Sunius gourvesi (COIFFAIT 1981)

Assing, V. & A, North, 2008, A revision of the Sunius species of the Western Palaearctic region and Middle Asia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 40 (1), pp. 5-135 : 88-89

4.50. Sunius gourvesi (COIFFAIT 1981) ( Figs 117-121 , Map 19)

Hypomedon gourvesi COIFFAIT 1981a: 54 .

T y p e m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d Holotype 3: " Maroc, 10.2.80, Jbel Zerhoun, N. Meknes, Gourvés coll. / Holotype / Hypomedon tuniseus H. Coiffait 1981 " ( MNHNP).

C o m m e n t: The original description is based on a holotype male from " Maroc, Jbel Zerhoun (N. de Meknès)" ( COIFFAIT 1981a).

A d d i t i o n a l m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Morocco: 1 ex., N Meknès, Jbel Zerhoun, 28.XII.1983 (cTro).

D i a g n o s i s: Based on the male primary and secondary sexual characters (weakly modified sternite VII, sternite VIII with tubercle, shape and internal structures of aedeagus), the species is closely related to the similar S. tuniseus and allied species.

External morphology as in S. tuniseus , except for the slightly broader elytra.

3: sternite VII with weakly concave posterior margin, pubescence not modified; sternite VIII with keel-like oblong tubercle of distinctive shape ( Figs 120-121 ); aedeagus rather stout, with apically broadly rounded ventral process (ventral view), and with row of rather massive sclerotised spines in internal sac ( Figs 117-119 ).

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: As is suggested by the similar shape and internal structures of the aedeagus and the similarly derived morphology of the male sternite VIII, S. gourvesi is a close relative of S. fultus ASSING 2003 from Taza, Morocco, probably its sister species. For illustrations of the male sexual characters of S. fultus see ASSING (2003b).

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Sunius gourvesi has become known only from the type locality, the Jebel Zerhoun [34°01'N, 5°29'W] in Morocco (Map 19).

Figures

Figs 117-127: Sunius gourvesi (COIFFAIT), holotype (117-121), S. atlasicus (COIFFAIT), holotype (122-124), and S. montanellus (BORDONI), holotype (125-127): (117-118, 122-123, 125) aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view; (119) internal structures of aedeagus in lateral view; (120, 124, 127) male sternite VIII in ventral view; (121) male sternite VIII in lateral view; (126) ventral process of aedeagus in ventral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.