Operclipygus britannicus, 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 : 63-65

Operclipygus britannicus sp. n. Figs 15A, CMap 5

Type locality.

BRAZIL: Amazonas: Manaus, INPA/Smithsonian Reserve [2°25'S, 59°50'W].

Type material.

Holotype male: "BRAZIL: Manaus, AM.INPA/Smithsonian Res. 2°25'S, 59°50'W R. Didham.v.1994" / "Leaf litter, Winkler method. Terra firme fst" / "889 | 1" / "Caterino/Tishechkin Exosternini Voucher EXO-00251" (BMNH). Paratypes (4): 1: same data as type (BMNH), same data as type, except as noted: 1: iii.1994 (FMNH), 1: v.1994 (MSCC). BRAZIL: Amazonas: 1: Reserva Ducke, 26km NE Manaus, iii.1995, leaf litter, M.G.V.Barbosa (BMNH).

Diagnostic description.

This species is extremely similar to Operclipygus impuncticollis , differing only in a few external characters: length: 1.72-2.15 mm, width: 1.47-1.84 mm; frontal stria complete; marginal pygidial sulcus much more strongly and broadly, but smoothly impressed in basal half, inner edge not obviously crenulate basally; male genitalia indistinguishable from those of Operclipygus impuncticollis .

Remarks.

The basally deep pygidial sulcus (Fig. 15C) is the best character for separating this species from Operclipygus impuncticollis .

Etymology.

This species is named to recognize the contributions of the Natural History Museum, London, to this study. All the specimens of the type series of this species were found among this museum's collections, and the museum hosted the senior author for a two year postdoc in 1999-2001 that continues to pay dividends.