Operclipygus longidens, Caterino, Michael S. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2013

Caterino, Michael S. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2013, A systematic revision of Operclipygus Marseul (Coleoptera, Histeridae, Exosternini), ZooKeys 271, pp. 1-401 : 239-240

Operclipygus longidens sp. n. Figs 62G63GMap 23

Type locality.

ECUADOR: Orellana: Yasuní Research Station [0°40.5'S, 76°24'W].

Type material.

Holotype male: "Ecuador: Napo, mid.Rio Tiputini, Yasuní Res. Stn. 0°40.5'S, 76°24'W, FIT #M1, 28 Jun– 5 Jul 1999. AKT#046, C.Carlton & A.Tishechkin"/ “LSAM0045741” / “Yasuní Inventory Exos Genus 5 sp.1 A.K.Tishechkin det. 2007" / "Operclipygus sp #24, Hist 143, Yasuní NP Inventory A.K.Tishechkin det 2010" (FMNH). Paratypes (5): 1: same data as type (LSAM); 1: same data as type, except 23-28.vi.1999, FIT, A.K. Tishechkin (AKTC); ECUADOR: Orellana: 2:Tiputini Biodiversity Station, 0.6376°S, 76.1499°W, 4-9.vi.2011, FIT, M.S. Caterino & A.K. Tishechkin, DNA Extracts MSC-2281 & MSC-2179 (MSCC, USFQ), 1: 1.viii.2008, FIT, A.K. Tishechkin, DNA Extract MSC-1893 (AKTC).

Other material.

PERU: Madre de Dios: 1: Manu National Park, Pantiacolla Lodge, Alto Madre de Dios River, 12°39.3'S, 71°13.9'W, 420m, 14-19.xi.2007, FIT, D. Brzoska (SEMC); Junín: 1: ~16 k NW Satipo, Rio Venado at 11°11.677'S, 74°46.137'W, 1150m. 3-8.iii.2010, A.V.Petrov (AKTC). SURINAME: Para: 1: near Overbridge, 05°31'10"N, 55°04'10"W, 10-14.ii.2010, FIT, W.B. Warner (WBWC).

Diagnostic description.

This species is very similar to Operclipygus plicicollis , differing mainly in the following characters: length: 1.15-1.28 mm, width: 0.94-1.03 mm; central part of frontal stria arching forward onto epistoma; labrum transverse, distinctly emarginate at apex; left mandible with basal tooth rather small; pronotal disk with basal plicae present, short, with few coarse lateral punctures; anterior submarginal pronotal stria recurved briefly and obliquely at sides, reaching only about one-sixth pronotal length posterad; median pronotal gland openings slightly varied in position, from very close to the anterior margin, in front of curve of anterior submarginal stria, to close to its apex, about 8 puncture widths from the margin; prosternal keel strongly narrowed to front, densely punctate between carinal striae; prosternal lobe convex, also with fine, dense punctures; marginal mesoventral stria interrupted; mesometaventral stria arched strongly forward; propygidium with fine ground punctation rather dense and conspicuous; pygidium with very dense, fine ground punctation. Male genitalia: segments 8-10 identical to those of Operclipygus plicicollis (see Figs 62 A–D); tegmen (Fig. 63G) broader, with very weak medioventral process, dorsoventral curvature moderate, with abrupt bends near middle and one-fifth from apex.

Remarks.

Among the species in this group, this is most easily identified by its very short anterior submarginal pronotal stria, its emarginate labrum (Fig. 62G), and by the dense ground punctation on the pygidium. We limit the type series to those specimens from the vicinity of Rio Tiputini in eastern Ecuador. The specimens from Junín, Peru and Suriname both have much denser punctation on a more quadrate pronotum, and may together be distinct. The specimen from Madre de Dios, Peru, on the other hand, shows little to distinguish it from the types.

Etymology.

The name of this species refers to the elongated apices of its mandibles.