Ephydrolithus teli, Girón & Short, 2019

Giron, Jennifer C. & Short, Andrew Edward Z., 2019, Three additional new genera of acidocerine water scavenger beetles from the Guiana and Brazilian Shield regions of South America (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Acidocerinae), ZooKeys 855, pp. 109-154 : 129

Ephydrolithus teli sp. nov. Figs 5 E–H , 7E , 8 , 9D

Type material.

Holotype (♂): "BRAZIL: Bahia: Abaíra; 13.29053S, 41.90489W; 1705 m; Pico do Barbado, W of Catolés; flotation of mud and moss from seepage; 26.ii.2018; leg. Benetti & team; BR18-0226-01B" (INPA). Paratypes (8): BRAZIL: Bahia: Same data as holotype (SEMC, 6 including DNA voucher SLE-1486). Minas Gerais: "Monte Azul; 15.17067S, 42.80351W; 970 m; Serra do Espinhaço, c. 7 Km E of Monte Azul; seepage areas in stream on rock; 28.ii.2018; leg. Benetti & team; BR18-0228-02B" (SEMC, 3 including DNA voucher SLE-1509).

Differential diagnosis.

Ephydrolithus teli is very similar to E. hamadae . Both species can only be distinguished from each other by characteristics of the aedeagus.

Description.

Body length 2.8-3.3 mm, width 1.5-1.9 mm. Body elongate oval, moderately convex (Fig. 5F ). General coloration dark brown. Posterior elevation of mesoventrite with well-defined, curved transverse ridge. Elytra without striae or serial punctures. Pro- and mesofemora covered with hydrofuge pubescence along basal 2/3; metafemora with hydrofuge pubescence on tibial grooves. Apex of fifth abdominal ventrite truncate. Aedeagus (Fig. 7E ) with basal piece 0.85 × the length of parameres; parameres nearly 0.4 × greatest width of median lobe, with outer margins only slightly convex; apex of parameres truncate, obliquely directed; apex of median lobe triangular, very narrowly rounded.

Etymology.

Named with the Latin word teli meaning spear, in reference to the shape of the median lobe of the aedeagus of the species.

Distribution.

Known from two localities in the highlands of northeastern Brazil (Fig. 8 ).

Remarks.

Both collections of this species were taken from rocky seepage habitats (e.g., Fig. 9D ).

Figures

Figure 5. Habitus of Ephydrolithus spp.: A-D Ephydrolithus hamadae: A dorsal view B lateral view C ventral view D head, dorsal view. E-H Ephydrolithus teli: E dorsal view F lateral view G ventral view H head, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 7. Thorax, abdomen and genitalia of Ephydrolithus spp.: A-D Ephydrolithus hamadae: A ventral view of mesoventrite (white arrow pointing transverse ridge) B posterior view of metafurca C fifth abdominal ventrite D aedeagus E aedeagus of Ephydrolithus teli. F, G Ephydrolithus spiculatus: F aedeagus G oblique view of mesoventrite (black arrow pointing well-developed tooth) H aedeagus of Ephydrolithus ogmos I aedeagus of Ephydrolithus minor. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

Figure 8. Distribution of Ephydrolithus spp.

Figure 9. Habitat of Ephydrolithus spp. A, B habitat and type locality for E. minor and E. ogmos, Brazil, Pico do Barbado, collecting event BR 18 - 0226 - 01 C C habitat and type locality for E. hamadae and E. spiculatus, Brazil, Cachoeira da Palmeira, collecting event BR 18 - 0302 - 04 A D habitat and type locality for E. teli, Brazil, Pico do Barbado, collecting event BR 18 - 0226 - 01 B.