Polynoncus furcillifer Pittino, 1987

Costa-Silva, Vinícius, Strümpher, Werner P., Thyssen, Patricia J. & Vaz-de-Mello, Fernando Z., 2024, Taxonomic revision of the South American genus Polynoncus Burmeister, 1876 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Trogidae), Journal of Natural History 58 (1 - 4), pp. 14-166 : 73-77

Polynoncus furcillifer Pittino, 1987 revalidated

( Figures 5c , 27–28 )

Polynoncus furcillifer Pittino, 1987: 396 (original description); Scholtz 1990: 1442 (synonymised with Polynoncus parafurcatus ); Zidek 2013: 10 (checklist, as synonym of P. parafurcatus ); Zidek 2017: 101 (checklist, as synonym of P. parafurcatus )

Type specimens examined (through detailed photographs). HOLOTYPE. (♂ RPMI – Figure 28 ) First label [green, typeset]: ‘ Espirito-Santo / Brasil / ex coll. Fruhstorfer’. Second label [white, typeset]: ‘Dobiasch 1917’. Third label [white, typeset]: ‘EX COLL. / WINKLER, WIEN’. Fourth label [red, Riccardo Pittino’s handwriting]: ‘ Polynoncus / furcillifern.sp. / HOLOTYPUS ♂ / Det. Pittino [typeset] 1987’ ( Figure 28c ). Type locality: ‘Espirito-Santo’, Brazil.

Differential diagnosis. Polynoncus furcillifer can be separated from P. bifurcatus and P. parafurcatus by having pronotal ridges and basal tubercles of the pronotum connected ( Figure 5c ). However, it is most morphologically similar to P. vazdemelloi , although P. furcillifer has the elytral tubercles more prominent and rounded (sometimes elongate) while they are poorly elevated and elongate (at least 2× longer than wide) in P. vazdemelloi . The male genitalia and description of P. furcillifer are detailed by Pittino (1987, p. 387).

Geographic distribution. Polynoncus furcillifer is widely distributed in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, going up the south coast to the north-east of the country ( Figure 27 ). This species also occurs sympatrically with Polynoncus vazdemelloi .

