What is Ecdyonurus sumatranus Ulmer, 1939? A contribution to the knowledge of the genus Rhithrogena in the Oriental Region (Ephemeroptera, Heptageniidae)
Author
Sartori, Michel
text
Zootaxa
2014
2014-05-26
3802
2
193
208
journal article
45685
10.11646/zootaxa.3802.2.3
dc68cd55-de01-4b44-854c-ede950ae13ba
1175-5326
226423
8585D3AD-653C-4ED6-8523-FB6427A313C5
Rhithrogena ampla
Kang & Yang, 1994
Rhithrogena ampla
Kang & Yang, 1994
, nymphs and eggs
Material.
2 nymphs
paratypes
, one entirely mounted on microscopic slide:
Taiwan
,
Tzuenchiao
,
Hsiulin
,
Hualin Hsien
,
2010 m
,
04.IV.1991
,
C.K. Kang
leg [
MZL
]
Supplementary description.
Kang & Yang (1994)
mentioned that this species is very close to
Rh. parva
and hardly distinguishable in the larval stage, the discriminating features being the chorionic structure of the eggs and the altitudinal zonation.
I can confirm the assertion that both species are very similar. However, the setation of the mandibles (
Figs 35–36
) of
Rh. ampla
continues almost up to the mola (not reaching the middle of the distance to the mola in
Rh. parva
), and the posterior margin of abdominal tergites bear irregular teeth similar to those of
Rh. sumatrana
(
Fig. 26
).
All other characters examined are similar between
Rh. parva
and
Rh. ampla
.
Taxonomic outcomes.
The reassignment of
Ecdyonurus sumatranus
to the genus
Rhithrogena
has important taxonomic consequences.
First, the nymph described as either
Ecdyonurus sumatranus
(listed by some as
Ecdyonuroides
or
Thalerosphyrus
), belongs to Ecdyonurinae and cannot be the nymph of
Rhithrogena sumatrana
. To my knowledge, there are no valid junior synonyms for this taxon, and consequently, a new name should be provided.