Mecyclothorax muriauxi Perrault, 1978b: 143, 1984: 24

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 20

3. Mecyclothorax muriauxi Perrault, 1978b: 143, 1984: 24

Mecyclothorax muriauxioides Perrault, 1984: 24 (new synonymy).

Identification.

This is a species characterized by dramatically robust proportions, with the very broadly explanate and upraised pronotal lateral margins expanded to a very broad pronotal base (Fig. 10C). The pronotal hind angles are setose, resulting in a setal formula of 2202. The head has very reduced microsculpture, though distinct transverse grooves emanate onto the frons from the frontal grooves. The pronotal disc is covered by an obsolete transverse mesh that is difficult to trace. The microsculpture of the discal elytral microsculpture is similarly difficult to discern, though subtle iridescence suggests the sculpticells are broader, therefore defining transverse lines. The male aedeagus has a broad, bluntly rounded apex and an elongate flagellar plate, plate length 0.48 × the distance from the parameral articulation to the lobe apex (Fig. 13A). Standardized body length 7.6-8.0 mm.

The pronotal configurations of the male type of Mecyclothorax muriauxi and the two female types of Mecyclothorax muriauxioides do not seem diagnosably different to this author, and so the two names are herein considered synonymous. All three specimens possess both apical and subapical elytral setae, though the latter are broken off of the female paratype of Mecyclothorax muriauxioides .

Distribution and habitat.

The three specimens of this species have been collected at 1200 and 1300 m elevation on Mont Marau. This species is terricolous, with the 1200 m elevation specimen collected from under rocky debris, and those from 1300 m captured in a vinegar pitfall trap.