Mecyclothorax brittoni Perrault, 1978b: 141; 1986: 447

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 47-48

33. Mecyclothorax brittoni Perrault, 1978b: 141; 1986: 447

Identification.

Individuals of this species share the pale elytral margins and sutural interval surrounding piceous elytral discs with Mecyclothorax everardi (Figs 22C, D), but the elytral humeri are closer together and the elytral base is more rounded laterad the humeral angles. The microsculpture is more well developed, with the head covered with upraised, transversely stretched sculpticells resulting in a shagreened appearance. The pronotum has a well-developed isodiametric mesh anteriorly amongst the longitudinal wrinkles crossing the anterior transverse impression. The pronotal disc is covered with an evident transverse mesh, and the discal elytral intervals bear a well-developed transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 2 –3× length. The male aedeagus (Fig. 24C) has an expanded median lobe apex, though the apex is less curved dorsally than observed in males of Mecyclothorax everardi (Fig. 24B). The right paramere is moderately broad and parallel sided nearly all the way to the pointed parameral tip. The ostial canal runs parallel to the dorsal margin of the aedeagus apicad the ostium on the right face of the median lobe, curving ventrally just before its apical terminus. Setal formula 2221; standardized body length 4.8-5.2 mm.

Distribution and habitat.

This species is known from two male specimens collected at 1900 m elevation near the summit of Mont Aorai.