The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Tahiti, Society Islands
Author
Liebherr, James K.
text
ZooKeys
2013
322
1
170
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.322.5492
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.322.5492
1313-2970-322-1
97.
Mecyclothorax poro Liebherr, 2012b: 91
Identification.
Beetles of this species are most similar to those of
Mecyclothorax spinosus
and
Mecyclothorax angulosus
(Figs 48C, D, 49A), but differentially combine the following, therefore being diagnosable from both: 1, pronotum moderately transverse, MPW/BPW = 1.25 (n = 1), and moderately constricted basally, MPW/BPW = 1.56; 2, pronotal median base sparsely punctate, 10-12 small, isolated punctures each side surrounded by glossy cuticle, plus 7-8 elongate punctures each side along juncture with pronotal disc; 3, elytra broadly subquadrate, margins extended laterally outside subangulate humeri; 4, elytral striae 2-6 basally obsolete, not continuous to elytral basal groove. The frons and vertex of the head are glossy with an indistinct transverse mesh; sculpticell breadth 2
-3x
length. The pronotal disc bears an indistinct transverse mesh visible outside areas of reflected light, sculpticell breadth 2
-4x
length, and the discal elytral intervals are covered with transverse lines irregularly joined into an irregular mesh. Setal formula 2121; standardized body length 4.4 mm.
Distribution and habitat.
The single adult specimen was collected in moss on a low rockface along the Faatautia River as the river exits from a large, uncollapsed lava tube at 705 m elevation on Mont Mauru (see fig. 2A,
Liebherr 2012b
). This riparian situation is the lowest elevational habitat within which any Tahitian
Mecyclothorax
specimen has been discovered.