale yellow on S1–6, yellowish orange on S7–10; S1 with a reddish brown dorsoposterior spot and latero-ventral margin of terga margined in black; dorsum of S2 pale reddish-brown, of S2–7 dark reddish-brown, with a basal pale incomplete ring at anterior edge interrupted by dorso-longitudinal dark line, and with a small diffuse pale transverse spot near posterior margin on each side on S2, on S3–6 dark dorsal color extended ventrally along sides of lateral terga sub-apically to posterior margin; dorsum of S8 dark reddish brown along about basal 0.75, gradually turning into orange distally; dorsum of S9 dark reddish brown along about basal 0.50, gradually turning into orange distally; dorsum of S10 reddish-orange; medio-longitudinal sternal carina margined with brown on S7–8; caudal appendages reddish orange with black apex. Genital lobe ( Fig. 8g ) tall, slightly lower than anterior hamule and shorter than 0.50 of its basal width, smoothly curved; posterior hamule (p.h.) laminar and large, clearly surpassing ventral margin of genital fossa, as high as anterior hamule (a.h.), wider than width of sclerotized medial portion of genital ligula basal segment in ventral view, and gradually narrowing distally, with sides straight, and tip angled at about 90° from base and triangular in ventral view; curvature of basal segment of genital ligula marked by a deep concave depression (d.d.), followed by a prominent convex protuberance (pr.); genital ligula distal segment pear-shaped, distinctly widened sub-apically, with ratio maximum width/length of 0.70, apex slightly concave with a narrow ectal fold (e.f., Figs. 8g ). Medial portion of male S10 postero-dorsal margin ( Figs. 10g ; 11g ; 12g ) projected posteriorly, lacking an incision, and with a dorsal prominence represented by an entire transverse sub-apical swelling. Cercus sub-cylindrical, slightly narrowing distally in lateral view ( Fig. 12g ), with a longitudinal medial concavity, in dorsal view ( Fig. 10g ) about straight along basal 0.70, with tip curved medio-ventrally at an angle of 80°, about as wide as medial third of cercus, and ending on a single point directed medio-ventrally; ratio of cercus length to S10 maximum length in lateral view 1.45; ratio of cercus length to paraproct length in lateral view 0.78; paraproct sub-cylindrical, with a slight medial constriction and slightly widened distally in lateral view, with a medio-longitudinal concavity, tip curved medially at 95°, ending on a single ventral tooth.

Dimensions. Hw 23.5; abdomen 38.8; total length 46.3.

Female paratype (same locality as holotype). Head. As in holotype but eyes pale brown; pattern of epicranium as in Fig. 1g ii.— Thorax. As in holotype but antero-lateral laminar tongue-like lobe on each side of middle lobe of pronotum as long as about three times its width; postero-medial margin of pronotum posterior lobe projected postero-dorsally, and lateral lobes of pronotum posterior lobe dorsally globose and slightly projected postero-dorsally; mesanepisternal horns vestigial, their position indicated by very low blunt prominences ( Figs. 4g ii; 5g ii);14 (right) and 12 (left) pnx in Fw, 13 (right) and 12 (left) pnx in Hw.— Abdomen. Color pattern as in holotype; posterior margin of S8 sternum with a bifid projection with a small central spine, lateral scythe-shaped prongs as long as 0.50 of ovipositor external valves, reaching 0.60 of S9, oriented parallel to ovipositor lateral surface ( Fig. 9g i ); ovipositor reaching level between tip of paraproct and tip of cercus; caudal appendages and ovipositor external valves orange.

Variation in paratypes. Paratypes as holotype but pale color of frontal surface of head pale yellow to pale yellowish green to pale brown; color of eyes in life dull green dorsally, yellowish brown laterally, and grey ventrally ( Fig. 13c ) to olive green (DRP pers. comm.).; antero-lateral projection of middle lobe of pronotum tongue-shaped and as long as about two to three times its width in females, and from twice its width to small and digit-shaped in males; postero-medial end of pronotum posterior lobe in females slightly to markedly globose, slightly to markedly projected dorso-posteriorly, and lateral lobes as long as 0.50 to slightly shorter than medial lobe length; mesanepisternal horns as long as 1.2–1.5 of mesostigmal plate width in male paratypes; Pt pale yellow to dark reddish brown; squarish to rectangular; 12–14 pnx in Fw, 12–13 in Hw; small diffuse pale transverse spot near posterior margin on each side of dorsum from S2–4; pronounced prominence following deep depression on basal segment of genital ligula triangular to rounded in lateral view; medial posterior projection of postero-dorsal margin of male S10 sometimes folded ventrally during preservation; ratio of male cercus length to S10 maximum length in lateral view 1.2–1.5; ratio of male cercus length to paraproct length in lateral view 0.74–0.80; bifid projection on female S8 sternum with small to strong central spine, lateral scythe-shaped prongs narrow to wide, and as long as 0.50–0.66 of ovipositor external valves, reaching 0.60–0.75 of S9 ( Figs. 9g i–v ); ovipositor reaching level between tip of paraproct and tip of cercus to level of tip of cercus.

