Eunostus minimus Kavanaugh and Rainio, 2016

Kavanaugh, David H. & Rainio, Johanna, 2016, Twenty-six New Species of Predaceous Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Adephaga: Carabidae) from Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 63 (7), pp. 201-268 : 260-262

Eunostus minimus Kavanaugh and Rainio , sp. nov.

Figures 36–37

Eunostus n. sp. 1; Rainio 2009: 31, Rainio 2012: 72 (informal designation).

TYPE MATERIAL.— Holotype ( Figs. 36A–B ), a male, in CAS, labeled: “CASENT 8069195”/ “ MADAGASCAR: Fianarantsoa Parc National de Ranomafana, Vatoharanana River, 4.1 km 231° SW Ranomafana elev 1100m 27-31 Mar 2003 ”/ “ 21°17’24”S 047°26’00”E California Acad. of Sciences coll. Fisher, Griswold et al. sifted litter, montane rainforest collection code: BLF8400”/ “ HOLOTYPE Eunostus minimus Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. n. 2015” [red label] . Paratypes (total of 2): 1 male (in MNHN) labeled “CASENT 8069129”/ “ MADAGASCAR: Fianarantsoa, Ranomafana JIRAMA water works, 21°14.91’S, 047°27.13’E ”/ “ 21-24 December 2001 collector: R. Harin’Hala California Acad of Sciences malaise trap near river elev. 690 m, MA-02-09D-08”; 1 female (in CAS) labeled “CASENT 1051146”/ “ MADAGASCAR Ranomafana NP, Vatoharana trail S 600 24.8.2004 ”/ “collected by hand in daytime, F. Ratalata & J. Rainio collectors”. Both paratypes also bear the following label: “ PARATYPE Eunostus minimus Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. n. 2015” [yellow label] .

TYPE LOCALITY.— Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park .

DERIVATION OF SPECIES NAME.— The species epithet, minimus , is the Latin adjective meaning smallest, a reference to fact that the known specimens of this species are smaller than those of any of the other known species that we have examined.

RECOGNITION.— Small for genus, SBL of male = 5.5 mm, of female 5.0 – 5. 1 mm. Members of this species ( Fig. 36A ) do not key out in Jeannel’s (1949) key for Eunostus species. They are much smaller and shinier than members of any other described species. Their heads are slightly narrower, with the tempora more evenly rounded to the back of the head, their antennal scapes shorter and thicker than in other species, thickest slightly distal to mid-length. Lateral margins of the pronotum are smoothly rounded in anterior half with a moderately short and deep subbasal sinuation anterior to slightly obtuse to rectangular hind angles. The elytral setae are generally sparser than in other species and arranged in 2 more or less distinct longitudinal rows on each interval. Male ( Fig. 37A ) and female ( Fig. 37B ) hind femora are sexual dimorphic, each unique among Malagasy species for each sex. Median lobe of male genitalia Figs. 37C–D markedly different in shape from those of the other species for which males are known (see Jeannel 1949, Fig. 513d–e).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.— At present, known only from the type locality.

HABITAT DISTRIBUTION.— Specimens of the type series were collected in both primary montane rainforest in the Vatoharanana area (at elevations ranging from of 1100 to 1200 m) and in secondary montane rainforest 1 km north of Ranomafana village at an elevation of 690 m. The specimens were collected in a malaise trap and sifted from forest litter, respectively, at the primary forest site and by hand at the secondary forest site.

Figures

FIGURE 36. Digital images of holotype male of Eunostus minimus Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. nov. A. Habitus, dorsal aspect; B. Labels. Scale line A = 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 37. Digital images of Eunostus minimus Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. nov. A–B. Apical part of left hind femur, oblique medial aspect; A. Holotype male; B. Female; C–D. Aedeagus of holotype male genitalia; C. Left lateral aspect; D. Dorsal aspect. Scale lines = 0.5 mm.