Taxonomic revision of the South American subgenus Canthon (Goniocanthon) Pereira & Martínez, 1956 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Deltochilini)
Author
Nunes, Luis Gabriel de O. A.
luis.gabriel.bio@gmail.com
Author
Nunes, Rafael V.
9ED1789C-F1B2-499F-87B2-87B70FA9A2F3
Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Instituto de Biociências, Programa de Pós Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Av. Fernando Correa da Costa, 2367, Boa Esperança, Cuiabá-MT, 78060 - 900, Brazil. Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Biologia e Zoologia, Av. Fernando Correa da Costa, 2367, Boa Esperança, Cuiabá-MT, 78060 - 900, Brazil.
rafavnunes@gmail.com
Author
Vaz-De, Fernando Z.
text
European Journal of Taxonomy
2018
2018-05-23
437
1
31
journal article
22378
10.5852/ejt.2018.437
29c5b07d-8712-4d58-9666-850f5761b080
3787887
AF27DA05-746B-459D-AC8C-4F059EAA4146
Canthon (Goniocanthon) smaragdulus
(
Fabricius, 1781
)
Figs 1
A–C, G–H, 2, 5–6, 8
Redescription
Males
COLOUR. Dorsal and ventral surface green to blue, always with blue metallic sheen.
HEAD. Frontal surface smooth, lacking horns or tubercles. Clypeal teeth with rounded apex, with thin setae at the apex; teeth separated by a U-shaped emargination. Clypeo-genal junction slightly emarginated, rounded. Clypeo-genal suture present.
PRONOTUM. Disc simply convex, smooth, lacking microscultpure (120 × magnification). Anterior and posterior angles acute. Lateral borders effaced. Posterior border with lateral semicircular emarginations near to posterior angles.
HYPOMERON. Lacking transverse keel, surface black with chagrined microsculpture. Sparse setae present on anterior portion.
METASTERNUM. Anterior lobe distinctly convex (
Fig. 1B
).
ELYTRA. Striae weakly impressed, more distinct near elytral basis. Eighth stria carinate along its basal third. Interstriae flat.
LEGS. Protibiae three-toothed, dorsal surface with two tufts of setae present on each tibial tooth. Protibial spur truncate, wider than long and apically emarginated, forming two spines. External border of protibia serrated. Profemur ventral surface black, smooth, glabrous, with a distal tooth on its anterior border. Ventral surface of meso- and metatibiae smooth (
Fig. 1A
). Meso- and metatrochanter with a hair tuft near femur articulation.
ABDOMEN. Ventrites glabrous, lacking punctures and not narrowed medially.
PYGIDIUM. Convex (
Fig. 1C
). Basal line delimiting pygidium from pro-pygidium.
PARAMERA. On lateral view (
Fig. 1G
). Flattened; apex truncated; upper angle rounded; lower angle acute, forming a spine or tooth. On dorsal view (
Fig. 1H
): membranous portion wider at central portion and narrower near apex and basis. Apex rounded.
INTERNAL SAC (
Figs 5
,
9
). FLP involving A, forming a central duct with spiniform apex. SA lateral to FLP + A complex. MP distal to A, semicircular, widely emarginated; FLP + A complex involved by MP. SRP with lateral prolongation.
Morphological variation
BL:
9–14 mm
, PW:
6–9 mm
. Colouration of dorsal surface metallic sheen may vary from green to blue metallic colouration (
Fig. 2
A–B) (in both natural or artificial light). Female protibial spur as wide as long with a U-shaped emargination. Pygidium and metasternum flatter in females than in males.
Canthon (Goniocanthon) smaragdulus smaragdulus
(
Fabricius, 1781
)
Figs 1
A–C, G–H, 2A, 6, 8
Scarabaeus smaragdulus
Fabricius, 1781: 34
.
Canthon speculifer
Castelnau, 1840: 68
.
Scarabaeus smaragdulus
–
Fabricius
1787
: 18
(catalogue). —
Jablonsky & Herbst
1789
: 328
(catalogue). —
Olivier
1789
: 158
(catalogue). —
Fabricius
1792
: 70
(catalogue).
Ateuchus smaragdulus
–
Fabricius
1801
: 58
.
