Throscidae (Coleoptera) relationships, with descriptions of new fossil genera and species
Author
Muona, Jyrki
text
Zootaxa
2019
2019-04-03
4576
3
521
543
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.4576.3.6
7abdc62c-c350-49dd-8060-4ed64da07362
1175-5326
3715772
56BC8573-D4A1-4B18-9BF6-7AB5F7984BFD
Tyrannothroscus rex
new species
Figs. 6–10
,
23
Type material
.
Holotype
labeled:
Tyrannothroscus rex
n. sp.
/
HOLOTYPE
/J.Muona des. 10-2015. Reported to have been found from Jantarny. Sex unknown. Embedded in clear, flat, droplet-shaped Baltic Amber piece,
30 mm
x
19
mm, narrow end with drilled hole with an attached silver loop for use as a pendant. A small number of tiny plant remains are present as well (
Fig. 23
).
Diagnosis
. Easily recognized by the generic characters and in the key below
Description
. Length
8.2 mm
. Head and pronotum with relatively sparse and fine punctation, on pronotum punctures of variable size, mostly small, microsculpture dense, isodiametric (
Fig. 10
). Elytral striae sharp, minutely punctate, interstices very wide, anteriorly flat, towards apex convex (
Fig. 9
). Venter strongly and moderately densely punctate, densest on first and second abdominal segment, vestiture visible on abdomen only, sparse, hairs fairly long.
Etymology
.
Tyrannothroscus rex
is the largest throscid known. This in combination with the massive “eyebrows” creating an aggressive, fierce look and the wide body suggest it was a real monster among its own kind.