Examined non-type material (449 specimens). BRAZIL: Bahia, Boa Nova, Mata do Cipó II, 14.351°S, 40.251°W, 4 September 2014, pitfall trap, J. Maciel leg. (1 CEMT). Espírito Santo, Domingos Martins, Pedra Azul State Park , 1500 m, January 2000, Lopes-Andrade and Vaz-de-Mello leg. (1♂ and 3♀ CEMT) ; Domingos Martins, Pedra Azul State Park , January 2000, Lopes-Andrade and Vaz-de-Mello leg. (1♀ CVMD) ; Linhares, Vale Natural Reserve , 19.105°S, 39.974°W, 10 April 2016, pitfall trap with human faeces, F. Cassar leg. (1 CEMT) ; Venda Nova do Imigrante , December 2001, F.Z. Vaz-de-Mello leg. (1♂ and 1♀ CEMT). Minas Gerais, Águas Vermelhas , December 1997, A. Bello and F.Z Vaz-de-Mello leg. (1♂ CEMT) ; Bocaína de Minas , 22.220°S, 44.483°W, March 2019, pitfall trap, L.O. Cortez et al., leg. (1 CEMT) ; Brumadinho , 20.130°S, 44.113°W, November 2021, P.G. da Silva leg. (1 CEMT) ; Ijaci, Palmital Farm , FAEPE [Foundation to Support Teaching, Research and Extension] November 2002, light trap, J. Louzada leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; Lima Duarte, Ibitipoca State Park , 1400 m, June 2001, F.Z. Vaz-de-Mello leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; Pouso Alegre , December 1952, F.S. Pereira leg. (1♂ MZSP) ; Vespasiano January 1992, A. Machado leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; Vespasiano December 1951, A. Machado leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; ViÇosa , 10 January 1994, J. Louzada leg. (2♂ and 1 unsexed CEMT) ; ViÇosa , 17 January 1994, J. Louzada leg. (2 CEMT) ; ViÇosa , 28 January 1994, J. Louzada leg. (1 CEMT) ; ViÇosa , 30 December 1993, J. Louzada leg. (1♂ CEMT) ; ViÇosa , 7 December 1998, J. Moreno and T. Mestre leg. (2 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Campus UFV [Federal University of ViÇosa], January 1995, J. Louzada leg. (3♂ and 6 unsexed CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 15–31 August 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam leg. (1♀ CERPE) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 15–31 August 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam leg. (1♀ CEMT and 39 unsexed) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 23 September 3 October 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam leg. (1♂ IEXA) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 23 September 3 October 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam leg. (1♀ and 11 unsexed CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 14–24 October 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam leg. (16 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 18–25 November 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam and B. Rivas leg. (7 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 24–31 October 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam and B. Rivas leg. (8 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 9–15 September 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam leg. (5 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 25 November 6 December 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam and B. Rivas leg. (3 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 10–17 June 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam leg. (3 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 1–5 August 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam leg. (5 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 15 July 1 August 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam leg. (13 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 15–23 September 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam leg. (13 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 6–13 January 2017, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam and B. Rivas leg. (10 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 10–20 February 2017, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam and B. Rivas leg. (1 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 13–20 January 2017, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam and A. Ceballos leg. (2 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 20 January 1 February 2017, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam and B. Rivas leg. (1 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861° W, 1–15 July 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam leg. (4 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 20 February 6 March 2017, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam and B. Rivas leg. (3 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861° W, 31 October 9 November 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam and B. Rivas leg. (6 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 9–18 November 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam and B. Rivas leg. (1 EMAC) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 9–18 November 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam and B. Rivas leg. (23 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 15 December 2016 – 6 January 2017, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam and A. Ceballos leg. (1 EMAC) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 15 December 2016 – 6 January 2017, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam and A. Ceballos leg. (12 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 6–15 December 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam and A. Ceballos leg. (6 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 1–15 July 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam leg. (1 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 3–7 October 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam leg. (2 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 7–14 October 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam leg. (15 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 31 August–9 September 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam leg. (1 IEXA) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 31 August–9 September 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam leg. (14 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Atlântica (UFV), 20.797°S, 42.861°W, 5–15 August 2016, pitfall trap with meat as bait, M. Ix-Balam leg. (1 CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata do Paraíso , 20.783°S, 42.850°W, December 1996, J. Louzada, Lopes Sperber and Vaz-de-Mello leg. (1♂ and 1♀ CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata do Paraíso , 20.783°S, 42.850°W, December 1998, F.Z. Vaz-de-Mello leg. (2♂ and 2 unsexed CVMD) ; ViÇosa, Mata do Paraíso , January 1996, F.Z. Vaz-de-Mello leg. (1♂ and 2 unsexed CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata do Paraíso , January 1996, J. Louzada, Lopes Sperber and Vaz-de-Mello leg. (1♂ and 1♀ CEMT) ; ViÇosa, Mata Prefeitura , November 2000, F.Z. Vaz-de-Mello leg. (1♂, 1♀ and 1 unsexed CEMT) ; ViÇosa , October 1998, F. Vaz-de-Mello leg. (4 total, 1♂, ♀ CVMD) ; without specific locality or date, Steph . leg. (1 