Rediscovery of the Neotropical genus Paracryptocanthon Howden & Cook, 2002 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Summary

Based on a series of specimens from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, we report the very first records of Paracryptocanthon borgmeieri, after the original description, as well as the first observation and detailed description of its male genitalia. In addition, we describe Paracryptocanthon genieri n. sp., from the city of Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil, a second species for the genus. Both species of this genus are brachypterous and restricted to small areas subjected to intense anthropic action; therefore, we propose both taxa should be considered as potentially endangered by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria.

Résumé

Redécouverte du genre Néotropical Paracryptocanthon Howden & Cook, 2002 (Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae : Scarabaeinae) dans la Forêt Atlantique au Brésil. Grâce á une série de specimens de racolte plus récente, nous présentons les premières données concernant Paracryptocanthon borgmeieri, depuis sa description originale, compris l’observation et description de la génitalie du mâle. En outre, nous décrivons Paracryptocanthon genieri n. sp. de Vitória, état du Espírito Santo, Brésil, la deuxième espèce du genre. Les deux espèces sont brachyptères et occupent des aires de rèpartition restreintes soumises á une intense action anthropique; par conséquent, nous proposons de considérer les deux taxa potentiellement menacés selon les critères de l’Union internationale pour la Protection de la Nature (UICN).

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3B9CBFDD-E6B5-440D-A1B2-216AD3AC6EDD

Keywords:

• dung beetles
• taxonomy
• low areas
• fluvial island
• endemism
• brachypterism

Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to Angélico Asenjo, Felipe F. Curcio, Mario Cupello, Joana Pequito and anonymous referees for criticizing earlier versions of the manuscript. We are also thankful to François Génier for providing photos of specimens in CMNC; also to François Génier, Max Barclay, Miguel A. Monné and Marcela L. Monné, Darren Mann, Philippe Moretto, Sergey Tarasov, Joachim Willers and Johannes Frisch, for lending their specimens. Renner Baptista, José Ricardo Mermudes and Mario Cupello are thanked for showing us and donating some of their specimens of P. borgmeieri and Gustavo (Tatá) Schiffleri for donating specimens of P. genieri.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico [302997/2013-0, 484035/2013-4, 440604/2015-0, 405697/2013-9, 306745/2016-0]; Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Mato Grosso [146138/2015, 568005/2014].