Megasoma (Megasoma) typhon ssp. typhon (Olivier, 1789)

Prandi, Massimo, Grossi, Paschoal C. & Vaz-De-Mello, Fernando Z., 2020, Revision of the Megasoma (Megasoma) gyas (Jablonsky in Herbst, 1785) species group (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Dynastinae), ZooKeys 999, pp. 109-145 : 109

Megasoma (Megasoma) typhon ssp. typhon (Olivier, 1789) Figures 15A-D , 17A-C

Scarabaeus typhon Olivier, 1789: 12.

Scarabaeus entellus Olivier, 1792, syn. nov.

Scarabaeus monoceros Weber, 1801, syn. nov.

Megasoma gyas porioni Nagai, 2003, syn. nov.

Type material.

The holotype, i.e., the specimen illustrated by Olivier (1789: Tav. XVI fig. 252; reproduced in Fig. 5 ) is probably lost (Kobayashi, pers. comm., 2019). The designation of a neotype does not seem necessary since the species is well characterized and a search for the type in historical collections is still ongoing.

Distribution.

As explained above, the classical “long-horned” beetle up to now called M. gyas gyas , is actually a distinct species, M. typhon (Olivier, 1789). It occurs through the Mata Atlântica biome along the coastal areas of the Brazilian states of Bahia, Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais. The biome Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Rain Forest) occupies an area equivalent to 622,000 sq. miles, i.e., 13% of Brazilian territory, and consists mainly of forests that run along the coastline from the State of Rio Grande do Norte to the State of Rio Grande do Sul. Due to its high human population density, it is one of the most deforested areas of Brazil. Only 7% of its original vegetation remains, scattered over hundreds of mostly small fragments. The Mata Atlântica presents a diversified group of forest ecosystems and a variety of floristic structures connected to specific different climatic conditions, all of them enjoying the humid winds that blow from the ocean ( Coutinho 2016). We have no records of M. typhon from Paraná state, being São Paulo state ( Antunes et al. 2007; Luzzi et al. 2016) the southernmost record. This species shows an interesting variability in the shape of cephalic and thoracic horns, mainly in the flat or thin section of the former and in the tips of the latter. This variability however is found all over the distribution range of the species and therefore is an individual variability without a geographical meaning. Based on this new interpretation, M. gyas porioni Nagai is a synonym of M. typhon typhon .

Material examined.

More than 100 specimens (major ♂ 80%, minor ♂ 10%, ♀ 10%) from the following Brazilian states: Bahia, Jaguaquara, IV 1992 from coll. T. Porion (3 ♂ 3 ♀, MPC), same locality, IV 1997 (1 ♂, KKC); IV 1997 (1 ♂, LMC); IV 1993 "Holotype Megasoma gyas porioni Shinji Nagai, 2003. Collection of S. Hisamatsu. (Brazil) Bahia, near Jaguaquara, ca. 800 m in alt., from T. Porion" (1 ♂, EUMJ); Paratypes, same data (1 ♂, 1 ♀, EUMJ); Amargosa, 20 XI 1988 (3 ♂, MPC), V 1989 (1 ♀, MPC), 20 XI 1988 (1 ♀, MPC); Salobrinho, 2000 (1 ♂, MPC), Ilhéus, Salobrinho, light, Atlantic forest, 14 VII 2016 (1 ♂, 2 ♀, MPC); Arataca, III 2013 (4 ♂, MPC); Ilhéus, Faz. Aliança 28 I 2017, leg. Souza (2 ♀, MPC) II 2013, same locality, II2019 (6 ♂, MPC), Bahia, XII 2002 Ceplac (1 ♂, EPCG); Porto Seguro, VIII 1970 (2 ♂, EPCG); Olivença, VI 2003 leg. R. Koike (2 ♂, EPGC); Una, VIII 2003 (1 ♂, EPCG); Itamajú, 100 m. II 2006 (3 ♀, MPC); Itabuna, II 2013 (3 ♂, MPC), Bahia, Fazenda de Cacau 10 XII 2010 (1 ♂, MPC); Itacaré, III 2012 (1 ♂, MPC); Jequié, no data (1 ♂, EPCG): São Paulo, Ubatuba VI 2013 (1 ♂, MPC); “Province” of SP, no further data (2 ♂, MPC); Rio de Janeiro, Teresópolis, I 2002 leg. Izabel (1 ♂, 1 ♀, EPCG); Rio das Ostras, VI 2011 leg. Igor (2 ♂, EPCG); Guapimirim, II 1980 leg. H.R. Pearson (1 ♂, EPCG); Xerém, VI 1999, 18.VII.1992 (2 ♂, MPC), same locality, VI 2001 (1 ♀, MPC); Nova Iguaçu, Res. Bio Tinguá VI 2009 leg. J.R. Mermudes (2 ♂, CEMT); Espirito Santo, Linhares II 1966 (1 ♂, MPC); Minas Gerais, Ipatinga, V 1987 leg. E.& P. Grossi (3 ♂, EPCG), same locality, V 2010, III 2016 (2 ♂, MPC), IV 1985 (3 ♂, LMC), V 1987 (1 ♂, LMC); V 2001, III 2016 (2 ♀, MPC), V 1995 leg. E.J. Grossi (1 ♂, 1 ♀, CEMT); Vale do Rio Doce, IV 1990 (1 ♀, MPC); Cataguases, VI 1995 leg. F.Z. Vaz-de-Mello (1 ♂, CEMT).

