Mecyclothorax bougainvillei Perrault, 1986: 443

Liebherr, James K., 2013, The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands, ZooKeys 322, pp. 1-170 : 60

49. Mecyclothorax bougainvillei Perrault, 1986: 443

Identification.

This species shares with Mecyclothorax curtisi the rounded pronotal hind angles and basal pronotal setal placement 0.12 × the pronotal length before the median basal margin, but differs in: 1, the nearly concolorous pronotal and elytra discs and margin; 2, the very convexly domed elytra with the scutellum much depressed from the middle of the disc; 3, the presence of both apical and subapical elytral setae, therefore a setal formula of 2222; and 4, larger size, standardized body length 6.2 mm. Like Mecyclothorax curtisi , the pronotal median base has only small, shallow punctures, about 8-10 each side, and elongate wrinkles along the juncture with the disc. The head is glossy with an indistinct transverse mesh visible in wrinkles and on the neck. The pronotal disc is also glossy, with elongate transverse mesh microsculpture visible in the lateral marginal depressions and laterobasal depressions, as well as the median base between punctures. The discal elytral intervals are covered with a shallow, regular transverse mesh, sculpticell breadth 2 –3× length. The male aedeagal median lobe is slightly more curved than in Mecyclothorax curtisi , but shares: 1, a short apex (Fig. 3B); 2, an ostial canal that traverses the right face and terminates near the dorsal margin; and 3, a right paramere that is somewhat broad and parallel sided from base to tightly rounded apex. The apex of the median lobe in Mecyclothorax bougainvillei males uniquely bears an apical tooth that extends from the basal quarter of the apical face.

Distribution and habitat.

All that is known about this species’ distribution is the elevation of the type locality for the unique holotype: 1400 m elevation on Mont Marau.