Mecyclothorax altiusculoides Perrault, 1987: 425; 1988: 237

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 34-35

17. Mecyclothorax altiusculoides Perrault, 1987: 425; 1988: 237

Identification.

Like Mecyclothorax hamatus , but with the anterior transverse impression of the pronotum shallow, broad, and indistinct medially. The pronotal and lateral elytral depressions are broadly reflexed throughout their length (Fig. 16D). The discal elytral striae 1-4 are distinctly punctate in their basal half, the punctures expanding the striae. The eighth elytral interval is upraised and finely carinate dorsad the apical half of the posterior series of the lateral elytral setae, becoming broader and more convexly upraised apically. The frons is glossy with indistinct isodiametric to transverse sculpticells, and the vertex including the neck impression is covered with a regular mesh of isodiametric sculpticells in transverse rows. The pronotal disc is covered with a shallow but regular transverse mesh resulting in a subiridescent sheen, and the discal elytral intervals bear an isodiametric mesh, the sculpticells partially arranged in transverse rows. The male aedeagal median lobe is gracile, and the apex is gently expanded ventrally, moreso dorsally in the shape of a blunt tooth (Fig. 18E). The ostial canal is curved ventrally at its apical terminus. Setal formula 2122; standardized body length 5.8-7.0 mm.

Distribution and habitat.

The type series ( Perrault 1988) was composed of specimens variously recorded from localities ranging 1100-1400 m and 1000-1800 m elevation on Mont Aorai. Subsequent records include samples from decayed fronds of Freycinetia piled on the ground after trail clearing, and from beating live and dead fern fronds. These latter samples spanned 1255-1320 m elevation.