Male (Fig. 15 ). The description below is based on a specimen from Bahia state, Jaguaquara locality, that closely resembles the specimen illustrated by Olivier. Other specimens from different localities are shown to illustrate the morphological variability constantly found all over the distributional range of the species (Fig. 16A-F ). Size. L: 79 mm; TL: 108 mm; PL: 23 mm; PW: 37 mm; EL: 54 mm; EW: 49 mm; CL: 38 mm; PH: 10.5 mm. General appearance. Uniformly ebony brown covered by a yellowish short, fine, uniform, pilosity; head, including horn, consistently black except for the basal part near pronotum with sparse bristles. Tips of thoracic horns glossy black. Head. Cephalic horn long, projecting forwards and slightly curved upwards. In dorsal view, wider base, decreasing for a length of 6 mm and then gradually widening to a median flattener zone with a maximal width of 5.5 mm, then decreasing again for 13 mm, and finally gradually broadened towards forked apex. Apex always V-shaped, with divergent tips (Fig. 15A ). This feature occurs always in minor, medium, and major males, with median or longer horns. Sometimes the tips of the cephalic horn, in dorsal view, are slightly bent backwards, mostly in medium or small specimens. The distance between the tips is 8.5 mm. The sides are bordered with a weak rim easily detectable, from base to mid-length. The dorsal side at the base bears the relief of a distinct tooth, with a maximal height of 3.5 mm.

Pronotum. Whole surface is covered by uniform, fine, dense, yellowish pubescence. Anterior angles projecting as elongate, sharp, divergent horns, distinctly bent outwards, basal width ca. 9.5 mm, length from base 10.5 mm, distance between apices of anterior horns 37 mm. Median thoracic horn longer than laterals, length 17 mm, straight, dorsal side with a glossy black line, ventral side of median horn with abundant fine pubescence. PL/TH ratio 2.190. Elytra. Covered by very fine, uniformly dense, yellowish pubescence except along sutural edge and lateral margins; EL/EW ratio 1.102. Sutural edge with glossy black stripe; three or four ridges almost equally spaced on each elytron, covered by pubescence. Elytra in lateral view bulging but gradually flattened towards the apex. L/EL ratio 1.462, showing an elongate feature of the body. Abdomen. Laterally covered with very fine, short, reddish brown pilosity, medially glabrous only in a small area of each sternite. Legs. Fore tibia slightly rounded inwards, inner edge strongly dilated at apex, FL 26 mm. Anterior edge of protibia V-shaped. Lateral edge with three strong teeth, decreasing in length from basal to apical teeth, but basal tooth longer than subapical; basal tooth more distant from subapical tooth than the latter from apical. Basal and subapical teeth large, thick, sharp, triangular, pointing rearwards; apical tooth very reduced, pointing forwards. Inner apical spur strongly curved ventrally, distinctly longer than the apical tooth. TF 29 mm. Aedeagus. Overall appearance of the parameres more massive than in M. gyas , subrectangular, not narrow, as showed in Fig. 31C, D . Anterior phallobase also bigger.

