Coptorhina angolensis Arrow

Frolov, Andrey V., Akhmetova, Lilia A. & Scholtz, Clarke H., 2008, Revision of the obligate mushroom-feeding African ‘‘ dung beetle’ ’ genus Coptorhina Hope (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), Journal of Natural History 42 (21 - 24), pp. 1477-1508 : 1497-1498

Coptorhina angolensis Arrow

( Figures 7, 8 , 19 ) Coptorhina angolensis Arrow 1906:129 ; Janssens 1939:35, 38; Gillet 1911:47; Ferreira 1972:356.

Type material examined

Coptorhina angolensis . Lectotype with labels ‘‘ Angola. 76.28’’, ‘‘ Coptorhina angolensis Arrow. Type „ a. m. 1906’’, ‘‘ Coptorhina „ angolensis Arr. M.E. Bacchus det 1975. Lectotype’’, ‘‘Lectotype’’ (BNMH). Paralectotype with labels ‘‘ Angola. 76.28’’, ‘‘Paralectotype’’, ‘‘ Coptorhina „ angolensis Arr. M.E. Bacchus det 1975. Paralectotype’’ and with labels ‘‘ Angola. 76.28’’, ‘‘ Coptorhina „ angolensis Arr. M.E. Bacchus det 1975. Paralectotype’’, ‘‘Paralectotype’’ (BNMH).

Additional material examined

Angola: Bailundo [not traced], 1 „ ( BMSA); Angola , August 1954, Chassot leg. 1 „ ( MHNG); 1 „ ( BMSA); Huila 15 ° 009 S 15 ° 009 E, 2 spm. ( SAMC) . Namibia: Caprivi Park Nova, 5 km N of Okavango River [18 ° 10 S 21 ° 449 E], 19 December 1999, Mann, Marais, and Newman leg., 9 spm. ( UMO) .

Diagnosis

This species is most similar to C. klugii but can be separated from it by the shape of the transverse carina of the pronotum which has four distinct tubercles in larger specimens ( Figure 7 ). From other species it differs in having narrow lateral borders of the pronotum and evenly rounded lateral sides of the pronotum. From C. nitefacta it also differs in having densely punctured upper side of body.

Description

Strongly convex, black to dark brown, subopaque beetle. Body length 11.6–18.5 mm, width 7.5–12.0 mm. Dorsal surface without visible setae.

Head. Clypeus with protruding anterior angles separated by deep sinuation ( Figure 6 ). Sinuation right-angled to broadly rounded. Protruding angles acute to narrowly rounded apically, with short longitudinal carinae on the upper side. Genae obtusely rounded. Genal sutures feebly distinct. Lateral margins of clypeus sinuate near genal sutures in some individuals. Frontal suture feebly visible, broadly interrupted in the middle. Head very densely and evenly punctuate, punctures sometimes adjacent and sculpture appears rugose. Antennal club dark-brown.

Pronotum. Trapezoidal, two times wider than long. Anterior margin and base not bordered. Sides more or less evenly rounded. Lateral border relatively narrow, evenly tapering basally and apically. Pronotum divided into larger anterior part and smaller posterior part by a transverse carina ( Figure 7 ). The carina is more developed and has four tubercles in larger specimens. Anterior part of pronotum rugose to granulate, excavated laterally in larger specimens. Posterior part in specimens with well developed carina densely punctuate.

Elytra. Striae fine but distinct, punctate (punctures separated by 3–4 puncture diameter). Intervals flat, very densely punctuate, punctures separated by about 1 puncture diameter, sometimes almost adjacent; their margins sometimes indistinct especially in apical part.

Underside. Pygidium with fine border, its disc densely punctate. Abdominal and thoracic sternites coarsely punctate except for disc of metasternum which is very sparsely to almost indistinctly punctuate.

Aedeagus. Parameres with widely rounded apices in lateral view.

Variability

Except for the body size variability the beetles differ in shape and sculpture of pronotum. Smaller specimens have less developed transverse pronotal carina and little excavated anterolateral sides of pronotum.

Distribution

The range of this species is not quite clear because of limited material available. It is known from a few localities in Angola and was recently collected in north-eastern Namibia (Caprivi) ( Figure 19 ).

Figures

Figure 19. Coptorhina spp., distribution map.

Figures 1–8. Coptorhina spp. 1, lateral view of body; 2–6, head and pronotum in dorsal view; 7–8, pronotum in dorsal view. 1–2, C. auspicata; 3, C. nitidipennis; 4, C. excavata sp. n; 5, C. nitefacta; 6, C. klugii; 7, C. angolensis; 8, C. davidi. Figures are not to scale.