New southern African species and a revalidation in the dung beetle genus Gyronotus van Lansberge, 1874 (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) with an updated key
Author
Deschodt, Christian M.
Author
Davis, Adrian L. V.
text
Zootaxa
2019
2019-06-28
4624
2
275
282
journal article
26368
10.11646/zootaxa.4624.2.10
7fc3c435-d3ed-45db-bd7d-48398d831f01
1175-5326
3259222
B54840C3-4AFE-475E-8B99-7FA8FD799645
Revalidation of
Gyronotus marginatus
Péringuey, 1888
(
Figs. 1E
,
3
)
Although
Scholtz & Howden (1987: 82)
did not see the
type
of
G. marginatus
, they stated that “
Gyronotus marginatus
Péringuey
is without doubt a synonym of
G. pumilus
. Although the
type
is missing from the Péringuey collection it is clear from the description and the
type
locality that the two names refer to one species. Consequently we synonymize
G. marginatus
with
G. pumilus
”.
The type of
Gyronotus marginatus
has subsequently been located in the Iziko South African Museum (ISAM). It is clearly larger than any specimens of
Gyronotus pumilus
, as are the
paratype
specimens (examined by ALVD) that are housed in BMNH.
Consequently, we revalidate
Gyronotus marginatus
from the junior subjective synonymy with
Gyronotus pumilus
and re-elevate it to species rank.
Diagnosis.
Gyronotus marginatus
is clearly much bigger than
Gyronotus pumilus
. Also, the elytra of
G. marginatus
are shagreened and fairly even while the elytra of
G. pumilus
are shagreened and somewhat rugose.