Coptorhina klugii Hope, 2008

Frolov, Andrey V., Akhmetova, Lilia A. & Scholtz, Clarke H., 2008, Revision of the obligate mushroom-feeding African ‘‘ dung beetle’ ’ genus Coptorhina Hope (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), Journal of Natural History 42 (21 - 24), pp. 1477-1508 : 1491-1497

Coptorhina klugii Hope

( Figures 6 , 13F , 19 )

Coptorhina klugii Hope 1835:97 ; Boheman 1857:208, 209.

Coptorhina klugi Hope : Péringuey 1901:288, 289; Janssens 1939:35, 39; Ferreira 1972:357; Gillet 1911:48; Ferreira 1954:5, 6; unjustified emendation.

Coptorhina africana Hope 1835:96 ; Ferreira 1967:308; Janssens 1939:31, 35, 39; Ferreira 1972:354–356; Gillet 1911:47; Ferreira 1954:2; syn. n.

Coptorhina vicina Péringuey 1901:287 , 289; Janssens 1939:35, 39; Ferreira 1972:359; Gillet 1911:48; Ferreira 1967:309, 314; Ferreira 1954:4; syn. n.

Coptorhina obtusicornis Boheman 1857:209 ; Péringuey 1901:288, 292; Janssens 1939:33, 37; Ferreira 1972:358; Gillet 1911:48; Ferreira 1967:309, 310, 313; Ferreira 1954:2; syn. n.

Coptorhina punctata Ferreira 1954:5 ; Ferreira 1972:358; syn. n.

Coptorhina optata Péringuey 1901:288 , 290; Ferreira 1972:358; Gillet 1911:48; Ferreira 1967:309, 310, 313; Ferreira 1954:6, 7; syn. n.

Type material examined

Coptorhina klugii . Holotype ♀ with labels ‘‘21’’, ‘‘Type Col: 451 Coptorhina Klugi Hope HOPE DEPT. OXFORD’’, ‘‘TYPE HOPE Trans. Zool. Soc. 1. P. 96. Coll. Hope Oxon.’’, ‘‘ Klugii Hope Z.J?’’ ( UMO).

Coptorhina Africana. Holotype „ with labels ‘‘TYPE HOPE Trans. Zool. Soc. 1. P. 96. T. I+8. 2 Coll. Hope Oxon.’’, ‘‘ Coptorhina africana Hope Z.J. ’’, ‘‘Type Col: 450 Coptorhina africana Hope HOPE DEPT. OXFORD’’ (UMO).

Coptorhina vicina . Syntype „ with labels ‘‘Type SAMC’’, ‘‘Ent 2767’’, ‘‘Ricatla Delagoa’’, ‘‘ Coptorhina vicina Péring. Type’’ ( SANC) .

Coptorhina obtusicornis . Holotype with labels ‘‘ Caffraria. ’’, ‘‘ J. Wahlb’ ’, ‘‘ Type’ ’, ‘‘obtusicornis. Bhn. ’’, ‘‘obtusicornis Boh’ ’, ‘‘3647 E92+’’, ‘‘159 54’’ ( NHRS).

Coptorhina punctata . Holotype with labels ‘‘Pretoria 28.XI.1921 A. Roberts’’, ‘‘HOLOTIPO Coptorhina punctata M.C. Ferreira, 1954 ’’. Paratype with labels ‘‘Uitzicht Zautpansberg distr. Nov, 24 (Hezke)’’, ‘‘ Coptorhina nitidipennis Boh. J.J.E. Gillet det.’’, ‘‘PARATIPO Coptorhina punctata M. C. Ferreira, 1954 ’’, ‘‘ Paratypus Coptorhina punctata sp.n. M.C. Ferreira 1954 ’’ (TMSA).

Coptorhina optata . Syntype „ with labels ‘‘ Coptorhina optata Typ. ’’, ‘‘ S.E. Trop. Afr. Manica, Christmass Pass. F.C. Selous. 1892.’’, ‘‘Type SAMC/Ent 2769’’ ( SAMC) .