Dimensions. Males (n 10, excluding holotype): Hw 22.4 ± 0.6 [21.6–23.5]; abdomen 38.8 ± 0.9 [38–40]; total length 46.1 ± 1.1 [44.3–47.6]. Females (n 10): Hw 24.2 ± 0.6 [23.5–25.6]; abdomen 38 ± 1.1 [36–39.7]; total length 45.2 ± 1.2 [43.1–47.4].

Diagnosis. Male posterior hamule (as high as or slightly higher than anterior hamule, about as wide as 1.5 times width of medial sclerotized portion of genital ligula basal segment in ventral view, with sides straight, with tip angled at about 90° and triangular in ventral view, Fig. 8g ), is unique for M. falcifera and allows distinction of the male from all its congeners. In M. orthogonia , M. peltata , and M. tridentigera , male posterior hamule is also as high as or higher than anterior hamule and its tip is bent at about 90°, but it is narrower, about as wide as width of medial sclerotized portion of genital ligula basal segment in ventral view ( Figs. 8w , ac), or its posterior surface is angled ( Fig. 8t ), or its tip is rounded in ventral view ( Fig. 8w ). Metaleptobasis falcifera differs further from them by its male genital lobe, slightly higher than 0.50 of anterior hamule height ( Fig. 8g ; vs. distinctly shorter than 0.50 of anterior hamule height in M. orthogonia or about as high as anterior hamule height in M. peltata , Figs. 8t, w ). Female of M. falcifera shares only with M. orthogonia , M. panguanae , M. peltata , and M. tridentigera the presence of an antero-lateral laminar tongue-like lobe on each side of anterior margin of middle lobe of pronotum, only with M. peltata and M. tridentigera the presence of dorsally globose lateral lobes of posterior lobe of pronotum, and only with M. peltata sternum of S8 projected into a trifid process with a short central spine-like prong and lateral prongs scythe-shaped and oriented parallel to ovipositor sides. I was unable to find any mutually exclusive morphological differences between females of M. falcifera and M. peltata , and determination of females of these two species must rely on association with males and locality, since their distributions as far as is known are allopatric, with M. falcifera known from SE Peru and SW Brazil, and M. peltata from N Peru ( Fig. 14f).

All known females are dimorphic in development of mesanepisternal horns and shape of pronotum posterior lobe.

Habitat. Flooded forest, forest seeps, and trails near rivers and creeks.

Distribution. Madre de Dios Dep. in Peru and Acre State in Brazil ( Fig. 14f).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Head, dorsal view. (a) i. M. amazonica, male lectotype; (a) ii. M. amazonica, female paralectotype; (b) i. M. bicornis, male, Surinam, Kabalebo; (b) ii. M. bicornis, male, French Guiana, N of Cayenne; (b) iii. M. bicornis, female, Surinam, Commewetane; (c) i. M. bovilla, male, Costa Rica, La Selva; (c) ii. M. bovilla, female, same data; (d) i. M. brevicauda, male holotype; (d) ii. M. brevicauda, female paratype, Peru, Tingo María; (e) i. M. brysonima, male, paratype of M. incisula, Venezuela, Marawaka; (e) ii. M. brysonima, female, paratype of M. incisula, same data; (e) iii. M. brysonima, female, holotype of M. weibezahni; (e) iv. M. brysonima, female, holotype of M. tetragena; (f) i. M. diceras, male lectotype; (f) ii. M. diceras, male, Brazil, Abuna; (f) iii. M. diceras, female paralectotype; (f) iv. M. diceras, female, holotype of M. fernandezi; (f) iv. M. diceras, female, Venezuela, no locality; (f) v. M. diceras, female, Brazil, Abuna; (g) i. M. falcifera, male holotype; (g) ii. M. falcifera, female paratype, Peru, Pakitza; (h) i. M. foreli, male, Colombia, Puerto Berrio; (h) ii. M. foreli, male, paratype of M. westfalli, Panama, No. 5 on Standley, 22 vii 1950, FSCA; (h) iii. M. foreli, female, same data.

