Bolboceras krikkeni Gupta, Ghosh, Das & Chandra, 2022

Gupta, Devanshu, Ghosh, Joyjit, Das, Priyanka & Chandra, Kailash, 2022, Bolboceras krikkeni (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae: Bolboceratinae), a new species from India, Zootaxa 5168 (1), pp. 92-96 : 92-95

Bolboceras krikkeni Gupta, Ghosh, Das & Chandra , new species

( Figs. 1–6 )

Type locality. India, Gujarat, Kachchh, Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary .

Type material (4 specimens). Holotype, male: “ India, Gujarat / Kachchh / Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary / 07.xi.2017 / leg. H.S. Banyal ” ( NZSI) . Paratypes, 2 males, 1 female: same locality and label data as for holotype ( NZSI) .

Description of the holotype. Body length 9.52 mm. Colour uniformly cinnamon brown, shiny.

Head ( Fig. 2 ). Labrum serrated laterally, anteromedian border straight, a transverse ridge on punctate upper surface distinct. Clypeal surface with supra-anterolateral angles distinctly raised, dentate, intervening ridge concave in axial view, straight in dorsal view; lateral perimarginal ridges distinct, strongly evenly curved, genal angle distinct. Clypeus and remainder of head surface finely punctate, shining behind interocular ridge. Anterior edge of eye canthus raised to slight anterolateral angle, surface coarsely rugose; paraocular ridge distinct, fine ranging from genal angle, thence arcuate along edge of distal lobe; surface closely rugose; paraocular ridge fine, straight, extending posteriorly along eye. Transverse interocular elevation between posterior part of eyes long, convex, reaching paraocular ridges, crest fine and straight, lateral angle obtuse on either end (axial view).

Pronotum ( Figs. 3, 4 ). Pronotum anteromedially steeply declivous, outline of marginate anterior border slightly convex; discoparamedian and discolateral protrusions on pronotum distinctly protuberant, subrectangular (lateral view), their tip pointed; discomedian concavity distinct, evenly concave, small, anterior part situated between discoparamedian tubercles (not continuing over anterior declivity), posterior edge rounded; discolateral concavity deep, posterior edge sinuate; anteriorly, at bottom, delimited by coarsely punctate patch behind eyes; saddle from discoparamedian tubercle to posterior disc short, not lowered; bottom of discal concavities and anterior declivity subsericeous; basomedian surface glossy, with abundantly, finely punctate midline impression; anterolateral angle of marginal pronotal ridge obtuse (dorsal view). Pronotal surface with double punctation, primary punctation (size variable) laterally abundant, denser on anterior declivity; secondary punctation sparse, minute. Pronotal base broadly marginate, lined with black, numerous punctures.

Scutellum with abundant, double punctuation, apex shining.

Venter. Intercoxal anterior lobe of metasternum trunctate in front.

Elytra ( Fig. 5 ). Discal striae shallowly impressed, finely punctate. Elytral interstriae slightly convex, vaguely, sparsely, punctate.

Legs. Protibiae with 6 external denticles; apex with slightly toothed, flattened, tapering spur. Outer side of meso- and metatibiae with bilobate apical and one complete anteapical fossorial elevation (their crest fringed with fine spines).

Aedeagus ( Fig. 6 ). Sclerotised lateral stalks broad, slightly elevated medially, tip blunt; parameral sheaths narrow, elongated, externally curved.

Measurements of body parts. Median length of head (full-face, excluding labrum and mandibles) 2.29 mm, width (including eyes) 3.19 mm. Median length of pronotum (dorsal) 3.76 mm, maximum width 6.88 mm. Median length of scutellum 0.95 mm, maximum width 1.0 mm. Sutural length of elytra (dorsal) 3.95 mm, maximum width combined 7.41 mm. Width genital capsule 1.25 mm.

Sexual dimorphism. Female ( Fig. 7 ) similar to holotype in morphological characters except discoparamedian and discolateral protrusions on pronotum less protuberant.

Etymology. Named after Dr Jan Krikken, Leiden, the Netherlands, for his immense contribution to the taxonomy of the subfamily Bolboceratinae of the Oriental Region.

Distribution ( Fig. 8 ). Known only from the type locality, Kachchh, Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat, India.

Differential diagnosis. Bolboceras krikkeni Gupta, Ghosh, Das & Chandra , new species, can be separated from the other species in the B. inaequale species group by the unique structure of the aedeagus. Morphologically, the new species resembles B. orissicum in pronotal ornamentation. In B. krikkeni Gupta, Ghosh, Das & Chandra , new species, the lateral aedeagal stalks are broad, slightly elevated medially with tip blunt and parameral sheaths are elongated, apically rounded, and somewhat curved outwardly. Whereas, in B. orissicum , the lateral aedeagal stalks are somewhat broad with a recurved hooked tip, and parameral sheaths are narrow and acuminate (see Krikken 2013b: fig. 14). Bolboceras duplicatum differs from the new species in the absence of lateral aedeagal stalks, and parameral sheaths are blunt and membraneous (see Krikken 2013b: fig. 15).

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Holotype of Bolboceras krikkeni Gupta, Ghosh, Das & Chandra, new species. 1, oblique and lateral habitus view; 2, head, dorsal view; 3-4, pronotum, dorsal view; 5, habitus, lateral view; 6, aedeagus, upper side view.

FIGURES 7–8. 7, female paratype of Bolboceras krikkeni Gupta, Ghosh, Das & Chandra, new species; 8, map of India and adjacent countries showing distribution records of Bolboceras inaequale species group.