Additional material examined

Mozambique: Movo [12 ° 559 S 40 ° 009 E], 24 May 1936, 1 spm. ( TMSA) ; Inharrime [24 ° 289 S 35 ° 019 E], 1983, P.P. de Moor leg. 1 spm. ( TMSA) ; 50/ 100km N Massinga [23 ° 059 S 35 ° 209 E], 13 December 2003, Werner and Lizler leg. 1 spm. ( KWCP) ; Ricatla, Delagoa [25 ° 469 S 32 ° 379 E], 1 spm. ( SANC) , H.A. Junod leg. 1 spm. ( BMSA); Delagoa Bay [25 ° 599 S 32 ° 429 E], Monten? leg. 1 spm. ( SAMC) , 1918, 2 spm. ( BMNH); Lourenco-Marques [25 ° 589 S 32 ° 349 E], Dr G. Audeoud Makulane ( T.d.) leg. 5 spm. ( MSNG) ; Delagoa [23 ° 589 S 28 ° 459 E], H. Junod leg. 6 spm. ( IRSNB) ; Valley of Kola R. [16 ° 289 S 35 ° 129 E], 2 April 1913, 1500–2000 ft, S. A. Neave leg. 3 spm. ( BMNH) ; Ponta do Ouro [26 ° 519 S 32 ° 549 E], 25–27 February 1968, 4 spm. ( BMSA) ; Manhoca [26 ° 499 S 32 ° 359 E], 23 October 1965, G. Veiga Ferreira leg. 1 spm. ( BMSA) ; Maputo [25 ° 489 S 32 ° 519 E], 1 spm. ( IRSNB) ; 1905, 1 spm. ( BMNH); 1 spm. ( IRSNB); Coll. P.de Moffarts, 2 spm. ( IRSNB); 1 spm. ( IRSNB). Zimbabwe: Mashonaland, Salisbury [17 ° 499 S 31 ° 029 E], G.A.K. Marshall leg. 1 spm. ( TMSA) ; Christmas pass [18 ° 559 S 32 ° 389 E], 1 „ ( SANC) . South Africa: Natal, 2 spm. ( BMNH) , 4 spm. ( IRSNB), 1 spm. ( SAMC), 1 spm. ( ZMHB), 1 spm. ( ZMHB); Natal , E. Candeze leg. 3 spm. ( IRSNB) ; Natal , J. Thomson leg. 1 spm. ( IRSNB) ; Natal , De Bonneuil, 2 spm. ( IRSNB) ; Natal , 1913, H. Swale leg. 1 spm. ( BMNH) ; Cape of Good Hope , J. Thomson leg. 1 spm. ( IRSNB) ; South Africa , coll. P. de Moffarts 1 spm. ( IRSNB) ; Transvaal , Cutter leg. 1 spm. ( IRSNB) ; Transvaal , 10.VIII.97; 1 spm. ( ZMHB) ; Eastern Cape: Grahams Town [33 ° 189 S 26 ° 329 E], 26 January 1917, P. Holl leg. 1 spm. ( AMGS) ; Pretoria [30 ° 479 S 28 ° 359 E], January 1941, K. Wooldridge leg. 1 spm. ( AMGS) , L. Van leg. 1 spm. ( TMSA); Komga [32 ° 359 S 27 ° 549 E], 24 January 1972, J.H. Brill leg. 1 spm. ( TMSA) ; Port Natal [Durban], Hopp leg., 1 spm. ( ZMHB) . E. London [33 ° 029 S 27 ° 559 E], 1915, Lightfoot leg. 1 spm. ( SAMC) . Free State: Tigerkloof [27 ° 519 S 28 ° 189 E], February 1901, H.B. Marley leg. 5 spm. ( BMNH) ; Bethlehem district 28 ° 159 S 28 ° 209 E, 15 January 1996, M.M. v.d. Merwe leg. 1 ♀. ( UPSA) ; Florida district [29 ° 569 S 26 ° 099 E], February 1967, D.K. Green leg. 1 spm. ( TMSA) ; Vrede 27 ° 009 S 28 ° 009 E, 9–15 February 1979, A. Strydom leg. 1 spm. ( BMSA) . Gauteng: Verwoerdburg 25 ° 499 S 28 ° 139 E, 1 April 1995, J. Weiermans leg. 1 spm. ( UPSA) ; Premier Game Farm, Cullinan 25 ° 409 S 28 ° 299 E, 22 November 2001, 1309m, 4 spm. ( TMSA) ; Alberton [26 ° 149 S 28 ° 089 E], 24 December 1973, G. Tribe leg. 4 spm. ( SANC) , 14 April 1974, G. Tribe leg. 1 spm. ( SANC) ; Johannesburg [26 ° 129 S 28 ° 059 E], March 1929, G. Kobrow leg. 1 spm. ( TMSA) . KwaZulu-Natal: Durban [29 ° 519 S 31 ° 019 