ZSM). Paraná, Campina Grande do Sul, Estrada da MandaÇaia 12 August 2014, FIT [flight interception trap], F.W.T. Leivas leg. (2 CEMT) ; Campina Grande do Sul, Estrada da MandaÇaia 25.296°S, 49.036°W, 4 December 2013, FIT, F.W.T. Leivas leg. (1 CEMT) ; Campina Grande do Sul, Estrada da MandaÇaia 9–10 December 2012, F.W.T. Leivas leg. (1 CEMT) ; Campina Grande do Sul, Estrada da MandaÇaia , 7–10 April 2014, FIT, F.W.T. Leivas leg. (1 CEMT) ; Cascavel, Paulo Gorski Municipal Park , 24.962°S, 53.436°W, 6 January 2017, pitfall trap with Puma concolor faeces, A. Bach leg. (3 CEMT) ; Céu Azul, IguaÇu National Park , 655 m, 25.150°S, 53.833°W, 9 November 2015, Canopy, R. Barros leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; Céu Azul , IguaÇu National Park, Rio Azul waterfall, 25.131°S, 53.819°W, 661 m, 10–16 January 2020, FIT, A.D.M.M. Eulálio leg. (1 CEMT) ; Curitiba, Barigui , February 1942, R. Lange leg. (1 DZUP) ; Londrina, Mata dos Godoy State Park , 610 m, 23.433°S, 53.833°W, 24 April 2016, malaise, R. Barros leg. (2♀ CEMT) ; Londrina , 24 November 1998, I.M. Medri leg. (2 CEMT) ; Londrina , November 2005, Lopes leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; Morretes , 24 September–01 October 1984, light trap, C.I.I.F leg. (1 DZUP) ; Piraquara , 1038 m, 25.492°S, 48.978°W, 13 March 2012, FIT, F. Leivas and P. Grossi leg. (1 CEMT) ; Rancho Alegre , 22 November 2007, pitfall trap with meat, T.L. Coppo leg. (1 CEMT) ; Rancho Alegre, Congonhas Farm , 21 June 2007, pitfall trap with faeces, J. Lopes leg. (1 CEMT) ; Rancho Alegre, Congonhas Farm , 580 m, 22.795°S, 51.003°W, 27 December 2012, P.M. Felix leg. (2♂ CEMT) ; Rancho Alegre, Congonhas Farm , 580 m, 22.795°S, 51.003°W, 28 March 2013, P.M. Felix leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; Rio Negro , 11 January 2017, L. FogaÇa leg. (1 CEMT) ; Rolândia , February 1960, Dirings leg. (1 MZSP) ; Rolândia , October 1952, Dirings leg. (1 MZSP) ; Rolândia, December 1957, no collector (1 DZUP) ; São Mateus do Sul , February 1957, H. Rodr. [sic!] leg. (1 MZSP) ; São Mateus do Sul , October 1956, H. Rodr. [sic!] leg. (1 MZSP) ; Tamarana , 6 November 2000, light trap, Lopes et al., leg. (1♂ CEMT) ; Telêmaco Borba, Samuel Klabin Residencial 23 October 1987, no collector (1 DZUP). Rio de Janeiro, Nova Friburgo, Lumier , November 2008, E. Grossi leg. (1♂ CVMD) ; Nova Friburgo, Macaé de Cima , 1400 m, September–October 2008, FIT, no collector (1♀ CVMD) ; Nova Friburgo , Macaé de Cima , 1400 m, September–October 2008, FIT, no collector (1♂ CVMD) ; Nova Friburgo , Macaé de Cima , 1400 m, May 2007, FIT, no collector (1♀ CVMD) ; Nova Friburgo , Macaé de Cima , 1500 m, 22.366°S, 42.483°W, 15 December 2005, E. and P. Grossi leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; Nova Friburgo, Macaé de Cima , 1500 m, March 2000, Lopes-Andrade, Gumier and Vaz-de-Mello leg. (1♂ CEMT) ; Nova Friburgo, Macaé de Cima , January 1999, P. Grossi leg. (1♂ and 1♀ CEMT) ; Nova Friburgo, Macaé de Cima , January 2000, FIT, E. and P. Grossi leg. (2♀ and 1 unsexed CEMT) ; Nova Friburgo, Macaé de Cima , January 2006, B. Miller leg. (1♂ CEMT) ; Nova Friburgo, Macaé de Cima , February 2006, E.J. Grossi leg. (1♂ CEMT) ; Nova Friburgo, Macaé de Cima , October 2000, P. Grossi leg. (2 CEMT) ; Nova Friburgo, Macaé de Cima , December 2001, E. and P. Grossi leg. (1♂ CEMT) ; Teresópolis , 2–5 December 1958, Martínez, Werner, Alvarenga and Seabra leg. (1 DZUP) ; Teresópolis , H. Deyrolle leg. (1 BMNH). Rio Grande do Sul, Monte Belo do Sul , 20 September 2001, C. Arioli leg. (1♂ CEMT) ; Riozinho , 29.649°S, 50.454°W, 20–23 October 2010, human faeces, G. Viegas leg. (1♂ CEMT) ; Santa Cruz do Sul, Cerro Alegre , 29.805°S, 52331°W, 11 February 2012, R. Bohn leg. (1 CEMT) ; Santa Maria, Morro do Cerrito , 211 m, 29.701°S, 53.785°W, 15 April 2017, S. Cassenote leg. (2♂, 1♀ and 1 unsexed CEMT) ; Santa Maria, Morro do Cerrito , 211 m, 29.701°S, 53.785°W, 28 June 2016, faeces, S. Cassenote leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; Silveira Martins , 29.633°S, 53.616°W, July 2011, pitfall trap with carrion bait, G. Viegas leg. (4♂, 2♀ and 2 unsexed CEMT) ; Triunfo, Southern Petrochemical Company, 26 September–23 October 2001, pitfall trap, no collector (2♂ and 3 unsexed MCNZ) ; Triunfo, Southern Petrochemical Company , 23 October–04 December 2001, pitfall trap, no collector (1 MCNZ) ; Triunfo, Southern Petrochemical Company , 18 September–18 October 1993, pitfall trap, no collector (4♂ and 18 unsexed MCNZ) ; Triunfo, Southern Petrochemical Company , 18 September–18 October 1993, pitfall trap, no collector (1 CEMT) ; Triunfo, Southern Petrochemical Company , 03 January–06 February 2002, pitfall trap, no collector (5 MCNZ) ; Triunfo, Southern Petrochemical Company , 23October–04 December 2001, pitfall trap, no collector (3 MCNZ) ; Triunfo, Southern Petrochemical Company , 28 August–26 September 2001, pitfall trap, R. Ott leg. (2 unsexed MCNZ) ; Triunfo, Southern Petrochemical Company , 28 August–26 September 2001, pitfall trap, R. Ott leg. (1♂ CEMT) ; Triunfo, Southern Petrochemical Company , 06 February–12 March 2002, pitfall trap, R. Ott leg. (1 MCNZ) ; Triunfo, Southern Petrochemical Company , 12 March–16 April 2002, pitfall trap, R. Ott leg. (1 MCNZ) ; Triunfo, Southern Petrochemical Company, 17 October 1993, pitfall trap, no collector (32 MCNZ) ; Triunfo , Southern Petrochemical Company , 17 October 1993, pitfall trap, no collector (2 CEMT) ; Porto Alegre , Lami José Lutzenberger Biological Reserve , 7–27 July 2006, pitfall trap, R. Moraes leg. (1♂ and 1 unsexed MCNZ). Santa Catarina, Corupá, September 1959, no collector (1 DZUP) ; Florianópolis, Lagoa do Peri , 27.716°S, 48.533°W, 2007, A. Martins and M. Hernández leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; Rancho Queimado , 800 m, 27.689°S, 49.014°W, 16 December 2015, human faeces, P.G. da Silva leg. (1♂ and 1♀ CEMT) ; Santo Amaro da Imperatriz , 500 m, 27.741°S, 48.811°W, 22 April 2016, pitfall with meat as bait, P.G. da Silva leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; Timbó , May 1962, Dirings leg. (1 MZSP) ; Tubarão , 13 July 2018, R.B. Goulart leg. (3 CEMT). São Paulo, Atibaia , 10 September 1971, J. Halik leg. (1 MZSP) ; Barueri , 13 December 1955, K. Lenko leg. (1 MZSP) ; Cabreúva , 640 m, 23.305°S, 47.131°W, 15 July 2015, pig carcass, N. Purgato leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; Cabreúva , 640 m, 23.305°S, 47.131°W, 20 July 2015, pig carcass, N. Purgato leg. (1♂ CEMT) ; Cabreúva , 640 m, 23.305°S, 47.131°W, 23 July 2015, pig carcass, N. Purgato leg. (1♀ CEMT) ; Cabreúva , 640 m, 23.305°S, 47.131°W, 24 July 2015, N. Purgato leg. (1♀ and 1 unsexed CEMT) ; Cabreúva , 640 m, 23.305°S, 47.131°W, 6 August 2015, pig carcass, N. Purgato leg. (1♂ CERPE) ; Cabreúva , 640 m, 23.305°S, 47.131°W, 6 August 2015, pig carcass, N. Purgato leg. (1♂ and 1♀ CEMT) ; Itamambuca, Serra do Mar State Park – Santa Virginia centre, 23.324°S, 45.086°W, 18 January 2012, human faeces, E. Bovy leg. (1♂ CVMD) ; Presidente Epitácio, Rio Paraná ( Porto Cabral ), 1–25 April 1944, Trav. Fo., Carrera and E. Dente leg. (1 MZSP).

