Ephydrolithus minor, Girón & Short, 2019

Giron, Jennifer C. & Short, Andrew Edward Z., 2019, Three additional new genera of acidocerine water scavenger beetles from the Guiana and Brazilian Shield regions of South America (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Acidocerinae), ZooKeys 855, pp. 109-154 : 127

Ephydrolithus minor sp. nov. Figs 6 E–H , 7I , 8 , 9A, B

Type material.

Holotype (♂): "BRAZIL: Bahia: Abaíra; 13.29053S, 41.90489W; 1705 m; Pico do Barbado W of Catolés; vertical seep on rock; 26.ii.2018; leg. Benetti & team; BR18-0226-01C" (INPA). Paratypes (15): BRAZIL: Bahia: Same data as holotype (SEMC, 8 including DNA vouchers SLE-1511, SLE-1512; INPA, 7).

Differential diagnosis.

Ephydrolithus minor is easily recognized among its congeners by its small size.

Description.

Body length 1.8-2.2 mm, width 0.9-1.3 mm. Body elongate oval, strongly convex (Fig. 6F ). General coloration dark brown, slightly paler along margins of pronotum. Posterior elevation of mesoventrite with well-defined, curved transverse ridge. Elytra without striae or serial punctures. Pro- and mesofemora covered with hydrofuge pubescence along basal half; metafemora with glabrous tibial grooves. Apex of fifth abdominal ventrite rounded. Aedeagus (Fig. 7I ) with basal piece 0.45 × the length of parameres; greatest width of parameres similar to greatest width of median lobe, with outer margins evenly convex; apex of parameres truncate, obliquely directed; apex of median lobe rather widely rounded.

Etymology.

Named with the Latin word minor meaning small, in reference to the species being the smallest member of the genus.

Distribution.

Only known from the type locality, Pico do Barbado (Fig. 8 ).

Remarks.

The type series was collected on a high-elevation seepage over a vertical cliff. The rock face had moss and algal growth on same areas (Fig. 9A, B ).

Figures

Figure 6. Habitus of Ephydrolithus spp.: A-D Ephydrolithus ogmos: A dorsal view B lateral view C ventral view D head, dorsal view. E-H Ephydrolithus minor: E dorsal view F lateral view G ventral view H head, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 7. Thorax, abdomen and genitalia of Ephydrolithus spp.: A-D Ephydrolithus hamadae: A ventral view of mesoventrite (white arrow pointing transverse ridge) B posterior view of metafurca C fifth abdominal ventrite D aedeagus E aedeagus of Ephydrolithus teli. F, G Ephydrolithus spiculatus: F aedeagus G oblique view of mesoventrite (black arrow pointing well-developed tooth) H aedeagus of Ephydrolithus ogmos I aedeagus of Ephydrolithus minor. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

Figure 8. Distribution of Ephydrolithus spp.

Figure 9. Habitat of Ephydrolithus spp. A, B habitat and type locality for E. minor and E. ogmos, Brazil, Pico do Barbado, collecting event BR 18 - 0226 - 01 C C habitat and type locality for E. hamadae and E. spiculatus, Brazil, Cachoeira da Palmeira, collecting event BR 18 - 0302 - 04 A D habitat and type locality for E. teli, Brazil, Pico do Barbado, collecting event BR 18 - 0226 - 01 B.