E], 3 spm. ( BMNH) , 1 spm. ( NMPC); Mkuzi Game Reserve [27 ° 389 S 32 ° 159 E], 24 December 1972, A.L.V. Davis leg. 1 spm. ( SANC) ; Charter’s Greek [28 ° 129 S 32 ° 269 E], 26 February 1971, H.D. Brown leg. 1 spm. ( SANC) ; Ndumu Game Reserve 26 ° 879 S 32 ° 259 E, 20–22 November 2002, A. Frolov leg. 6 spm. ( UPSA, ZIN) , 8–11 November 1971, A. Strydom leg. 1 spm. ( TMSA) ; Ndumu Game Reserve [26 ° 549 S 32 ° 199 E], 22 January 1990, S. van. Noort leg. 1 spm. ( SAMC) ; Frere [28 ° 539 S 29 ° 469 E], 1892, A. Marshall leg. 2 spm. ( IRSNB) ; Krantzkloof [28 ° 519 S 30 ° 439 E], 1911, 1 spm. ( BMNH) ; Sodwana 27 ° 329 S 32 ° 409 E, 24 March 1995, L. Niemand leg. 1 spm. ( UPSA) ; Mabibi 27 ° 209 S 32 ° 239 E, 8 April 1995, L. Niemand leg. 1 spm. ( UPSA) ; Mkuzi Game Reserve [27 ° 389 S 32 ° 159 E], 3–4 December 1973, K.M. Paschalidis leg. 2 spm. ( SANC) , 22 December 1973, A.V.L. Davis leg. 2 spm. ( SANC) , 1–3 April 1984, A.J. Weaving leg. 3 spm. ( AMGS) , 31 March 1984, A.J. Weaving leg. 1 spm. ( AMGS) ; Lower Tugela [river] [29 ° 149 S 31 ° 309 E], October 1902, E.D. Reynolds leg. 1 spm. ( BMNH) ; 56km NW of Melmoth [28 ° 209 S 31 ° 109 E], 31 October–1 November 2001, A.L.V. Davis leg. 1 spm. ( UPSA) ; Newcastle [27 ° 459 S 29 ° 569 E], 1894, A. E. Hunt leg. 1 spm. ( SAMC) ; Estcourt [29 ° 009 S 29 ° 539 E], 1 spm. ( SAMC) ; Hluhluwe Game Reserve 28 ° 059 S 32 ° 049 E, 19 November 1992, Endrödy-Younga leg. 6 spm. ( TMSA) ; Roodedraai farm [28 ° 539 S 29 ° 589 E], 5 April 1997, L. Erasmus leg. 1 spm. ( SANC) ; Malvern [29 ° 539 S 30 ° 559 E], 4 spm. ( DMSA) ; Durban [29 ° 519 S 31 ° 019 E], 26 December 1905, 1 spm. ( TMSA) , 1911, 1 spm. ( BMNH), 25 February 1905, 1 spm. ( DMSA) ; False bay [27 ° 559 S 32 ° 229 E], 23 November 2000, P. Schule leg. 11 spm. ( TMSA) ; Scottburgh [30 ° 179 S 30 ° 459 E], December 1941, S. Cooper leg. 1 spm. ( AMGS) ; New Hanover [29 ° 219 S 30 ° 329 E], January 1955, N.B. Baver leg. 1 spm. ( TMSA) ; Ladysmith [28 ° 339 S 29 ° 479 E], 1922, Andrew Bequest leg. 2 spm. ( BMNH) ; Sodwana Bay National Park 27 ° 329 S 32 ° 419 E, 9–13 November 1986, Evans, d’Hotman, Nel leg. 1 spm. ( UPSA) ; Umvoti [29 ° 099 S 30 ° 459 E], H. Fry leg. 1 spm. ( SANC) , 1 spm. ( SAMC), 1 spm. ( IRSNB); Dukuduku 28 ° 229 S 32 ° 509 E, January 1978, G.L. Prinsloo leg. 1 spm. ( SANC) ; Ladysmith [28 ° 299 S 29 ° 459 E], 1 spm. ( BMNH) ; False Bay [27 ° 559 S 32 ° 229 E], 22–23 September 2000, K. Werner leg. 8 spm. ( KWCP) ; Estcourt [29 ° 009 S 29 ° 539 E], 1922, Andrew Bequest leg. 1 spm. ( BMNH) ; Isipingo [29 ° 599 S 30 ° 569 E], February 1896, 1 spm. ( BMNH) ; Hluhluwe, Falaza Game Reserve [28 ° 029 S 32 ° 179 E], 10–15 November 2001, A. Ballerio leg. 2 spm. ( ZIN) ; Ndumu [26 ° 879 S 32 ° 259 E], December 1960, van Son leg. 2 spm. ( TMSA) , 1 spm ( ZMHB); Tembe Elephant Park 26 ° 519 S 32 ° 249 E, 28 November 