Mesodytes, Prokin, Alexander A., Petrov, Pyotr N., Wang, Bo & Ponomarenko, Alexander G., 2013

Prokin, Alexander A., Petrov, Pyotr N., Wang, Bo & Ponomarenko, Alexander G., 2013, New fossil taxa and notes on the Mesozoic evolution of Liadytidae and Dytiscidae (Coleoptera), Zootaxa 3666 (2), pp. 137-159 : 147

Mesodytes gen. n.

Etymology: From the Mesozoic and the Greek δύτης (diver); gender masculine.

Type species: Mesodytes rhantoides sp. n.

Diagnosis: Elytron smooth, translucent, covered with matted rows of dark spots, separated by a distance greater than or equal to their diameter. Lobe of prosternal process flat, elongated, reaching mesocoxae. Maximum length of lateral lobe of metaventrite relatively great, but smaller than maximum length of metacoxal plate (LC/LV> 1). Lateral lobe of metaventrite not reaching lateral margins of metepisternum and mesocoxal plate. Metaventrite without elevated laterally limited area medially. Metacoxal lines weakly diverging anteriad. Metacoxal processes rounded posteriorly, slightly narrowed anteriad. Metafemur 1.5 times as long as metatibia. Metafemur, when outstretched, reaching middle of abdominal ventrite 4. First metatarsomere 1.5 times as long as metatarsomere 2.

Comparison: The new genus differs from the genus Mesoderus in the absence of an elevated laterally limited area of the metaventrite, translucent and dark-spotted elytron, and shorter metatibia and metatarsomere 1.