Geocharidius vignatagliantii, Sokolov, Igor M. & Kavanaugh, David H., 2014

Sokolov, Igor M. & Kavanaugh, David H., 2014, The integripennis species group of Geocharidius Jeannel, 1963 (Carabidae, Bembidiini, Anillina) from Nuclear Central America: a taxonomic review with notes about biogeography and speciation, ZooKeys 443, pp. 61-118 : 73-74

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Carabidae

Geocharidius vignatagliantii sp. n. Figs 8B, 9 E–G, 10B, 11B, 22

Type material.

HOLOTYPE, a male, in CMNC, point-mounted, labeled: \ MEXICO: Chiapas: Mpio: Motozintla, Benito Juarez, 2050m, 15°22.1'00"N, 92°19'07"W, 28.VII.2005, R. Anderson, oak/pine forest litter 2005-013C \ CMNC \ HOLOTYPE Geocharidius vignatagliantii Sokolov and Kavanaugh 2014 [red label] \. PARATYPES: A total of 14 specimens (2 males and 4 females were dissected), deposited in CAS, CMNC and KUNHM; 3 specimens labeled same as holotype; 4 specimens labeled: \ MEXICO: Chiapas: Mpio: Motozintla, Benito Juarez, 2050m, 15°22.1'00"N, 92°19'07"W, 28.VII.2005, R. Anderson, oak/pine forest litter 2005-013A \ CMNC \; 7 specimens labeled: \ MEXICO: Chiapas: Mpio, Motozintla, Benito Juarez 15°22.017'N, 92°19.117'W, 2050m, 28.VII.2005, R. Anderson, oak/pine forest litter MEX 1A05-013 \ SM0711461 KUNHM-ENT \.

Type locality.

Mexico, Chiapas, Motozintla, Sierra Madre de Chiapas, Benito Juárez.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a Latinized eponym in the genitive case, and is based on the surname of Prof. Augusto Vigna Taglianti, Director of the Museum of Zoology at the Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italia, the first reviser of the species of Geocharidius .

Recognition.

Adults of this new species are practically indistinguishable externally from those of Geocharidius zullinii but can be distinguished from the latter and from the other members of the integripennis species group by the structure of the median lobe of males and the shape of spermatheca of females.

Description.

Size. Medium for genus (SBL range 1.27-1.40 mm, mean 1.32 ± 0.038 mm, n=5).

Habitus. Body form (Fig. 8B) moderately convex, elongate ovoid, general proportions (WE/SBL 0.40 ± 0.008), proportions of head (WH/WPm 0.73 ± 0.014) and pronotum (WPm/WE 0.75 ± 0.016) average for group.

Color. Body brunneorufous, appendages testaceous.

Microsculpture. Present over all dorsal surfaces of head and elytra. Pronotum and proepisternum smooth.

Prothorax. Pronotum moderately transverse (WPm/LP 1.26 ± 0.021), with lateral margins moderately constricted posteriorly (WPm/WPp 1.32 ± 0.020). Posterior angles obtuse (110-120°). Widths between anterior and posterior angles of equal length (WPa/WPp 0.99 ± 0.020).

Elytra. Moderately convex, slightly depressed along suture, moderately wide (WE/LE 0.68 ± 0.016), without traces of striae. Humeri broadly rounded, in outline forming right angle with longitudinal axis of body. Lateral margins convex, evenly divergent at basal third, evenly rounded to apex in apical third.

Male genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 9E) with long subparallel shaft, and small rounded apex. Ventral margin almost straight. Dorsal sclerites of internal sac in form of a long fig, apically tapered into a rather long flagellum, and abruptly widened basally as a semicircular end fig near basal orifice. Right paramere with long and narrow apical constriction (Fig. 9G). Left paramere with long and narrow apical constriction (Fig. 9F). Ring sclerite with handle triangular, widely rounded apically (Fig. 10B).

Female internal genitalia. Spermatheca sclerotized, bean-shaped, arcuate, with cornu short and nodulus long (Fig. 11B). Length of spermathecal gland greater than length of spermatheca. Spermathecal duct not coiled.

Geographical distribution.

This species is known only from the type locality in the mountains of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, located in the municipality of Motozintla, State of Chiapas, Mexico (Fig. 22, white squares).

Way of life.

Specimens were collected by sifting oak/pine forest litter at an elevation of 2050 m.

Relationships.

Adults of this species closely resemble those of Geocharidius zullinii from the Chiapas Highlands externally and in the shape of dorsal sclerites of the internal sac (Fig. 9E; cf. Fig. 9A). The shape of the spermatheca of females (Fig. 11B) suggests a relationship with the Guatemalan Geocharidius integripennis (Fig. 17A) from the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes of the Guatemalan Cordillera.