Coprobius smaragdulus
–
Brullé
1838
: 294
.
Canthon smaragdulus
–
Blanchard
1846
: 161
. —
Harold
1868
: 14
, 75 (key). —
Gemminger & Harold
1869
: 994
(catalogue). —
Harold
1875
: 59
(catalogue). —
Gillet
1911
: 33
(catalogue). —
Schmidt
1922
: 69
(key). —
Boucomont
1928
: 2
(catalogue). —
Staig
1931
: 44
(redescription;
lectotype
designation). —
Balthasar
1939
: 203
(key). —
Pessôa & Lâne
1941
: 420
(species list). —
Lange
1947
: 307
(catalogue).
Canthon speculifer
–
Harold
1868
: 13
, 70 (key). —
Gemminger & Harold
1869
: 994
(catalogue). —
Harold
1875
: 58
(catalogue). —
Heyne & Taschenberg
1908
: 61
(catalogue). —
Boucomont
1928
: 2
(catalogue). —
Balthasar
1939
: 203
(key). —
Pessôa & Lâne
1941
: 420
(species list). —
Blackwelder
1944
: 201
(catalogue). —
Lange
1947
: 307
(catalogue). —
Gacharná
1951
: 221
(catalogue). —
Guérin
1953
: 257
(catalogue). —
Pereira & Martínez 1956: 111
(synonym of
Goniocanthon smaragdulus
).
Canthon smaragdulum
–
Blackwelder 1944: 201
(catalogue). —
Louzada 1998: 125
(behaviour).
Goniocanthon smaragdulus
–
Pereira & Martínez 1956: 109
. —
Vulcano & Pereira 1964: 593
(catalogue).
Canthon (Goniocanthon) smaragdulus
–
Halffter & Martínez 1977: 75
. —
Vaz-de-Mello
et al.
2011: 52–53
, figs 35, 44 (key).
Canthon (Goniocanthon) smaragdulum
–
Vaz-de-Mello 2000: 191
(species list).
Diagnosis
Canthon (G.) smaragdulus smaragdulus
is separated within the subgenus by the following combination of characters: ventral surface of meso- and metafemora smooth (
Fig. 1A
); dorsal surface of pronotum and elytral disc with similar blue metallic sheen colouration (
Fig. 2A
); metasternal anterior lobe strongly convex (
Fig. 1B
); profemur with a tooth on its anterior border. Paramera in lateral view (
Fig. 1G
): flattened; apex truncate; upper angle rounded; lower angle acute, forming a spine or tooth. Internal sac (
Fig. 6
): FLP involving A forming a central duct with spiniform apex. SA lateral to FLP + A complex present. MP distal to A, not divided, semicircular, widely emarginated; FLP + A complex involved by MP.
Material examined
Lectotype
(of
Scarabaeus smaragdulus
Fabricius, 1781
; designated by
Staig 1931: 44
)
BRAZIL
:♁, type(round, white with red margin label) /141815 (white) /compared with modern exemplars in Brit. Mus.
R
.A.S.
March 1925
(white handwritten in red) / Hab. in Brasilia (white with black margins) /
Sc. smaragdulus,
Fabr.
faog. 34 Nº127 (white with black margins) /
Scarabaeus smaragdulus
Fabr.
,
Canthon smaragdulus
Fabr.
Type (white with red margins) /
LECTOTYPE
,
Scarabaeus smaragdulus
Fabricius
, des. FZ Vaz-de-Mello 2014 (red with black margins) (
HMUG
141815).
Neotype
(for
Canthon speculifer
Castelnau, 1840
; here designated)
BRAZIL
: ♁, Muséum Paris, Rio Castelnau (white label) / 10, 44 (round white) /
Canthon smaragdulus
Fabr.
(white) /
NEOTYPE
,
Canthon speculifer
Castelnau
, des. FZ Vaz-de-Mello 2014 (red with black margins) (
MNHN
).
