Mecyclothorax cooki Perrault, 1986: 449

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 53-54

41. Mecyclothorax cooki Perrault, 1986: 449

Identification.

This species is extremely similar to the preceding, Mecyclothorax aorai , and in addition to the characters of the key, can be diagnosed by the less transverse pronotum; MPW/PL = 1.20-1.27 (n = 2) for this species versus 1.30-1.37 (n = 2) for Mecyclothorax aorai . The pronotal basal margin is straighter immediately mesad the hind angles in this species (Fig. 25D), versus curved forward in Mecyclothorax aorai where the basal seta is placed noticeably anterad a line defined by the basal margin of the pronotum near the midline. Head with well-developed microsculpture consisting of upraised, transversely stretched sculpticells. The pronotal disc is covered with a swirling transverse mesh, the sculpticell breadth 3 –4× length on lateral convex areas. Discal elytral intervals with rough-appearing transverse mesh microsculpture that includes a small proportion of isodiametric sculpticells, the sculpticell margins distinct, transverse sculpticell breadth 2 –4× length. Setal formula 2221; standardized body length 5.7 mm.

Distribution and habitat.

This species is known to live on Mont Aorai from 1265 m to 1900 m elevation. One of the four known specimens was collected by beating live and dead fern fronds over a beating sheet, indicating the use of an arboreal refuge during daytime.