FIGURE 3. Pterothorax, dorsal view. (a) i. M. amazonica, male lectotype; (a) ii. M. amazonica, female paralectotype; (b) i. M. bicornis, male, French Guiana, N of Cayenne; (b) ii. M. bicornis, male, Surinam, Kabalebo; (b) iii. M. bicornis, female, Surinam, Moengotapoe; (b) iv. M. bicornis, female, Surinam, Commewetane; (c) i. M. bovilla, male, Costa Rica, La Selva; (c) ii. M. bovilla, female, same data; (d) i. M. brevicauda, male holotype; (d) ii. M. brevicauda, female paratype, Peru, Tingo María; (e) i. M. brysonima, male, paratype of M. incisula, Venezuela, Marawaka; (e) ii. M. brysonima, female, paratype of M. incisula, same data.

FIGURE 4. Prothorax and anterior portion of pterothorax, dorsal view. (a) i. M. amazonica, male lectotype; (a) ii. M. amazonica, male paralectotype; (a) iii. M. amazonica, female paralectotype; (b) i. M. bicornis, male, Surinam, Kabalebo; (b) ii. M. bicornis, male, Brazil, Paranapuebas; (b) iii. M. bicornis, male, French Guiana, N of Cayenne; (b) iv. M. bicornis, male, Guyana, Potaro; (b) v. M. bicornis, male, Trinidad, Cumuto; (b) vi. M. bicornis, female holotype. o.c.: oblique crest; cr.: crest; e-l.: ear-lobe; l-v. p.: latero-ventral projection; p.l.: postero-lateral projection; t.: tubercle.

FIGURE 5. Prothorax and anterior portion of pterothorax, lateral view. (a) i. M. amazonica, male lectotype; (a) ii. M. amazonica, female paralectotype; (b) i. M. bicornis, male, Trinidad, Cumuto; (b) ii. M. bicornis, male, Guyana, Potaro; (b) iii. M. bicornis, male, Surinam, Kabalebo; (b) iv. M. bicornis, male, French Guiana, N of Cayenne; (b) v. M. bicornis, male, Brazil, Paraupebas; (b) vi. M. bicornis, female, Surinam, Langamankondre; (b) vii. M. bicornis, female, Surinam, Kabalebo; (b) viii. M. bicornis, female, Surinam, Gansee; (b) ix. M. bicornis, female, Surinam, Commetewane; (b) x. M. bicornis, female, French Guiana, N of Cayenne. c.: c-shaped crest; e-l.: ear-lobe; l-v.p.: latero-ventral margin projection; p.l.: postero-lateral projection; t.: tubercle.

FIGURE 6. Wings. (a) i. M. diceras, male lectotype; (a) ii. Metaleptobasis diceras, detail male Fw Pt, paratype M. manicaria, Trinidad, Cumuto; (a) iii. Metaleptobasis diceras, detail male Hw Pt, same specimen; (b) i. M. longicauda, detail male Fw Pt, holotype; (b) ii. M. longicauda, detail male Hw Pt, holotype; (b) iii. M. longicauda, detail female Fw Pt, paratype; (b) iv. M. longicauda, detail female Hw Pt, paratype; (c) i. M. truncata, detail male Fw Pt, holotype; (b) ii. M. truncata, detail male Hw Pt, holotype. v.q.: vein descending from quadrangle.

FIGURE 8. Genital ligula, lateral view (above) and ventral view (below). (a) M. amazonica, lectotype; (b) i. M. bicornis, Surinam, Kabalebo; (b) ii. M. bicornis, French Guiana, N of Cayenne; (c) i. M. bovilla, Costa Rica, La Selva; (c) ii. M. bovilla, same data; (d) M. brevicauda, holotype; (e) i. M. brysonima, paratype of M. incisula, Venezuela, Marawaka; (e) ii. M. brysonima, Peru, Tambopata; (e) iii. M. brysonima, Brazil, Abuna; (f) i. M. diceras, lectotype; (f) ii. M. diceras, Brazil, Abuna; (f) iii. M. diceras, Peru, Manu. e.f.: ectal fold; pr.: prominent protuberance; s.d.: slight depression; t.: terminal fold.

FIGURE 9. Female S8–10, lateral view unless indicated otherwise. (a) M. amazonica, paralectotype; (b) i. M. bicornis, Surinam, Commetewane; (b) ii. M. bicornis, Brazil, Belem; (c) M. bovilla, Costa Rica, Puerto Viejo; (d) M. brevicauda, paratype, Peru, Tingo María; (e) i. M. brysonima, paratype of M. incisula, Venezuela, Marawaka; (e) ii. M. brysonima, holotype of M. weibezahni; (e) iii. M. brysonima, holotype of M. tetragena; (f) i. M. diceras, paralectotype; (f) ii. M. diceras, Brazil, Abuna; (f) iii. M. diceras, Guyana, Kamana; (f) iv. M. diceras, Venezuela; (f) v. M. diceras, Trinidad, N of Sangre Grande; (g) i. M. falcifera, paratype, Peru, Explorer’s Inn, ventral view on right.