Non-type material
(
125 specimens
)
BRAZIL
–
Mato Grosso do Sul
: 1 ♁, Rio
Paraná
,
26 Jan. 1918
(
CEMT
); 3 ♁♁,
2 ♀♀
, Bodoquena, Fazenda Califórnia,
20º41′ S
,
56º51′ W
,
Mar. 2011
, L.O. Bavuti leg. (
CEMT
); 3 ♁♁,
2 ♀♀
, Bonito, Fazenda Brasil Bonito,
21º06′ S
,
56º38′ W
, human faeces,
Nov. 2009
, F.O. Roque leg. (
CEMT
);
3 ♀♀
, Bonito, Hotel Cabanas,
21º10′15″ S
,
56º26′22″ W
, human faeces,
Dec. 2010
, L.O. Bavuti leg. (
CEMT
); 1 ♁, Bonito, Fazenda Pitangueiras,
20º52′14″ S
,
56º35′19″ W
, human faeces,
Nov. 2009
, F.O. Roque leg. (
CEMT
); 9 ♁♁,
18 ♀♀
, Bonito, Fazenda Pitangueiras, Córrego Roda D’agua,
20º52′14″ S
,
56º35′19″ W
, human faeces,
Nov. 2009
, Entomologia-UFGD leg. (
CEMT
); 1 ♁, Bonito, Fazenda Remanso
20º47′ S
,
56º43′ W
,
Nov. 2009
, F.O. Roque leg. (
CEMT
); 2 ♁♁,
1 ♀
, Ivinhema,
22º31′ S
,
53º53′ W
, human faeces
Mar. 2011
, L.O. Bavuti leg. (
CEMT
); 1 ♁,
1 ♀
, Jardim, Rio da Prata,
21º25′ S
,
56º27′ W
,
Mar. 2011
, L.O. Bavuti leg. (
CEMT
). –
São Paulo
: 1 ♁,
1 ♀
, P.E. Serra do Mar, Núcleo Caraguatatuba,
23º35′27″ S
,
45º25′19″ W
, human faeces, 17,
13 Jan. 2012
, E. Bovy leg. (
CEMT
); 4 ♁♁,
1 ♀
, P.E. Serra do Mar, Núcleo Picinguaba,
23º20′13″ S
,
44º50′06″ W
, human faeces,
14 Jan. 2012
, E. Bovy (
CEMT
);
5 ♀♀
, same data as for preceding, but
23º20′11″ S
,
44º50′03″ W
(
CEMT
); 1 ♁,
1 ♀
, same data as for preceding, but
23º20′05″ S
,
44º49′59″ W
(
CEMT
); 1 ♁, same data as for preceding, but
23º20′07″ S
,
44º50′01″ W
(
CEMT
); 1 ♁, same data as for preceding, but
23º20′00″ S
,
44º49′58″ W
(
CEMT
); 1 ♁, same data as for preceding, but
23º20′02″ S
,
44º49′58″ W
(
CEMT
); 20 ♁♁,
4 ♀♀
, same data as for preceding, but
23º20′13″ S
,
44º50′08″ W
(
CEMT
); 1 ♁, Ubatuba,
23º26′00″ S
,
45º5′22″ W
,
12 Jan. 2000
, E. Pereira Coleção, G.P. Almeida leg. (
CEMT
); 1 ♁, Campinas, Ribeirão Cachoeira, Mata,
Jan. 1996
, D.A. Gaspar leg. (
CEMT
); 2 ♁♁, Campinas, Ribeirão Cachoeira, Mata, Fezes
Alouatta
,
5 Feb. 1998
, Fabri and Setz leg. (
CEMT
); 1 ♁,
2 ♀♀
, Sete Barras, Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho, human faeces,
24º11′45″ S
,
47º55′25″ W
,
30 Jan. 2012
, E. Bovy leg. (
CEMT
). –
Paraná
: 2 ♁♁, Palotina,
UFPR
, “Mata anexa ao campus”, Pitfall 2,
28 Dec. 2011
,
R
.J. Simioni, S.B. Silva and E. Caron leg. (
CEMT
); 4 ♁♁,
2 ♀♀
, Morretes, Santuário Nhundiaquara,
25º25′32″ S
,
48º53′21″ W
,
100 m
a.s.l., human faeces,
15 Jan. 2016
, E.H. Raine leg. (
CEMT
); 1 ♁,
3 ♀♀
, same data as for preceding, but
2 Mar. 2016
, E.H. Raine leg. (
CEMT
); 5 ♁♁,
1 ♀
, same data as for preceding, but
27 Jan. 2016
, E.H. Raine leg. (
CEMT
); 1 ♁, same data as for preceding, but
25º27′55″ S
,
48º52′47″ W
,
110 m
a.s.l., human faeces,
3 Mar. 2016
, E.H. Raine leg. (
CEMT
); 1 ♁,
1 ♀
, Morretes, Fazenda Bom Jardim,
25º27′5″ S
,
48º52′47″ W
,
110 m
a.s.l., human faeces,
16 Jan. 2016
, E.H. Raine leg. (
CEMT
); 1 ♁, same data as for preceding, but pig faeces,
16 Jan. 2016
, E.H. Raine leg. (
CEMT
);
2 ♀♀
, Morretes, E.E. Embrapa,
25º27′11″ S
,
48º52′57″ W
,
140 m
a.s.l., human faeces,
17 Dec. 2015
, E.H. Raine leg. (
CEMT
). –
Rio
: 1 ♁, 1844, Castelnau leg. (
MNHN
). –
Santa Catarina
: 2 ♁♁,
1 ♀
, Içara,
28º40′ S
,
49º16′ W
, pitfall isca,
2 Jan. 2014
, M.M. Niero leg. (
CEMT
).
