Molytophilus carinatus Hartmann, 1904

Grebennikov, Vasily V., 2018, Both non-type species of Molytophilus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae) are transferred to Oreoscotus, Zootaxa 4418 (4), pp. 393-396 : 393-394

Molytophilus carinatus Hartmann, 1904 ( Figs. 1A–G )

Molytophilus carinatus Hartmann, 1904: 388 –389 (description)

Type locality: Ostafrika, Usambara.

Type specimens: Primary: Lectotype ( Figs. 1A–E ), male ( MTD), herein designated to maintain taxonomic stability: “Usambara Speyer [handwritten, =h] \ [male sign] [h] \ Typus [h] [red label] \ Molytophilus carinatus Hrtm. [h] \ Samml. K.F. Hartmann Ankauf 1941.1 [printed, =p] [blue label] \ Staatl. Museum für Tierkunde. Dresden [p] \ LECTOTYPE Molytophilus carinatus Hartmann, 1904 V.Grebennikov des., 2013 [p] [red label]”. Secondary: 2 Paralectotypes ( Fig. 1F ) ( MTD), each with male and female handwritten sign, respectively, same labels as lectotype, except the locality label “Usambara” is written in another hand and without “Speyer”, and with labels “ PARALECTOTYPE Molytophilus carinatus Hartmann, 1904 V.Grebennikov des., 2013” [p; yellow label]; handwritten identification label is absent. Described from unknown number of syntypes, but since “Hartmann” appears on labels of these specimens I consider them part of the type series. Non-type specimens: ( Fig. 1G ) 2 ( MNHN): “ SOMALIA Genale, F.Bili 5-935 [p] \ Molytophilus carinatus Hartm. [h] MUSEUM PARIS 1968 Coll. A.HOFFMANN [p]”.

Remarks. For diagnostic purposes this species is easily recognized among likely all Molytinae by its characteristic habitus, along with the following three characters: 1, all tibiae with large spines on inner apical part (arrows, Fig. 1F ); 2, lateral side of rostrum with deep groove adjacent to anterior edge of eye (arrow, Fig. 1B ); and 3, robust antennae with narrow club ( Fig. 1B ). It remains uncertain in which of the two currently recognized Usambara regions, Western versus Eastern Usambara ( Grebennikov 2017), the type series has been collected. Phylogenetic affinities of this species and, consequently, of the herein re-defined genus Molytophilus are entirely unknown. It appears probable that, unlike many East African Molytinae , this species does not inhabit the forest leaf litter since not a single specimen has been re-sampled in Western or Eastern Usambara during my recent litter sifting campaign ( Grebennikov 2017).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Molytophilus carinatus. Lectotype (A–E), paralectotype (F) and a non-type specimen from Somalia (G). Habitus, dorsal (A, G), lateral (B)andventral (F); aedeagus dorsal(C), ventral (D) and lateral(E).