Brachypelus ranomafanae 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 : 205-206

Brachypelus ranomafanae Kavanaugh and Rainio , sp. nov.

Figures 2–3

Brachypelus n. sp. 1; Rainio 2009: 31 (informal designation).

TYPE MATERIAL.— Holotype ( Figs. 2A–B ), a female, in CAS, labeled: “ MADAGASCAR Ranomafana NP. Talatakely, X, 130 m. 15.1.2001 ”/ “ collected in pitfall trap on forest floor, F. Ratalata & J. Rainio collectors”/ “32.” [handwritten label]/ “ HOLOTYPE Brachypelus ranomafanae Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. n. 2015” [red label].

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

DERIVATION OF SPECIES NAME.— The species epithet, ranomafanae , is a noun in apposition, derived from the name of the national park in which the type was collected.

RECOGNITION.— Large for genus, SBL = 6.8 mm. Members of this species ( Fig. 2A ) are most similar to those of Brachypelus obesus Putzeys (1866) , with which they share large size, only six setae on the labrum, and a single discal setiferous pore on elytral interval 3 (at apical one-fifth). They differ from B. obesus members in the following: transverse fronto-clypeal suture present and deeply impressed ( Fig. 3A ) (absent from B. obesus members); frons with longitudinal frontal furrows narrower and shallower than in B. obesus ; posterior lateral margins of the eyes broadly round- ed (more narrowly and angularly rounded in B. obesus members); elytral base ( Fig. 3B ) straight between intervals 3 and obliquely sloped laterally from interval 4 (elytral base straight between intervals 4 and gradually rounded laterally from interval 3 in B. obesus members); elytra with lateral margin distinctly toothed at humerus (smoothly rounded at humerus, without a tooth in B. obesus members); and elytral intervals slightly convex apically (nearly flat in B. obesus members). Others species with members of comparably large size include Brachypelus rolandi Bulirsch et al. (2005) , Brachypelus betsileo Bulirsch et al. (2005) , Brachypelas fischeri Bulirsch et al. (2005) and Brachypelus janaki Bulirsch and Moravec (2009) . However, B. ranomafanae members differ from those of B. rolandi in having the labrum with only six setae (seven in B. rolandi members), elytra widest at middle (anterior to middle in B. rolandi members), and elytral intervals moderately convex throughout (flattened apical in B. rolandi members). Members of both B. betsileo and B. fischeri have seven labral setae (whereas those of B. ranomafanae have only six) and lack discal setiferous pores (those of B. ranomafanae have a single setiferous pore in the apical one-fifth on interval 3. Finally, B. ranomafanae members differ from those of B. janaki in having only six setae on the labrum (seven labral setae in B. janaki members), the elytral margin with a distinct humeral tooth (tooth absent from B. janaki members), and only a single discal setiferous pore on elytral interval 3, with intervals 5 and 7 without such punctures (five or more such punctures on intervals 3, 5 and 7 in B. janaki members).

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

HABITAT DISTRIBUTION.— The unique holotype was collected in a pitfall trap placed in secondary montane rain forest in the Talatakely area, at an elevation of 900 m, at the 130 meter mark along Trail “X”. Vegetation in that area consisted of bamboo, small young trees and some larger trees with diameters at breast-height (DBH) of 20–30 cm. Tree trunks and branches were mostly covered with epiphytes and lianas.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Digital images of holotype female of Brachypelus ranomafanae Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. nov. A. Habitus, dorsal aspect; B. Labels. Scale line = 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 3. Digital images of holotype female of Brachypelus ranomafanae Kavanaugh & Rainio sp. nov. A. Head, dorsal aspect; B. Elytral base, dorsal aspect. Scale lines = 0.5 mm.