Ganelius gnamptus Paulsen, 2017

Paulsen, M. J., 2017, Revision of the endemic Madagascan stag beetle genus Ganelius Benesh, and description of a new, related genus (Coleoptera: Lucanidae: Lucaninae: Figulini), Insecta Mundi 2017 (592), pp. 1-16 : 6-8

Ganelius gnamptus Paulsen , new species

Type material. Holotype male ( Fig. 9 ), CASC, labeled ( Fig. 11 ): a) “ MADAGASCAR : Mahajanga / Prov: Parc National Tsingy / de Bemaraha, 2.5 km 62° ENE / Bekopaka, Ankidrodroa River / elev 100 m 11–15 Nov. 2001 ”; b) “ 19° 7′ 56″ S 44° 48′ 53″ E / coll: Fisher, Griswold et al. / California Acad. of Sciences / general collecting – tropical dry / forest on Tsingy, BLF4342 ”; c) “CASENT / 8030423”; d) “Collection of the / California Academy of Sciences, San / Francisco, Calif.”; e) on red paper, “ Ganelius / gnamptus ♂ / HOLOTYPE / des. M.J. Paulsen 2017”.

Two paratype females ( CASC, MJPC) labeled: a) “ MADAGASCAR: Toliara Prov. / Forêt de Kirindy , 15.5 km 64° / ENE Marofandilia, elev 100 m / 28 Nov. – 3 Dec. 2001 / 20° 2’ 42” S 44° 39′ 44″ E ” ; b) “coll: Fisher, Griswold et al. / California Acad. of Sciences / at light – in tropical dry forest / coll. code: BLF4603”; c) on yellow paper, “ Ganelius / gnamptus ♀ / PARATYPE / des. M.J. Paulsen 2017” .

Description, holotype male. Length: 12.0 mm. Width: 4.9 mm. Color: Piceous black. Head: Surface matte on disc, becoming shiny near margins, evenly punctate; punctures small, sparse (separated by 5 or more diameters). Clypeus short, emarginate on each side, apex acuminate with small denticle. Clypeolabral suture obsolete. Labrum bifurcate, visible dorsally, almost on same plane as clypeus. Suprantennal tubercle small but distinct. Ocular canthus wide, broadly convex (almost semicircular); canthus subcontiguous with anterior and posterior margins of head; postocular process almost obsolete. Antennal club small, short (shorter than scape), antennomeres tomentose only distally. Mandibles (to true apex) shorter than head, apex acute, internal tooth subrectangular. Dorsal surface produced into long, vertical ramus (false apex); ramus with apex acute, triangular subapical tooth, serrate margin internally, and basal lobe reduced to carina. Mentum broad, surface coarsely, semicircularly but shallowly punctate. Pronotum: Form broad, wider than elytra. Anterior angles subacute. Surface appearing smooth, actually finely shagreened and with finer punctures than head. Anteromedial tubercle almost obsolete. Elytra: Form slightly wider posteriorly. Surface with serially punctate striae, striae impressed basally becoming weakly impressed towards apex, striae 7–9 almost obsolete, striae with punctures not crenulating intervals. Intervals convex basally, becoming flat elsewhere, punctate with fine, shallow punctures in 3–5 irregular rows. Legs: Protibia with 5 acute teeth decreasing in size proximally. Mesotibiae and metatibiae with 1 large external tooth below middle with 1–3 smaller accessory teeth proximally. Abdomen: Male genitalia ( Fig. 12 ) with permanently everted internal sac (flagellum) whip-like, 21 mm.

Paratype variation. Females (n = 2). Length: 14.9–15.2 mm. Width: 6.1–6.4 mm. The females ( Fig. 10 ) differ from the holotype male in the following characters: Clypeal apex with median tooth larger. Labrum lower than clypeus, not distinctly visible in dorsal view. Suprantennal tubercles more strongly elevated. Antennal club smaller. Mandibles lacking dorsal ramus, subapical dorsal tooth large, obtuse. Anteromedial pronotal tubercle distinct.

Remarks. The broadly convex canthus ( Fig. 9, 10 , 30 ) of this species makes it immediately distinguishable. The male holotype is the smallest Ganelius specimen studied, and larger males would likely have a more distinct pronotal tubercle on a more convex pronotum, with more developed mandibles. The female mandibles in this species are unique in being sharply bent internally in the basal third ( Fig. 30 ), with females of other species have simply rounded mandibles. The females display the same rounded head and relatively flat pronotum with a weak tubercle that is seen in the male holotype.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a Latinized adjective derived from the Greek gnamptos meaning curved, in reference to the head shape of this species that is broadly curved anteriorly.

Distribution ( Fig. 35 ). MADAGASCAR: MAHAJANGA: P.N. Tsingy de Bemaraha. TOLIARA: Forêt de Kirindy near Mandofandilia.

Figures

Figures 9–12. Ganelius gnamptus Paulsen, n.sp. 9) Male holotype, dorsal habitus. 10) Female paratype, dorsal habitus. 11) Holotype labels. 12) Male genitalia, flagellum, 21 mm.

Figures 28–32. Comparison of ocular canthi, females. 28) Ganelius madagascariensis. 29) G. oberndorferi. 30) G. gnamptus. 31) G. zombi. 32) Agnelius nageli.

Figures 33–37. Species distributions. 33) Ganelius madagascariensis. 34) G. oberndorferi. 35) G. gnamptus. 36) G. zombi. 37) Agnelius nageli.