Mecyclothorax tuberculatus Perrault, 1988: 238

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

18. Mecyclothorax tuberculatus Perrault, 1988: 238

Identification.

This species is uniquely characterized by a large tuberculate projection that distorts and upraises the eighth elytral interval and seventh stria, dorsad and immediately anterad the subapical sinuation (Fig. 17A). The seventh stria is present fore and aft the tubercle, but absent on its highest portion. The eyes are less convex and smaller in diameter than those of other Mecyclothorax altiusculus group species; ocular ratio 1.45, ocular lobe ratio 0.77. The head is glossy, and the vertex is covered with shallow but regular isodiametric-mesh microsculpture. The pronotal disc is similarly glossy, but shallow transverse-mesh microsculpture is evident. The discal elytra intervals are covered with a distinct transverse mesh, mixed with transverse lines. In the single known specimen, partially compromised eclosion resulted in a right elytron with a shagreened surface. The withered right elytron bears two dorsal setae, the normally eclosed left elytron only the anterior dorsal seta. Setal formula 21(1-2)2; standardized body length 6.4 mm.

Distribution and habitat.

The single female specimen was collected near the summit of Mont Aorai at 1900 m elevation.