1998, Pieter le Roux leg. 1 spm. ( SANC) ; Umziki Pan Reserve, near Hluhluwe 32 ° 229 S 28 ° 009 E, 4 April 1994, P.E. Reavell leg. 1 spm. ( SANC) ; Malvern [29 ° 539 S 30 ° 559 E], P. de Moffarts leg. 2 spm. ( IRSNB) ; Farm Kuleni, Hluhluwe District 27 ° 549 S 32 ° 229 E, 12–14 February 1990, B. Grobbelaar leg. 1 spm. ( SANC) ; 5 km S of Hluhluwe [28 ° 029 S 32 ° 179 E], 5–10 February 1981, Bush, C. Fox leg. 2 spm. ( SANC) ; Mnyalsa [not traced], 1 November 1979, C.R. Owen leg. 1 spm. ( TMSA) ; Parry leg. 2 spm. ( IRSNB); Zululand , 2 spm. ( BMNH) ;8 spm. ( BMNH). Limpopo: Soutpansberg [22 ° 589 S 29 ° 459 E], 3 spm. ( ZMHB) ; Moorddrift [24 ° 159 S 28 579 E], December 1914, C.J. Swierstra leg. 1 spm. ( TMSA) ; Cap [23 ° 589 S 28 ° 459 E], 1 spm. ( IRSNB) ,1 spm. ( NMPC); Pumbe sands, Kruger National Park 24 ° 139 S 31 ° 569 E, 22 November 1994, ground trap, meat bait, Endrödy-Younga leg. 8 spm. ( TMSA) ; Pumbe sands, Kruger National Park [24 ° 129 S 31 ° 559 E], 22 November 1994, Endrödy, Bellamy leg. 4 spm. ( TMSA) ; Blouberg 23 ° 109 S 28 ° 509 E, 20 December 2003, ground trap, meat bait, A. Frolov leg. 5 spm. ( UPSA, ZIN) ; Klaserie [24 ° 059 S 31 ° 159 E], 5 November 1971, T. Bouwer leg. 1 spm. ( SANC) ; Rustenburg [24 ° 569 S 27 ° 099 E], December 1909, M.C. Ferreira leg. 1 spm. ( TMSA) ; Delagoa [23 ° 589 S 28 ° 459 E], November 1913, Julliard leg. 3 spm. ( MSNG) ; 6 km W of Klaserie [24 ° 059 S 31 ° 159 E], 5 November 1971, H.D. Brown, D. Wessels, A.S. Prinsloo leg. 1 spm. ( SANC) ; 75km W of Messina [22 ° 219 S 30 ° 039 E], 24 November 1974, A.L.V. Davis leg. 1 spm. ( SANC) . Mpumalanga: Maboki, Lydenburg [25 ° 069 S 30 ° 279 E], 1917, F.J. Kroeger leg. 2 spm. ( SAMC) ; Barberton [25 ° 479 S 31 ° 039 E], 1911, P. Rendall leg. 1 spm. ( BMNH) , December 1940, W.G. Kobrow leg. 2 spm. ( TMSA) , 14 January 1909, G.M. Jeffery leg. 1 spm. ( TMSA) ; Stoffberg – Rosenkaal [25 ° 259 S 28 ° 509 E], 22 November 2001, Werner and Lizler leg. 4 spm. ( KWCP) ; Lydenburg District [25 ° 069 S 30 ° 279 E], 1981, A.L.V. Davis leg. 1 spm. ( SANC) , 1896, P.A. Krantz leg. 1 spm. ( TMSA), 1883, Dunn ? leg. 1 spm. ( SAMC) , 1879, T. Ayres leg. 2 spm. ( SAMC); Ermelo [26 ° 329 S 29 ° 599 E], 1934, G. Kobrow leg. 1 spm. ( TMSA) ; Piet Retief District [27 ° 009 S 30 ° 489 E], 1903, R. Crawshay leg. 1 spm. ( BMNH) . North-west: Vryburg [26 ° 579 S 24 ° 449 E], 1 spm. ( SAMC) ; Potchefstroom District [26 ° 439 S 27 ° 069 E], 1879, T. Ayres leg. 4 spm. ( SAMC) , 1 spm. ( IRSNB); Magaliesberg [25 ° 509 S 27 ° 309 E], V. de Poll leg. 2 spm. ( IRSNB) . Western Cape: Gamkaberg, Little Karoo 33 ° 449 S 21 ° 579 E, 21 December 1993, ground trap, banana bait, Endrödy-Younga leg. 1 spm. ( TMSA) ; Keurbooms River [34 ° 019 S 23 ° 259 E], April 1947, W.E. Callett leg. 1 spm. ( TMSA) . Lesotho: Basoutoland , 1925, R. Ellenberg leg. 3 spm. ( IRSNB) .

