Rhithrodytes argaensis BILTON & FERY, 1996

Fery, Hans, 2016, Notes on Rhithrodytes BAMEUL, 1989, with the description of R. minimus nov. sp. from Algeria (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae. Hydroporini, Siettitiina), Linzer biologische Beiträge 48 (1), pp. 431-450 : 442-443

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.5416650

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6494654

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039887F2-FFBE-FFE4-FF5E-FB08C818FC86

treatment provided by

Marcus

scientific name

Rhithrodytes argaensis BILTON & FERY, 1996
status

 

Rhithrodytes argaensis BILTON & FERY, 1996 View in CoL (new status)

Rhithrodytes agnus View in CoL argaensis BILTON & FERY, 1996: 919 View in CoL ; RIBERA et al. 1999: 60; RIBERA 2003: 477; FERY & FRESNEDA 2007: 138; ABELLÁN et al. 2013: 123 and Appendices (phylogeny).

Ty pe locality: " Portugal, Minho, NE Viana do Castelo, Serra de Arga, stream at 700 m ".

For the description of R. argaensis and comparison with Rhithrodytes agnus FOSTER, 1992 see BILTON & FERY (1996). The holotype is stored in the NMW. The habitus of this species is given in Fig. 16 View Figs 12-19 , the male genitalia in Figs 29 and 33 View Figs 28-35 ; see Figs 15 View Figs 12-19 , 28 and 32 View Figs 28-35 for R. agnus .

So far this taxon was treated as a subspecies of R. agnus . Because the type localities of the two subspecies are only about 10 km away from each other, the authors of the original description hesitated to assign specific rank to R. argaensis . On the other hand, they found that the two taxa are obviously incapable of dispersal by flight (BILTON & FERY 1996: 924). This is why the authors suspected that both subspecies might be given specific rank following (future) genetic investigations and wrote "... but it would appear that these represent taxa on their way to speciation." (BILTON & FERY 1996: 928).

Recently, such genetic investigations have been presented by ABELLÁN et al. (2013, appendices) and Ignacio Ribera (Barcelona, Spain) communicated privately that if both subspecies have "... enough morphological differences they can be upgraded to species... genetically they are very close, but well separated." In particular, the differences in the male genitalia are very distinct (see Figs 28 and 29 View Figs 28-35 ), and thus the rank of argaensis is here elevated from subspecific to specific.

The data of the specimens used for the genetic studies in ABELLÁN et al. (2013) are: " 28.5.2006 (P) Viana do Castelo, ca. 6 km N Ponte de Lima , W Labruja, rest ponds of brook under bridge, UTM ca. NG 324311, H. Fery ; COI: HF931143 View Materials ; 16S: HF931362 View Materials " and " 9/v/2005 Serra de Arga , pools on summit, D.T. Bilton; COI: HF931183 View Materials , 16S: HF931405 View Materials " .

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Coleoptera

Family

Dytiscidae

Genus

Rhithrodytes

Loc

Rhithrodytes argaensis BILTON & FERY, 1996

Fery, Hans 2016
2016
Loc

Rhithrodytes agnus

ABELLAN P & FERNANDEZ D & PICAZO F & MILLAN A & LOBO J 2013: 123
RIBERA I 2003: 477
RIBERA I & HERNANDO C 1999: 60
1999
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