Omophron (Phrator) multiguttatum ssp. depressum Klug, 1853: 163

Anichtchenko, Alexander & Valainis, Uldis, 2024, To the knowledge of the subgenus Phrator Semenov, 1922 of the genus Omophron Latreille, 1802 (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Zootaxa 5447 (1), pp. 77-90 : 81-83

Omophron (Phrator) multiguttatum ssp. depressum Klug, 1853: 163 stat. nov.

Loc. Typ.: “ Tete ” [Zambezi riv., Mozambique]

Material examined. ANGOLA: 1m “ Angola ” ( MRAC) ; 2f: “ Angola (A16), 2 m. N. Mocamedes, 29.II.1972 ” ( BMNH) . MOZAMBIQUE: 2f: “ Zambezi R., 1906” ( SAM) . NAMIBIA: 13 ex: “ Namibia, 17.iv.1995, 27°55’S / 17°29’ E, 250m, Fish River Canyon, Ai-Ais, leg. J. Deckert ” ( ZMHB) ; 3m, 2f: “ 19-21.xi.1993, 27°55’S / 17°29’ E, 250m, Fish River Canyon, Ai-Ais, Fish River banks, pitfall traps, leg. M. Uhlig ” ( ZMHB) ; 1m: “ Namibia, 24.xi.1993, 18°13S / 21°45E, Kavango, Mahango, Game Reserve , piknik site, lux, leg. M. Uhlig ” ( ZMHB) ; 3m: “ Namibia bor. Or., Okavango riv., Bagani , Popa Falls , 25.1- 6.2.1995, lgt. M. Snizek ” (cRS); 18 ex: “Namibia, 18.iii.1998, 17°15.97’S / 11°46.8’E, Skeleton Coast Park, island in Kunene riv., 2.5km E Kunene mouth” ( ZMHB) . SOUTH AFRICA: 1m: “ S. Afr., Northern Prov., Messina Nat. Res. , 22.21 S – 30.03 E, 11.12.2000, light trap, leg. Müller, Burger ” ( TMSA) ; 1f: “ S. Afr., Zululand, Mtubatuba , 28.22 S – 32.19 E, 4.4.1974, sandy shore washing, leg. Endrödy-Younga ” ( TMSA) . ZAMBIA: 1f: “NE Rhodesia, Upper Luangwa R., 27.07 – 13.08.1910, Neave leg. ( BMNH); 11m, 8f: “ N. Rhodesia, Namwala, Dollman leg.” ( BMNH) .

Comments and variability. A study of extensive material has shown that there are no reliable characters allowing to distinguish O. (P.) depressum Klug, 1853 from O. (P.) multiguttatum Chaudoir, 1850 . There is a general tendency for individuals in southern Africa to be lighter in color and to have slightly flattened intervals on the disc of elytra ( Figs 17–19 ). The specimens from Angola usually show elytral sides not serrated or less than in other populations. The sclerite of bursa copulatrix is identical to that of O. (P.) depressum ( Figs 39–41 ). The new status is proposed here.

Distribution. Angola, Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa ( Fig 57 ).

Figures

FIGURE 57. Distribution of species of the subgenus Phrator.

FIGURES 9–19. Variability of Omophron (Phrator) multiguttatum, dorsal view. (9–16) O. multiguttatum s.str.; (17–19) O. multiguttatum depressum. (9)—Egypt; (10)—Eritrea; (11)—Syntype of rotshildi syn.; (12)—Holotype of O. ethiopiensis syn. n.; (13)—Kenya; (14)—Angola; (15–16)—DR Congo; (17)—Namibia; (18)—South Africa; (19)—Mozambique, Zambezi riv., loc.typ. Scale bar = 5 mm.

FIGURES 36–44. Sclerite, and its position inside of bursa copulatrix. (36–37)—O. (P.) variegatum, Sardinia; (38)—O. (P.) variegatum seurati syn. n. = O. (P.) variegatum; (39)—O. (P.) multiguttatum s.str., Sudan; (40)—O. (P.) multiguttatum depressum, RSA; (41 and 44)—O. (P.) multiguttatum depressum, Angola; (42)—O. (P.) alluaudi syn. n. = O. (P.) vittulatum; (43)—O. (P.) barsevskisi. Scale bar 0.5 mm.