Zyras (incertae sedis) rufescens CAMERON, 1939

Assing, Volker, 2017, On Zyras sensu strictu in the East Palaearctic and Oriental regions, with a focus on the faunas of the Himalaya, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Sulawesi (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Lomechusini), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 67 (1), pp. 117-192 : 169

Zyras (incertae sedis) rufescens CAMERON, 1939

Zyras (Zyras) rufescens CAMERON, 1939a: 534 .

Type material examined: Holotype ♂: “ Ceylon / Ceylon / Z. rufescens Cam. Type / Sharp Coll., 1905-313 / Holotype / Holotype Zyras rufescens Cam. , det. R.G. Booth 2016” ( BMNH).

Comment: The original description is based on a unique specimen from “ Ceylon ” ( CAMERON 1939a). This species differs in numerous respects from all the revised representatives of the subgenus Zyras , i.e., the shape of the head (somewhat resembling that of the genus Orphnebius MOTSCHULSKY, 1858 ), the practically impunctate dorsal surface of the head, the shape of the pronotum (strongly transverse and of transversely quadrangular shape), the presence of conspicuously long setae on the antennae, very finely and sparsely punctate elytra, the complete absence of non-setiferous punctation on the abdomen, the presence of twelve setiferous punctures at the posterior margin of tergite VI (only few setiferous puntures present at the posterior margins of the other tergites), the absence of distinct anterior impressions on tergites III–V, the presence of numerous long black setae in the posterior two-thirds of sternite VIII, the shape and internal structures of the median lobe of the aedeagus (somewhat resembling those of Orphnebius ), and by the completely different morphology of the paramere. In consequence, Z. rufescens is excluded from the subgenus Zyras and treated as Zyras incertae sedis. Based on the illustrations provided by PACE (2011), it seems possible that this species is congeneric with Oriyadota orissaensis PACE, 2011 .

Distribution: The known distribution is confined to Sri Lanka.