Mecyclothorax tahitiensis Perrault, 1978b: 140; 1986: 448

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 49-50

35. Mecyclothorax tahitiensis Perrault, 1978b: 140; 1986: 448

Identification.

Among the larger-bodied species of the Mecyclothorax dannieae group - standardized body length 5.4-5.6 mm - characterized by a transverse pronotum (Figs 23A, B), this species is characterized by the presence of only one apical elytral seta; setal formula 2221. The seta is present apicad the juncture of striae 3 + 4, and as detailed in the Setation section above, represents the apical seta of the plesiomorphic apical plus subapical elytral setal pair, its position evolutionarily transformed to a more basal position. The head is covered with evident microsculpture, the sculpticells transversely stretched and in transverse rows on the frons, more isodiametric on the neck. The pronotal disc and discal elytral intervals bear well-developed transverse mesh microsculpture, with sculpticell breadth 2 –3× length. The male aedeagal median lobe (Fig. 24E) is apically expanded, much like that observed in Mecyclothorax brittoni (Figs 24C), but the apical portion is longer, and the tip flares out ventrally to complement the more broadly rounded dorsal expansion. The male right paramere is apically lamellate, the ventral surface lined with setae (Fig. 24E). The internal sac bears a dorsal ostial microtrichial patch.

Distribution and habitat.

This species was previously known from two male specimens Perrault (1986) collected in 1976 at 1750 m elevation on Mont Aorai. A third specimen, also a male, was collected from leaf litter, 17-20 June 1949 at 2042 m elevation on Aorai (FMNH); i.e., 24 m in elevation below the summit.