Protozantaena ankaratra, Perkins, 2009

Perkins, Philip D., 2009, Revisions of the genera Parhydraena Orchymont, Protozantaena Perkins, Decarthrocerus Orchymont, and Parhydraenopsis nomen novum, aquatic and humicolous beetles from Africa and Madagascar, and comparative morphology of the tribe Parhydraenini (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 2038, pp. 1-119 : 45-47

Protozantaena ankaratra new species

( Figs. 72, 74, 101)

Type material. Holotype (male): Madagascar: Antananarivo, Ankaratra, Reserve Manjakatompo, M. Arirana, SE drainage River Ambodimangavo , spring brook, elev. 2200 m, 19° 21' S, 47° 18' E, 5.x.2001, Gerecke & Goldschmidt (100b). Deposited in the NMW . Paratypes (9): Madagascar: Antananarivo, Ankaratra, Reserve Manjakatompo, M. Arirana, SE drainage River Ambodimangavo , spring area, elev. 2200 m, 19° 21' S, 47° 18' E, 5.x.2001, Gerecke & Goldschmidt (100) (1 NMW) ; Ankaratra, Reserve Manjakatompo, M. Arirana, SE drainage River Ambodimangavo , spring brook, elev. 2200 m, 19° 21' S, 47° 18' E, 5.x.2001, Gerecke & Goldschmidt (100b) (1 NMW) ; Ankaratra, Reserve Manjakatompo, M. Arirana, SE drainage River Ambodimangavo , springs, elev. 2200 m, 19° 21' S, 47° 18' E, 5.x.2001, Gerecke & Goldschmidt (100a) (4 NMW) ; Massif de l’Ankaratra , 19° 25' S, 47° 12' E, 1969, H. Franz (2 NMW) ; Streamlet below Ankaratra summit, W. of Ambatolampy , elev. 1921 m, 19° 25' S, 47° 12' E, 28.x.1986, J. T. & D. A. Polhemus (CL 2236) (1 USNM) .

Differential diagnosis. Differing from all members of the genus, except P. grebennikovi , by having the lateral margins of the prothorax dual-rimmed. Distinguished from P. grebennikovi by the non-striateimpressed elytral series, the longer maxillary palpi, the longer and less robust legs, and the differently shaped pronotum ( Figs. 72, 75). The aedeagus indicates a relationship with P. palpalis ( Figs. 73, 74); the latter species has longer palpi and single-rimmed sides of the prothorax, among other differences.

Description. Size (length/width, mm) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 1.73/0.76; head 0.29/0.49; pronotum 0.45/0.69, PA 0.57, PB 0.57; elytra 1.04 /0.76. Head and pronotal disc piceous, otherwise dorsum dark brown; legs brown; maxillary palpi light brown.

Head with eyes moderately large, in dorsal aspect ca. 7 convex facets in longest series. Ocelli indistinct, round small shining, each located at base of very shallow oblique interocular fovea. Frons disc shining, finely punctate, ca. 1xef on disc, finer anteriorly, interstices ca. 2–6xpd. Clypeus effacedly microreticulate, punctures similar to finest punctures of frons, slightly denser. Labrum dull, length subequal that of clypeus, apicomedially emarginate, anterior margin very narrowly upturned; laterally fringed with short arcuate setae. Maxillary palpi short, combined lengths of meres much less than width of head (ratio ca. 18/33); ratios of meres 2–4 ca. 7/3/8. Mentum and submentum moderately coarsely punctulate, interstices effacedly microreticulate, weakly shining; genae swollen.

Pronotum broad, anterior margin arcuate, ca. median 1/2 with narrow hyaline border. Anterior angles obtuse, rounded. Sides weakly rounded, widest at about midlength, straighter behind than before middle, in lateral view margin dual-rimmed from anterior angles to about midlength. Posterior angle obtusangulate. Discal relief finely sparsely punctate, punctures shallow, ca. 1xef, some punctures U-shaped, interstices shining, 1–3xpd; anterior and posterior impressions moderately deep, punctures deeper and larger than those on relief, some confluent, forming short transverse rows, each puncture with anterior margin extended posteriorly as narrow ridge, dividing puncture into a pair of two smaller punctures each of which slightly less than 1xef, short recumbent seta arising from posterior extreme of dividing ridge. Lacking impression at each posterior angle. Sculpture laterally subrugulose, dull.

Elytra weakly shining, attenuate posteriorly, sides arcuate, explanate margins moderately wide, distinct from shoulder for 3/4 of length, apices separately rounded. Ten-seriate punctate, not striate-impressed, punctures on disc small, round, ca. 2xef, interstices ca. 1xpd, each puncture with minute recumbent seta, punctures becoming much smaller and shallower over posterior declivity; intervals ca. 3xpd, each with unilinear row of short recumbent setae very similar in size and spacing to setae of serial punctures.

Metaventrite with moderately deep, elongate oval impression in post 1/2; midlongitudinal strong carina between anterior extreme of groove and mesoventral intercoxal process. Metaventrite and abdominal ventrites 1–4 hydrofuge pubescent. Ventrites 5 and 6 more elongate in male than in female, effacedly microreticulate, shining. Ventrite 5 hydrofuge pubescent in anterior 1/5, posterior 1/2 with very sparse, long pubescence in transverse band. Ventrite 6 very sparsely pubescent in transverse band across posterior 1/2, posterior margin more arcuate in male than in female. Male: last ventrite very sparsely pubescent, free margin markedly arcuate; last tergite with moderately wide apicomedian notch, and bearing moderately long setae. Female: last ventrite sparsely pubescent, free margin markedly arcuate; last tergite apically with very small apicomedian emargination, very small tuft of setae on each side.

Legs short, femora moderately broad, metafemora width/metatarsus length ratio ca. 9/16; combined lengths of metatibia and metatarsus slightly greater than width of head (ratio ca. 40/33), ratio of lengths of metatibia/metatarsus ca. 24/16. Basal 3 protarsomeres, in male, with pad of suction setae.

Wings fully developed in holotype and all dissected males.

Aedeagus length ca. 0.78 mm (measured from base to tip of rigid flagellum); gonopore bearing flagellum very long, markedly sinuate, much longer than main-piece; supporting distal piece in lateral view with two apical processes, one of which attaining slightly distal 3/4 of gonopore bearing flagellum; main-piece in ventral view with left side produced, hence appearing very wide apically in lateral view; parameres very short, V-shaped, each with two setae ( Fig. 74).

Etymology. Named in reference to the geographical distribution.

Distribution. Madagascar, currently known from the Ankaratra massif ( Fig. 101).