Diagnosis

This species is most similar to C. davidi and C. angolensis but differs from them in the shape of the transverse pronotal carina which is lacking tubercles in larger specimens ( Figure 6 ). From other species it differs in having narrow lateral borders of the pronotum and evenly rounded lateral sides of the pronotum. From C. nitefacta it also differs in having densely punctured upper side of body.

Description

Strongly convex, black to dark-brown, subopaque beetle. Body length 10.5– 20.5 mm, width 7.5-14.0 mm. Dorsal surface without visible setae.

Head. Clypeus with protruding anterior angles separated by deep sinuation ( Figure 6 ). Sinuation right-angled to broadly rounded. Protruding angles acute to narrowly rounded apically, with short longitudinal carinae on the upper side. Genae obtusely rounded. Genal sutures feebly distinct. Lateral margins of clypeus sinuate near genal sutures in some individuals. Frontal suture feebly visible, broadly interrupted in the middle. Head very densely and evenly punctuate, punctures sometimes adjacent and sculpture appears rugose. Antennal club dark-brown.

Pronotum. Trapezoidal, two times wider than long. Anterior margin and base not bordered. Sides more or less evenly rounded. Lateral border relatively narrow, evenly tapering basally and apically. Pronotum divided into larger anterior part and smaller posterior part by a transverse carina ( Figure 6 ). The carina is more developed in larger specimens. Anterior part of pronotum rugose to granulate, excavated laterally in larger specimens. Posterior part in specimens with well developed carina densely punctuate.

Elytra. Striae fine but distinct, punctate (punctures separated by 3–4 puncture diameter). Intervals flat, very densely punctuate, punctures separated by about 1 puncture diameter, sometimes almost adjacent; their margins sometimes indistinct especially in apical part.