FIGURE 10. Male S10, dorsal view. (a) M. amazonica, lectotype; (b) i. M. bicornis, Brazil, Paraupebas; (b) ii. M. bicornis, Surinam, Kabalebo; (b) iii. M. bicornis, Guyana, Kumu River; (b) iv. M. bicornis, French Guiana, N of Cayenne; (b) v. M. bicornis, Trinidad, E of Valencia; (c) M. bovilla, Costa Rica, La Selva; (d) i. M. brevicauda, holotype; (e) M. brysonima, Venezuela, Río Baria; (f) i. M. diceras, Brazil, Paraupebas; (f) ii. M. diceras, Brazil, Abuna; (f) iii. M. diceras, Peru, Pakitza; (f) iv. M. diceras, Peru, Pakitza; (f) v. M. diceras, Trinidad, Cumuto, paratype of M. manicaria; (f) vi. M. diceras, Trinidad, Cumuto, paratype of M. manicaria; (g) M. falcifera, holotype; (h) i. M. foreli, Colombia, Fundación; (h) ii. M. foreli, paratype M. westfalli, Panama, Barro Colorado # 54; (i) i. M. furcifera, holotype; (i) ii. M. furcifera, paratype, Peru, Río Seco. b.t.: bicuspidate tooth; r.: ridge.

FIGURE 11. Male S10, medio-dorsal view. (a) M. amazonica, lectotype; (b) i. M. bicornis, Surinam, Kabalebo; (b) ii. M. bicornis, Guyana, Potaro; (b) iii. M. bicornis, French Guiana, N of Cayenne; (b) iv. M. bicornis, Trinidad, E of Valencia; (c) M. bovilla, Costa Rica, La Selva; (d) M. brevicauda, holotype; (e) i. M. brysonima, Venezuela, Río Baria; (e) ii. M. brysonima, Peru, Tambopata; (e) iii. M. brysonima, Brazil, Abuna; (f) i. M. diceras, Brazil, Abuna; (f) ii. M. diceras, Trinidad, Cumuto, paratype of M. manicaria; (f) iii. M. diceras, Trinidad, E of Valencia; (g) M. falcifera, holotype; (h) M. foreli, Colombia, Fundación; (i) i. M. furcifera, paratype, Peru, Río Seco; (i) ii. M. furcifera, paratype, Peru, Río Seco; (j) M. gabrielae, holotype; (k) M. gibbosa, Ecuador, Copales; (l) M. guillermoi, holotype. b.t.: bicuspidate tooth; p-m.p.: postero-medial projection; pr.: prominence; r.: ridge; s.t.: single tooth; te.: teeth.

FIGURE 12. Male S10, lateral view. (a) M. amazonica, lectotype; (b) i. M. bicornis, Surinam, Kabalebo; (b) ii. M. bicornis, French Guiana, N of Cayenne; (c) M. bovilla, Costa Rica, La Selva; (d) M. brevicauda, holotype; (e) i M. brysonima, paratype of M. incisula, Venezuela, Marawaka; (e) ii M. brysonima, Venezuela, Río Baria; (f) i. M. diceras, Brazil, Paraupebas; (f) ii. M. diceras, Brazil, Abuna; (f) iii. M. diceras, Peru, Pakitza; (f) iv. M. diceras, Trinidad, Cumuto, paratype of M. manicaria; (g) M. falcifera, holotype; (h) i. M. foreli, Colombia, Fundación; (h) ii. M. foreli, paratype M. westfalli, Panama, Barro Colorado # 54; (i) i. M. furcifera, holotype; (i) ii. M. furcifera, paratype, Peru, Río Seco; (j) M. gabrielae, holotype; (k) M. gibbosa, paratype [FSCA], Ecuador, Copales; (l) M. guillermoi, holotype. sw.: swelling.

FIGURE 13. Adults of Metaleptobasis. (a) i. M. brysonima, male, Peru, Madre de Dios, Main Trail, Explorer's Inn, 12 vii 2002, by DRP; (a) ii. M. brysonima, female, same data but, 23 vii 2002, by N. Smith; (a) iii. M. brysonima, male, same data but, 30 vii 2002, by DRP; (b) M. diceras, female, Peru, Madre de Dios, Main Trail, Explorer's Inn, 21 vii 2002, by DRP; (c) M. falcifera, male, Peru, Madre de Dios, Katicocha Trail, Explorer's Inn, 9 vii 2002, by DRP. ♀ ♂