Agnelius Paulsen, 2017

Paulsen, M. J., 2017, Revision of the endemic Madagascan stag beetle genus Ganelius Benesh, and description of a new, related genus (Coleoptera: Lucanidae: Lucaninae: Figulini), Insecta Mundi 2017 (592), pp. 1-16 : 11

Agnelius Paulsen , new genus

Type species. Nigidius nageli Kriesche , here designated.

Description. Agnelius are moderately sized (12.0– 17.2 mm) figuline species that lack sexually dimorphic mandibles. The mandibles of both sexes in this species are identical and are relatively simple but have a bifurcate dorsomedial tooth that is not found in other genera ( Fig. 32 ). In both sexes the smooth, minutely punctate pronotum has a weak anterior tubercle, but the anterior margin is simply concave and not produced on either side of the tubercle as in Ganelius . The pronotum disc is almost flat, never elevated anteriorly, and the longitudinal midline is weakly indicated by a slight depression. The male genitalia have a gradually narrowing flagellum that is less than 20 mm in length.

Remarks. The species described as Nigidius nageli Kriesche differs morphologically from Ganelius species in significant ways, and as indicated by Fujita (2010) its placement within Ganelius is problematic. Among the Figulini , it shares the long flagellum of the male genitalia with Ganelius species , as well as a trilobed conjoined clypeus and labrum. However, unlike Ganelius , it lacks sexual dimorphism in the shape of the mandibles (males lacking the vertical ramus), the pronotum has a simply concave anterior margin with a weak anteromedial tubercle (vs. bisinuate margin and usually stronger tubercle), and its body is distinctly flattened and more elongate ( Fig. 21–25 ). The protibial dentition is different than in Ganelius , with large, contiguous teeth rather than isolated smaller teeth. For these reasons a new genus is erected for the species.

Etymology. The name, gender masculine, is formed by corruption of Ganelius through rearranging letters to echo the name of the nearby and somewhat similar Mascarene figuline genus Agnus Burmeister.

Figures

Figures 28–32. Comparison of ocular canthi, females. 28) Ganelius madagascariensis. 29) G. oberndorferi. 30) G. gnamptus. 31) G. zombi. 32) Agnelius nageli.

Figures 21-25. Lateral view, males. 21) Ganelius madagascariensis. 22) G. oberndorferi. 23) G. gnamptus. 24) G. zombi. 25) Agnelius nageli.