Potamophilops bostrychophallus, Maier, Crystal A., 2013

Maier, Crystal A., 2013, A revision of the Larainae (Coleoptera, Elmidae) of Venezuela, with description of nine new species, ZooKeys 329, pp. 33-91 : 82-85

Potamophilops bostrychophallus sp. n. Figs 1, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92

Type material.

Holotype Male. "Venezuela, Bo-; livar, Kanara-; kuni 450m; 4-II-1967" "F. Fernandez Y; A.D. Asco". Holotype deposited in MIZA. Paratypes (37): VENEZUELA: Bolívar State: "Venezuela, Bolívar; El Bochincho Res.; Forestal Imataca; 200m, 6 –13-XII-74” "Expedicion Instituto; Zoologia Agricola; Fac. Agronomia; U.C.V." (7 specimens MIZA). "El Playon; Rio Caura; Venezuela, Boli-; var [ Bolívar State]. 140m; 23-XI-1978" "B. Bechyne leg." (1 specimen MIZA). "El Playon; Rio Caura; Venezuela, Boli-; var [ Bolívar State]. 100m; 8 –10-XI-1978” "E. Osuna; J. Clavijo leg." (1 specimen MIZA). "Venezuela, Bo-; livar, Kanara-; kuni 450m; 3-II-1967" "F. Fernandez Y; A.D. Asco" (1 specimen MIZA). "VENEZUELA Bolívar; cr. San Rafael de Pendare; 06°06'27"N, 67°05'34"W; 17-vi-2000 M. Gaiani; P.; Freytag; Q. Arias" (1 specimen MIZA). "Venezuela- Boli-; var." "El Bochinche; Res. Forestal; Imataca 200m; 16 –18-V-85” "Exp. Instituto; Zool. Agricola" (1 Specimen MIZA). "Venezuela - Bolívar; Rio Caura; Salto Para; Via Playon; 23-X-78" "B. Bechyne; leg." (2 specimens MIZA). "VENEZUELA, Bolivar; Rio Caura, El Playon env.; 06 °19'33.2"N, 064°31'373"W, 27.11.2011; Čiamporová-Zaťovičová & Čiampor Jr lgt." (23 specimens FCC). Paratypes will be deposited in: 1 in MALUZ, 2 in USNM, 2 in SEMC, 9 in MIZA, 23 FCC.

Diagnosis.

This species can be distinguished from all other species of Potamophilops by the following combination of characters: its small size (<6.8 mm TL); the presence of distinct but subtle postmetacoxal carinae (Fig. 89); and the distinctive aedeagus, with a curled apex (Fig. 92).

Description.

Elongate, subparallel, moderately convex dorsally (Fig. 88). Length, 6.1 mm; width, 2.2 mm. Black dorsally; antennomeres I and II testaceous; antennomeres II–XI black. Ventral surface black except maxillary palpomeres I and II, labial palpi, labium, maxillae, coxae, trochanters, bases of femora, tarsal claws, and a small area behind each metacoxa on first abdominal ventrite light brown; mesotibiae medium reddish-brown (Fig. 89).

Head finely, densely punctate; punctures separated by distance equal to about half their diameter. Eyes large, hemispherical. Clypeus shallowly arcuately emarginate anteriorly. Labrum, especially on anterior half, densely punctate; anterior margin shallowly and broadly emarginate, and densely fringed with long, fine, golden, hair-like setae; anterolateral angles rounded and greatly expanded laterally.

Pronotum widest at base; length, 1.5 mm; width, 1.7 mm; sides arcuate; anterolateral angles obtuse, with distinct constriction posterolaterally of each angle resulting from deep transverse impression across apical third of pronotum (Fig. 91); apex arcuate; base strongly bisinuate; with a shallow fovea on each side of midline a short distance in front of scutellum; posterolateral angles obtuse; with a deep, broad depression adjacent to each angle, angled reflexed dorsally; surface with deep transverse impression across apical third; midline convex behind transverse impression (Fig. 91); discal area finely densely punctate, punctures separated by a distance equal to or less than their diameter.

Prosternum very short in front of procoxae. Prosternal process wide, elongate, apex with median process extending posteriorly further than sides (Fig. 89). Mesoventrite with moderately deep U-shaped depression for reception of apex of prosternal process. Metaventrite convex on each side of midline, depressed, with a glabrous line posteromedially between metacoxae (Fig. 89); surface microreticulate and punctate; punctures on convex surface fine and dense, separated by a distance equal to or less than their diameter; punctures sparser laterally.

Legs long and slender. Procoxae and metacoxae moderately widely separated; mesocoxae slightly more widely separated (Fig. 89). Mesotibiae entirely glabrous, except a very narrow strip on medial (lower) surface, with sparse coarse punctures (Fig. 90). Metatibia covered with dense pubescence. Tarsal claws long and stout.

Elytron with 10 rows of fine, nearly confluent punctures, punctures separated by a distance less than their diameter; intervals finely densely punctate, punctures separated by distance about equal to their diameter and obscured by dense pubescence; humeral area strongly tumid; sides of elytra distinctly margined and almost parallel; apex slightly dehiscent, evenly arcuate laterally and terminating in a pointed, upturned apex (Fig. 88).

Metaventrite and first abdominal ventrite broadly and moderately impressed. First abdominal ventrite with distinct, but poorly defined carinae between metacoxae (less so than in other genera) (Fig. 89); carinae and exceeding hind margin of metacoxal cavities. Apicomedial margin of last ventrite moderately emarginate. Aedeagus distinct, with strongly curled apex; parameres with sparse setae (Fig. 92).

Female. Similar to male except last abdominal ventrite is subtruncate and the elytral apices are slightly more produced and elongate than in the male.

Intraspecific variation.

This species varies slightly in color from dark brown to black and size, (6.0 mm– 6.8 mm).

Etymology.

This species is named “bostrychophallus” meaning "curly phallus", which refers to the curled apex of the aedeagus (Fig. 92).

Distribution and habitat.

This species has been found in rivers at lower elevations (<500m) throughout the Guiana Shield region in Venezuela, and presumably occurs in northern Brazil and Western Guyana as well (Fig. 1).

Associated species.

This species has been found in association with Lutrochus cauraensis ( Lutrochidae ) at Kanarakuni, Venezuela ( Maier and Short 2013).