Coelometopon minipunctum, Perkins, 2005

Perkins, Philip D., 2005, A revision of the African hygropetric genus Coelometopon Janssens, and description of Oomtelecopon new genus (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), Zootaxa 949 (1), pp. 1-103 : 1-103

Coelometopon minipunctum new species

(Figures 29, 30, 80)

Type Material. Holotype (male): South Africa: Natal Prov. , Drakensberg, Cathedral Peak, Rainbow G, wet rockface, 28° 57' S, 29° 14' E, 22 January 1997, Endrödy­Younga (#3268); deposited in the TMSA . Paratypes: Same data (2 TMSA) .

Diagnosis. Similar in several dorsal features to other members of the endroedyi group, but differing from all by the presence of micropunctation on the elytra.

Description. Size (length/width, mm x 100) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 245/104, head 56/63, pronotum 52/86, elytra 156/104. Dorsum piceous to black. Maxillary palpus slightly shorter than width of anterior margin of clypeus, last three palpomeres subequal in length, each slightly wider than preceding. Mentum weakly produced apicomedially; depressed on each side of midline near base. Granules of frons and pronotum similar in size and density, those of clypeus much finer and sparser. Pronotum with granules rather uniformly distributed on disc, sparser on lateral depressions; median groove interrupted, nearly obsolete over middle portion; sides emarginate in front of and behind roundly produced middle portion.

Elytra with exceedingly fine micropore ground sculpture. Intervals as follow: 2nd, 4th and 6th with distinct interrupted costae, 2nd with first and second costae larger and higher than other costae, each about equal in length to non­costate area separating them, third costa very small, if at all costate; odd numbered intervals each with unilinear row of granules. Margins with unilinear row of granules except short section above each hind femur with close­set multiple granules. Metasternum with elongate oval depression. Females unknown.

Aedeagus length 0.63 mm; mainpiece nearly straight in ventral aspect, strongly sinuate in lateral aspect, gradually widened from major bend to near distal end, then decreasing in width before angulate ridged process; gonopore process comparatively wide, about as long as ridged process; membranous process large, angulate, immediately adjacent to and tip slightly overlapping gonopore process (Fig. 29).

Etymology. Named in reference to the exceedingly fine and rather sparse micropore ground sculpture of the elytra.

Distribution. Currently known only from the type locality at Cathedral Peak in the Drakensberg Mountains of Natal Province (Fig. 80).