Orphnus (Phornus) renaudi, Frolov & Akhmetova, 2016

Frolov, Andrey V. & Akhmetova, Lilia A., 2016, Revision of the subgenus Orphnus (Phornus) (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Orphninae), European Journal of Taxonomy 241, pp. 1-20 : 7-9

Orphnus (Phornus) renaudi sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0B5B7277-272A-43A7-8F95-2D8E5AE363F2

Figs 1N , 2 , 6

Diagnosis

Orphnus renaudi sp. nov. differs from the other macropterous Phornus species ( O. giganteus ) in having the pronotum relatively smaller and narrower than elytra, sparsely punctate disc of pronotum, narrower head with concave and sparsely punctate frons, and larger eyes.

Etymology

This species is named after Renaud Paulian.

Material examined

Holotype

NIGERIA: ♂, “Old Calabar [Calabar, Nigeria]” ( MNHN).

Paratypes

NIGERIA: 2 ♂♂ with the same locality label as the holotype and “ PARATYPUS Orphnus renaudi Frolov & Akhmetova 2015 ” ( MNHN).

CAMEROON: 1 ♂, “ Camaroons [probably foothills of Mount Cameroon ]” ( MNHN).

1 ♂ without locality labels ( BMNH) .

Description

Holotype ( Fig. 2A )

Body length 13 mm. Colour uniformly dark brown.

Anterior margin of frontoclypeus slightly convex in middle, slightly sinuate beside medial convexity, rounded laterally, with a narrow border ( Fig. 2C ). Frontoclypeus with a low transverse bimodal process medially approximately in middle of a line connecting anterior margins of eyes and anterior margin of frontoclypeus ( Fig. 2D ). Frontoclypeus slightly concave behind process, punctate with rounded punctures separated by 1–3 puncture diameters in the anterior part and more sparsely behind the frontoclypeal process.

Eyes relatively large: width about 1/5 distance between eyes in dorsal view. Antennae 10-segmented, without malformed segments.

Pronotum widely rounded laterally, narrower than elytra ( Fig. 1N ). Anterior border wide, with smooth posterior margin. Basal border narrow, keel-shaped, separated from pronotal disc by a deep groove having a row of coarse elongated punctures. Pronotal disc anteromedially slightly flattened, punctate. Sides with coarser punctures than disc, rounded to somewhat elongated. Disc almost smooth in basal half, with minute punctation.

Scutellum subtriangular, narrowly rounded apically, about 1/11 length of elytra.

Elytra 1.1 times longer than wide, with distinct humeral humps, widest in middle, with lateral margins almost parallel in basal half. First five striae feebly distinct as shallow densely punctured grooves. Laterad of fifth elytral stria, punctation is more uniform with relatively dense, rounded punctures.

Macropterous.

Stridulatory field with carinae separated by 1/33 length of field in central ¼ rd ( Fig. 2I ).

Abdominal sternite 8 medially longer than sternites 6 and 7 combined; sternite 6 slightly shorter than sternite 7. Pygidium almost not visible from above, with rounded apex. Plectrum trapezoidal, slightly longer than wide ( Fig. 2H ). Lateral plate of second abdominal sternite well developed, sclerotized, about length of plectrum, with rounded apex.

Aedeagus with relatively long parameres (0.65 length of phallobase, Fig. 2 E–F), narrowly rounded apically in dorsal and lateral view, without excavations.

Female

Unknown.

Variation

Body length of the paratypes varies from 11.5–14.0 mm. In the smallest paratype the frontoclypeal process is feebly developed ( Fig. 2B ).

Distribution

The distribution and habitat of O. renaudi need further clarification. The only exact locality label, “Old Calabar” (modern town of Calabar, Nigeria) suggests that the holotype and two paratypes were collected in the coastal area near the Cross River estuary ( Fig. 6 ). It is possible, however, that the specimens were collected inland of the town of Calabar, in the foothills of Western High Plateau. Another locality, “Camaroons”, may refer to foothills of Mount Cameroon or the state of Cameroon.

Remarks

One paratype of O. renaudi sp. nov. from Calabar bears the label “Brachyorphnus ferrierei n. sp. R. Paulian det. / ALLOTYPE ”, and another specimen designated below as the holotype of O. ferrierei sp. nov., bears the label “Brachyorphnus ferrierei n.sp. R. Paulian det. / HOLOTYPE ”. Apparently Paulian considered the two specimens as conspecific and provisionally labelled them as a female and a male of a taxon he intended to describe, but his name “ Brachyorphnus ferrierei ” was not published.

Figures

Fig. 1. — A–M. Orphnus giganteus Paulian, 1948. A–B. Habitus. C–D. Head in dorsal and apical view. E–G. Antennae. H. Aedeagus in lateral view. I. Parameres in dorsal view. J. Abdomen in dorsal view. K–L. Stridulatory field. M. Habitus. — N. O. renaudi sp. nov., holotype, habitus. — O. O. ferrierei sp. nov., holotype, habitus. — P. O. valeriae sp. nov., holotype, habitus. — Q. O. parastrangulatus sp. nov., holotype, habitus. — R. O. strangulatus Paulian, 1948, habitus. M–R = not to scale.

Fig. 2. Orphnus renaudi sp. nov. A–B. Habitus. C–D. Head in dorsal and apical view. E. Aedeagus in lateral view. F. Parameres in dorsal view. G. Labels of holotype. H. Abdomen in dorsal view. I. Stridulatory field. A, C–D, G. Holotype. B, E–F, H–I. Paratypes.

Fig. 6. Orphnus (Phornus) spp. Locality map. Orphnus parastrangulatus sp. nov. is not mapped, because there are no more or less precise locality data available for this species.