Reclassification of Cybistrinae Sharp, 1880 in the Neotropical Region (Coleoptera, Adephaga, Dytiscidae), with description of new taxa
Author
Miller, Kelly B.
https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1093-4066
Department of Biology and Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131 - 0001, USA
kbmiller@unm.edu
Author
Michat, Mariano C.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1962-7976
Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biologia Experimental y Aplicada, CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Author
Ferreira Jr, Nelson
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5932-7695
Laboratorio de Entomologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasi
text
ZooKeys
2024
2024-01-08
1188
125
168
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1188.110081
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1188.110081
1313-2970-1188-125
997ADB92AFA7497982A2B81C00EF3AEA
FD00287A8052513C815877D5359D01A1
Metaxydytes
gen. nov.
Figs 4
, 28
, 29
, 57
, 62
, 69
Megadytes
sensu auctorum.
Type species.
Megadytes fraternus
Sharp, 1882: 708, by current designation.
Diagnosis.
These species have males with equal-length metatarsal claws and females with two claws of unequal length with the posterior claw distinctly reduced (Figs
28
,
29
). The medial margins of male sternite IX are linear, not emarginate (Fig.
57
). This group and
Paramegadytes
are similar in having females with the medial margins of the gonocoxosternite with a series of spinous setae (Fig.
62
). From
Paramegadytes
these species differ in being smaller (≤ 24 mm in
Metaxydytes
, compared with ≥ 27 mm in
Paramegadytes
) and having the metasternal wings relatively narrow (WC/WV = 2.5-2.6 in
Metaxydytes
, compared with WC/WV = 1.8-1.9 in
Paramegadytes
). Third instar larvae have; (1) the median lobe of the frontoclypeus truncate apically with a tuft of setae (Fig.
69
), (2) the median and lateral lobes of the frontoclypeus separated by a narrow emargination (Fig.
69
), and (3) the lateral lobes of the frontoclypeus apically simple and acutely angulate (Fig.
69
).
Etymology.
Metaxydytes
is from the Greek
metaxy
, meaning
"between,"
and
dytes
, meaning
"diver,"
the root word for many genera of
Dytiscidae
including in this subfamily. The genus is named to signify its intermediate phylogenetic placement among other genera of
Cybistrinae
.
Phylogenetic relationships.
This genus may be sister group to
Paramegadytes
based especially on the presence of distinctive stiff, spinous setae along the medial margins of the female gonocoxosternite (
Miller et al. 2007
), although in the analyses presented here the group is ambiguously resolved near
Nilssondytes
,
Paramegadytes
and
Megadytes
+
Cybister
(Figs
75
,
76
).
Discussion.
These species were previous placed in
Megadytes
. The type species of
Megadytes
s. str. is
M. latus
which belongs to a different genus from all other known species previously placed in
Megadytes
(Figs
75
,
76
) requiring this new name for those species now in
Metaxydytes
. The species of
Metaxydytes
have never been completely revised, although
Tremouilles
(1989a
,
b
) and
Tremouilles
and Bachmann (1980)
addressed the species in southern South America. The genus is in need of a comprehensive revision.