Brachyrhynchus amplicollis (Linnavouri, 1978)

(Figs. 9, 12, 16)

Mezira amplicollis Linnavuori, 1978: 6 (original description from Ethiopia)

Brachyrhynchus amplicollis: Kormilev & Froeschner (1987): 114 (listed); Heiss (2013): 337 (checklist); Kment et al. (2015): 424 (type catalogue).

Type material examined. Paratype: ♁ (Fig. 9), ‘ Ethiopia / Shashamanni / 7–8. VI. 63 / Linnavuori [p] // PARATYPE [p] / Mezira / amplicollis [hw] / R. Linnavuori [p] Lv. [hw, yellow label] (CEHI) .

Comments. This species is very close to Brachyrhynchus abyssinicus, and the two species share size, general habitus and characteristic lateral expanded postocular lobes. It differs however by wider and more laterally expanded paranota and longer antennal segment II; small differences are recognizeable in the outline of the parameres (Figs. 16 vs. 17). As the only record of B. amplicollis is from the type locality in Ethiopia, which is surrounded by records of B. abyssinicus, it might be the case that the two species are conspecific and their observed differences are due to intraspecific variability. This can only be decided when more material is available.

This species belongs to Brachyrhynchus Laporte, 1832, sharing the deeply emarginate posterior margin of the pronotum and large claws without pulvilli as stated by Kormilev (1971: 31). The valid name is currently Brachyrhynchus amplicollis (Linnavouri, 1978) .