Variation, males.

As usual, the development of cephalic and thoracic horns is allometric, but in medium and small specimens of M. typhon typhon with shorter cephalic horn, thoracic horns remain well developed. The tooth on the dorsal side of the cephalic horn is always present, in major, medium, and small specimens. Minor males in lateral view, often show a rounder feature of the body.

Measurements.

L: 57-85 mm; TL: 65-119 mm; PL: 17-24 mm; PW: 29-40 mm; EL: 41-57 mm; EW: 35-50 mm; CL: 13-38 mm; FL: 19-26 mm; TF: 22-30 mm.

Female (Fig. 17 ). Size. L: 73 mm; PL: 20 mm; PW: 32 mm; EL: 49 mm; EW: 41 mm.

General appearance. Uniformly black; elytra covered with yellow-brownish dense pilosity for 4/5 of the total surface. Head. Middle of fronto-clypeal suture with single tubercle. Pronotum. Dull, coarsely punctate-rugose, strongly convex; posterior median carina 12 mm long, more than ½ total length. Anterior angles projecting, obtuse, with blunt tip. Elytra. Punctate-rugose glossy black on dorsal, anterior area, extending for 10 mm, almost 1/5 of the EL; sculpture finer towards pubescent surface. Pubescent surface consistently covered, with clearly visible longitudinal ridges, three or four ridges for each elytron, not equally spaced. Sutural line and epipleura glabrous, glossy black, with very fine punctation. Abdomen. Finely punctate, covered by short, brown-yellowish pilosity except for median central portion on sternites III-V. Legs. Fore tibiae shorter than in males, shorter than tarsi, 17 mm long, fairly arcuate, with three lateral strong teeth. Basal and subapical teeth equal in length; apical tooth smaller. Inner side with slight dilatation at apex. Inner spur curved ventrally almost equal in length as apical tooth. Lateral and inner apical teeth smaller than in males. TF length 22 mm.

Measurements.

L: 47-78 mm; PL: 12-21 mm; PW; 20-34 mm; EL; 29-50 mm; EW: 26-44 mm; FL: 11-19 mm; TF: 16-24 mm; HL: 5-11 mm.

Figures

Figure 15. Megasoma typhon typhon ♂ from Brazil, Bahia, Jaguaquara A dorsal habitus B cephalic horn lateral view C original label D lateral habitus.

Figure 16. Megasoma typhon typhon gallery from different localities A Brazil, Bahia, Salobrinho B Brazil, Sao Paulo Province C Brazil, Bahia, Arataca D Brazil, Minas Gerais, Ipatinga E Brazil, Bahia, Jaguaquara F Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Teresopolis.

Figure 17. M. typhon typhon ♀ from Brazil, Minas Gerais, Ipatinga A dorsal habitus B single head's tubercle C pronotum with carina.

Figure 31. Frontal view of aedeagi A aedeagus of M. gyas from Brazil, Pernambuco, Custodia B aedeagus M. gyas from Brazil, Sergipe C aedeagus of M. typhon typhon from Brazil, Bahia, Jaguaquara D aedeagus of M. typhon typhon from Brazil, Minas Gerais, Ipatinga E, F aedeagi of M. hyperion sp. nov. from Brazil, Minas Gerais, Aguas Vermelhas.

Figures 5 - 7. 5 G-A Olivier 1789. " Entomologie ou Histoire Naturelle des Insectes ", Tav. XVI fig. 252. Scarabaeus typhon 6 G-A Olivier 1789. " Entomologie ou Histoire Naturelle des Insectes ", Tav. XXVIII fig 247. Scarabaeus laniger 7 G-A Olivier 1792. " Journal d'Histoire Naturelle ", no. 8. Scarabaeus entellus