Underside. Pygidium with fine border, its disc densely punctate. Abdominal and thoracic sternites coarsely punctate except for disc of metasternum which is very sparsely to almost indistinctly punctuate.

Aedeagus. Parameres with widely rounded apices in lateral view.

Variability

Except for the body size variability the beetles differ in shape and sculpture of pronotum. Smaller specimens have less developed transverse pronotal carina and slightly or almost not excavated anterolateral sides of pronotum.

Distribution

The species is distributed mostly in South Africa and southern Mozambique. The two northernmost isolated localities are in northern Mozambique: Movo and valley of the Kola River ( Figure 19 ).

Remarks

Hope (1835) described two species, C. klugii Hope and C. africana Hope from the Cape of Good Hope and Sierra Leone, respectively. The latter species was listed then in all catalogues and reviews and was designated the type species of the genus by Janssens (1939). There are, however, no other findings of this species recorded nor are any Coptorhina species (except for C. nitidipennis ) known from West Africa. Examination of the types of C. africana and C. klugii showed that they belong to the same species and the differences between them are within the limits of interspecific variability of the species commonly known as C. klugii . As the description of C. africana is based on apparently mislabelled specimen, we consider it a junior synonym of C. klugii .

Coptorhina obtusicornis Boheman was described from a specimen from the basin of the Limpopo River. Its main diagnostic character is the short, obtuse anterior clypeal processes which are normally long and acute in other Coptorhina species. We found, however, a few such specimens among the series of C. klugii . The particular form of clypeus could be a result of malformation or, less probably, abrasion. Except for the clypeus, the holotype of C. obtusicornis is very similar to C. klugii . The type locality also agrees with the known range of the latter. We believe the description of C. obtusicornis is based on an aberrant specimen of C. klugii , therefore we propose the new synonymy here.

Péringuey (1901) described two new species, C. optata and C. vicina , from single specimens from Zimbabwe and Mozambique respectively. He wrote that both species are similar to C. klugii and can be separated from it by the shape of pronotum. Examination of the type of C. vicina showed that it cannot be distinguished from the smaller specimens of C. klugii which have feebly developed transverse pronotal carina. We found no differences in the shape of the pronotum between the type of C. optata and typical specimens of C. klugii with well developed carina, contrary to the characters given in the original description. Therefore we consider the two specific names synonyms of C. klugii .

Coptorhina punctata Ferreira was described from a few specimens from South Africa. We examined the holotype and the paratype of this species and found no characters to separate it from specimens of C. klugii with feebly developed transversal pronotal carina. Consequently, it too, is considered a synonym.

Figures

Figure 19. Coptorhina spp., distribution map.

Figures 1–8. Coptorhina spp. 1, lateral view of body; 2–6, head and pronotum in dorsal view; 7–8, pronotum in dorsal view. 1–2, C. auspicata; 3, C. nitidipennis; 4, C. excavata sp. n; 5, C. nitefacta; 6, C. klugii; 7, C. angolensis; 8, C. davidi. Figures are not to scale.

Figures 9–14. Coptorhina spp. 9, wing; 10–11, aedeagus in dorsal and lateral view; 12, internal sac of aedeagus; 13, internal sac sclerite arrowed in Figure 12; 14, abdomen in lateral view (14A, female, 14B, male). 9, 10, 12, 13C–E, 14, C. auspicata (13C, lectotype, Enkeldoorn, Zimbabwe, 13D, Cinergy Game farm, RSA, 13E, Shesheke, Zambia); 11, 13I–J, C. nitidipennis (13I, Cinergy Game farm, RSA, 13J, paratype, ‘‘Caffraria’’); 13A–B, C. excavata sp. n. (13A, holotype, 13B, paratype, Mamathes, Lesotho); 13F, C. klugii, Blouberg, RSA; 13G, C. davidi, paratype, Mpika, Congo; 13H, C. nitefacta, holotype, Bura, Kenya. 9, 13 and 14 are not to scale.