Rhantus bogotensis, Balke, Michael, Ospina-Torres, Rodulfo, Megna, Yoandri S., Laython, Marco & Hendrich, Lars, 2019
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publication ID |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/alpento.3.37308 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/8C3ED96B-C7A5-5FF6-BD5E-4933BD972BB6 |
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scientific name |
Rhantus bogotensis |
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sp. nov. |
Rhantus bogotensis View in CoL sp. nov. Figs 1B View Figure 1 , 2A, B, D, E, F View Figure 2 , 3 A–G View Figure 3 , 4 View Figure 4
Type locality.
Colombia, Bogota city, Juan Amarillo / Tibabuyes wetland.
Holotype. Male (ICN-UNAL): "Colombia, Bogotá D.C., Bogotá, Humedal Tibabuyes, 2,500m, 25.ix.2003, 4.7187, -74.0976; dry mounted out of an Ethanol vial labelled " Coleoptera Dytiscidae 356, Rhantus , det. M. Laython 2016"; "HOLOTYPE Rhantus bogotensis sp. nov. Balke, Ospina-Torres, Megna, Laython & Hendrich, 2019" [red printed label].
240 Paratypes. 2 exx, same data as holotype (ICN-ICN-UNAL); 1 ex., "Colombia: Bogota, La Florida, 2,436m, 19.iv.2017, 4.728, -74.142, Y.S. Megna & N. Stiven (12)", (MB 7823) (ZSM); 118 exx, "Colombia, Cundinamarca, Humedal La Florida, 2,400m, 19.xi.2018, 4.729 -74.143, Ospina, Balke & Megna (COL_MB_2018_08)" (ICN-UNAL, ZSM); 119 exx, "Colombia, Cundinamarca, Humedal La Florida, 2,400m, 22.xi.2018, 4.729 -74.143, Ospina, Balke & Megna (COL_MB_2018_12)" (ICN-UNAL, ZSM). All specimens bear our red printed paratype labels.
Description.
Holotype. A medium sized Rhantus species, total length of holotype 11.3 mm, length without head 10.2 mm, greatest width 5.9 mm.
Colour: Head black with contrasting orange marks as in Fig. 1B View Figure 1 . Pronotum yellow orange, base as well discal patch somewhat black. Elytron orange with black irrorations. Body appendages, prothorax, prosternal process, epipleuron, coxae, postcoxal process and hind margins of abdominal sternites orange to dark ferruginous, rest of venter black.
Surface sculpture: Head with irregular meshes and dense, distinct punctation, no microreticulation (MR) visible ( Fig. 2D View Figure 2 ); clypeus with double punctation only. Pronotum with irregular meshes and dense, distinct double punctation, disc with double punctation only; no MR visible on pronotum ( Fig. 2E View Figure 2 ). Elytron with distinct, irregular polygonal meshes and fine punctation; with distinct though sometimes faint MR within the meshes ( Fig. 2F View Figure 2 ).
Structures: Pronotum with broad and conspicuous lateral bead which does however not reach the anterior angle ( Fig. 2B View Figure 2 ). Lateral wings of metaventrite triangular; hind wings fully developed. Last ventrite rounded apically.
Tarsal characters: Protarsal claws ( Fig. 3F, G View Figure 3 ) with anterior and posterior claw of almost equal length, posterior claw slightly longer and about the same length as tarsomere V. Claws slender and with no particular modification (e.g. not dentate). Mesotarsal claws sinuate, with posterior claw shorter and more strongly curved than anterior claw, shorter than fifth protarsomere ( Fig. 3D, E View Figure 3 ). Pro- and mesotarsomeres 1-3 not dilated laterally ( Fig. 3D, F View Figure 3 ), with four transverse rows of stalked suction discs ventrally. Number of discs per row (tarsomere on which row occurs given in parentheses): 5(I)/6(I)/6(II)/5(III).
Genital structure: Median lobe of aedeagus as in Fig. 3B, C View Figure 3 , in lateral view appearing of longish curvature; parameres with a fringe of yellow hairs which are apically acute, not trumpet shaped ( Fig. 3A View Figure 3 ).
Female: Color and surface sculpture as in male. Tarsomere without stalked suction discs ventrally. The anterior margin of the anterior corner of pronotum ( Fig. 2A View Figure 2 , white asterisk) thicker than in male specimens ( Fig. 2B View Figure 2 ).
Variation.
Body size varies from 11.0-12.1 mm. The discal dark spot on pronotum can be obsolete, or slightly more extended than in Fig. 1B View Figure 1 , the same is true for the basal dark spot. Both can be approaching but do not connect.
Etymology.
Named after the type locality.
Comparative notes.
A species well delineated from the other Colombian Rhantus of similar size by the following set of features:
Rhantus franzi , described from the Cauca Valley and Ecuador (holotype male studied here) is similar in size but with pronotal coloration more similar to R. andinus ( Fig. 1A, D View Figure 1 ). The protarsal claws are similar to R. bogotensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 3L View Figure 3 ), but the anterior mesotarsal claw is simply curved in R. franzi ( Fig. 3M, N View Figure 3 ) and not more broadly triangular as in R. bogotensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 3D, E View Figure 3 ). The posterior mesotarsal claw is missing in the holotype of R. franzi studied here (and tarsus missing on other side of body). The median lobe of aedeagus only slightly more elongate in R. franzi ( Fig. 3K View Figure 3 ).
Males of R. vicinus and R. crypticus have the pro- and mesotarsomeres 1-3 distinctly dilated laterally, see Fig. 3J View Figure 3 (not so in R. bogotensis sp. nov., Fig. 3F View Figure 3 ).
Males of R. vicinus and R. crypticus have the protarsal claws of unequal length and shape ( Fig. 3H, J View Figure 3 ), anterior one much shorter and broader than posterior, with dent like shape in R. crypticus ( Fig. 3J View Figure 3 ) (subequal in R. bogotensis sp. nov., Fig. 3F, G View Figure 3 ). The protarsal and mesotarsal claws of R. andinus ( Fig. 3I View Figure 3 ) are similar to R. bogotensis sp. nov., but the beetles are easily separable by body size and coloration alone ( Fig. 1A, B View Figure 1 ).
Females of R. vicinus and R. crypticus have the anterior angle of the pronotum distinctly extended ( Fig. 2C View Figure 2 , arrow). This is not the case in R. bogotensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 2A View Figure 2 ).
Specimens of R. vicinus ( Fig. 1C View Figure 1 ) and R. crypticus are generally of darker appearance than R. bogotensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 1B View Figure 1 ).
Distribution.
Altiplano of the Bogota region.
Habitat.
Collected from richly vegetated ponds in full sun or slightly shaded, in abundance from flooded mats of grasses ( Fig. 4B, C View Figure 4 ). Bottom of these habitats was usually black, foul smelling mud. In the La Florida wetland, the beetles seemed to avoid larger, deeper water bodies, possibly to avoid predation by fish ( Fig. 4A View Figure 4 ).
Notes.
Collected with aquatic nets as well as bottle traps. In association with the following other Dytiscidae : R. andinus (abundant), R. vicinus (only few, this species is abundant on higher elevations as well as in the Páramos above the altiplano of Bogota), two species of Copelatus Erichson, 1832 and Liodessus bogotensis Guignot, 1953, as well as different Hydrophilidae .
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
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