Fig. 2. A
.
Canthon (G.) smaragdulus smaragdulus
(
Fabricius, 1781
)
. –
B–D
.
C. (G.) smaragdulus subviridis
Schmidt, 1922
stat. rev.
A–B
. Habitus.
C
. Male protibial spur.
D
. Female protibial spur. Scale bar: A–B = 5.0 mm.
ARGENTINA
–
Misiones
:
2 ♀♀
, Puerto Iguazu,
Jan. 1991
(
CEMT
); 1 ♁, Porto Libertad,
APSA
, P.P. Península, “bosque nativo adyacente a Pinar joven – 2007”,
Feb. 2010
, Coprotrampa, M.N. Peyras leg. (
CEMT
).
PARAGUAY
–
Guairá
:
1 ♀
, General Eugenio Alejandrino Garay,
25–31 May 1992
, U. Drechsel leg. (
CEMT
).
Remarks and requirements for
neotype
designation according to Article 75 of The Code
Canthon speculifer
was described by
Castelnau (1840: 68)
. From this description it is possible to confirm that Castelnau referred to a blue-to-green
Goniocanthon
,
mainly because he cited the gibbose metasternum, unique among
Canthon
.
Evenhuis (2012)
stated that part of Castelnau’s
syntype
collection was incorporated into the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, and destroyed in a fire on
January 24
th
, 1865
.
Canthon speculifer
was probably among these type specimens because successive searches in European and American museums did not yield the type series of
C. speculifer
. However, Castelnau had visited
Brazil
on a different occasion in the company of Eugêne d’Osery. They arrived in Rio Janeiro on
June 17
th
, 1843
to acquire information about Brazilian geography and history, as well as specimens for the French Academy of Sciences (
Papavero 1971
). Among these is a historical specimen deposited at MNHN in 1844 and identified by Castelnau as
C. speculifer
. This specimen, which we now propose as
neotype
, is not part of the syntypic series because it was collected some time after the description of
C. speculifer
; however, it was Castelnau himself who identified and labelled it only shortly after his original description, thus he probably maintained a clear vision of
C. speculifer
. The comparison of the designated
neotype
with the
lectotype
of
C. smaragdulus
reveals that
C. speculifer
and
C. smaragdulus
are synonyms. This
neotype
designation fixes the name
C. speculifer
according to Castelnau’s original concept and allows us to establish the synonymy with
C. smaragdulus
.
Distribution
Brazilian Atlantic Forest and
Paraná
river forest (states of
Mato Grosso do Sul
,
Paraná
,
Santa Catarina
,
São Paulo
and
Rio de Janeiro
). Also in the Argentinian province of
Misiones
and the Paraguayan department of
Guairá
(
Fig. 8
).
Taxonomic remarks
The
lectotype
of
Scarabaeus smaragdulus
Fabricius, 1781
was designated by
Staig (1931)
, who illustrated a specimen of the original series calling it “the type” (
ICZN 1999
: article 74.6).