Taxonomic considerations on the genus Ophthalmoglipa Franciscolo, 1952 (Coleoptera: Mordellidae) with description of two new species
Author
Ruzzier, Enrico
text
Zootaxa
2015
4059
2
364
370
journal article
39220
10.11646/zootaxa.4059.2.7
eaa602e0-7292-4e93-8a24-25c8fb5bb34b
1175-5326
239434
790217D2-262A-4628-A854-FAF1F430E37C
Ophthalmoglipa
Franciscolo, 1952
Franciscolo proposed this genus on the basis of what I now understand to be a mix of three species; this therefore raises the problem of credibly associating the correct
type
species.
O. aurocaudata
(
sensu
Franciscolo) represents a combination of the three different species, does not fully represent the true
Mordella aurocaudata
(
sensu
Fairmaire 1897
) and cannot therefore be considered a suitable
type
species. The fact that the author designated
Glipa aurocaudata
as the
type
species and simultaneously designated as typical form [
sic
!] the specimens from
São Tomé
(=
Ophthalmoglipa leblanci
n. sp.
) further complicates the situation. However, as it cannot be excluded that specimens belonging to
G. aurocaudata
in the strict sense were also used in the original description, I propose that the
type
species remains
O. aurocaudata
but it must be considered in a different sense. Thus, the
type
speceis will no longer be
O. aurocaudata
(
sensu
Franciscolo 1952
) but
O. aurocaudata
(
sensu novo
), as redescribed herein.