Surutu jelineki, ENDRODI

Grossi, Paschoal C., Grossi, Everardo J. & Vaz-de-Mello, Fernando Z., 2010, Surutu jelinekiEndrödi (Cyclocephalini), a New Junior Synonym ofPlatyphileurus felscheanusOhaus (Phileurini) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 64 (3), pp. 270-271 : 270-271

SURUTU JELINEKI ENDRÖDI (CYCLOCEPHALINI), A NEW JUNIOR SYNONYM OF PLATYPHILEURUS FELSCHEANUS OHAUS (PHILEURINI) ( COLEOPTERA : SCARABAEIDAE : DYNASTINAE)

The monotypic genus Platyphileurus Ohaus (Phileurini) , with its only species Platyphileurus felscheanus Ohaus , was described by Ohaus (1910) based on a supposed female in his collection and an unstated number of other specimens in C. Felsche’ s collection from Santa Catarina, Brazil. Later, Endrödi (1975), reviewing the genus Surutu Martínez (Cyclocephalini) , described Surutu jelineki Endrödi based on two supposed females, one from Rio de Janeiro and another from “ Brasilien ”. When Endrödi (1977) included Platyphileurus in his key to the American genera of Phileurini, he described both the male and female of P. felscheanus (he considered a female to be the “ holotype ”, probably the one from Ohaus’ collection), illustrated the male genitalia, and cited six examined specimens, all with localities from Santa Catarina, except for one doubtful record from “Isle de Prince”.

We examined the specimen Endrödi (1977) considered as the holotype of P. felscheanus , which was loaned to the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo from the Zoologische Museum der Humboldt-Universität (Berlin). We compared it with the original descriptions of S.jelineki and P. felscheanus , and we conclude that these two taxa are conspecific. Accordingly, we here designate Surutu jelineki as a new junior synonym under Platyphileurus felscheanus . It is surprising that Endrödi (1975, 1977) examined females from both Santa Catarina and Rio de Janeiro and placed those specimens in different genera in different tribes, thus we surmise that he was then so involved in the herculean project of reviewing all the world Dynastinae, that he did not realize the duplication.

Platyphileurus can be easily recognized by its head and body shape that is unique among Neotropical Phileurini, as is the absence of tubercles, carinae, or horns on the head and pronotum, and the absence of a longitudinal furrow on the pronotum. The body is strongly flattened and wider posteriorly ( Fig. 1 ). The parameres are also distinct ( Figs. 2, 3 ). There are few external characters that distinguish the sexes, but these include color (males are reddish brown dorsally, whereas the females are entirely black) and the male protarsal claws, which are unequal in size and shape with the inner claw thickened and more curved (an unusual character for a phileurine).

Platyphileurus felscheanus is known from the Brazilian Atlantic Coastal Forest and Restinga biotopes from sea level to 1,200 m elevation in the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná, and Santa Catarina ( Fig. 4 ). Bahia, Espírito Santo, Paraná, and Minas Gerais constitute new state records: Espírito Santo: Santa Teresa, Santa Maria do Jetibá, Presidente Kennedy , São Mateus (6 specimens in the E. and P. Grossi private collection [ EPGC] and Departamento de Zoologia , Universidade Federal do Paraná) ; Minas Gerais: Lavras, Rio Doce (2 specimens in EPGC) ; Bahia: Cruz das Almas, Porto Seguro (2 specimens in EPGC) ; Paraná: Telêmaco Borba (1 specimen in EPGC) .

Specimens of Platyphileurus are uncommon in collections. They appear to be associated with bromeliads (PCG personal observation in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro; FZVM personal observation in Guriri Island, São Mateus, Espírito Santo). Platyphileurus felscheanus appears to be a diurnal species as specimens noted above were active during the day. They appear to be rarely attracted to lights.

We thank Sergio Ide (now at the Instituto Biológico, then at the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo) for allowing us to examine the type specimen of P. felscheanus loaned to him. We also thank an anonymous reviewer for a very constructive review of the manuscript. PCG was funded by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq 140181/2007-5) and FZVM was partly supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / Biota Minas (CRA-APQ 03554-0) and by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Mato Grosso (447441/2009) . This is contribution number 1819 of the Departamento de Zoologia , Universidade Federal do Paraná .

Figures

Figs. 1–3. Platyphileurus felscheanus. 1) Male, dorsal habitus; 2) Aedeagus, dorsal view; 3) Aedeagus, lateral view.

Fig. 4. Map of central and southern Brazil showing known distribution of Platyphileurus felscheanus.