Remarks. Pittino (1987, p. 396) described Polynoncus furcillifer based on a single male specimen. Later, Scholtz (1990, p. 1442) synonymised P. furcillifer with P. parafurcatus Pittino, 1987 on the grounds of their similar external morphology. During this study we examined a large series of specimens (n = 443) from several museum collections, which allowed us to study intraspecific variation and evaluate the synonymy enacted by Scholtz (1990). Our examination of the additional material (including type specimens) confirmed the presence of two distinct morphotypes. The consistent differences observed in external morphology and in the shape and structure of the male genitalia of the two nominal species agree with Pittino’s (1987) original treatment. Based on our findings we have no doubt that P. furcillifer is a valid species. The name Polynoncus furcillifer is hence in this paper removed from synonymy with P. parafurcatus , and reinstated as valid.

Figures

Figure 5. Differential morphology in Polynoncus spp.:lateral margin of pronotum a, bulbous [P.vazdemelloi] and b, rounded [P.gemmingeri]; pronotal ridges and basal tubercles of pronotum c, fused [P.furcillifer] and d, separated (black line) [P.parafurcatus]; surface of elytra e, with tubercles [P.pedestris] and f, without tubercles [P. diffluens]; g, pronotal ridge and antero-lateral tubercle connected by (white arrow) [P. patagonicus]; h, humeral callus prominent (white arrow) in P. chilensis and i, humeral callus not prominent (white arrow) in P. mirabilis. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Figure 27. Distribution map of Polynoncus erugatus (red circles), P. furcillifer (green triangles), and P. gemmifer (blue squares) in South America. The records with a black dot in the centre indicate the type locality of the respective species.

Figure 28. Holotype of Polynoncus furcillifer Pittino, 1987: a, habitus in dorsal view; b, male genitalia in dorsal view; c, labels. Photos by Alberto Ballerio. Length of specimen: 10.5 mm.