taxonID	type	description	language	source
03FB8782FFF9775C4AFEFB3737D1FEE4.taxon	description	Head: Base slightly attenuated, cylindrical, surface coarse. Ligula narrow, slightly obtuse, bisetose (in P. aequinoctialis ventrally more pubescent, highly convex). Glossae narrow, bisetose; paraglossae membranous, long, as long as ligula, rounded apically, translucent. Palpi with thick posterior margin (crassiusculi), subglabrous, covered with very few hairs; Maxillary palpi with penultimate segment short, terminal segment subcompressed, truncate, subsecuriform; the last segment of labial palpi dilated at its extremity and more or less securiform. Mentum deeply emarginated, more or less arcuate at the base, median tooth absent, lateral lobes parallel and long, apex acute and rounded, narrowed towards base; absolutely connate, suture obliterate. Labrum glabrous, flat, transverse, very narrow, anterior angle obtuse and widely rounded. Antennae long, pubescent, 1 st segment little less pubescent, 2 nd segment short, 3 rd and following longer, rectangular. Pronotum: Usually squared, posterior narrow, rarely subcordate. Elytra: Mostly 8 - costate; substantially wider than the pronotum at their base, subparallel or enlarged towards apex, apex almost straight and interior truncate. Venter: Epimeron of intermediate size, exterior narrow, parallel, interior more or less dilated. Episternum elongate, longitudinal depression obliquely truncate, posterior strongly attenuate, almost triangular. Legs: Strong, long; femur moderately covered by series of punctuations and hairs; tibiae spinulose, spines arranged more in series, anteriorly glabrous; tarsi surface densely covered with hairs, segments subcylindrical, base attenuated, ♂ pro tarsi with 2 rows of lamellate projections underneath.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF9775C4AFEFB3737D1FEE4.taxon	type_taxon	Type species — Carabus complanatus Fabricius 1775 (designated by Hope 1838) Geographical distribution. Cosmopolitan.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFB775D4AFEFF343669FD20.taxon	description	(Fig. 1 A)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFB775D4AFEFF343669FD20.taxon	description	Description. Length: 11.0 – 15.0 mm. Colour: Head, pronotum and elytra black; palps, legs, clypeus, labrum and two spots next to the antennae yellow-red. Segments 1 – 4 of antennae (yellowish red) lighter than 5 – 11 (dark brown). Head: With fairly protruding eyes, flat frontal furrows, more or less wrinkled and punctured towards neck. Pronotum: Wider than the head, longer than broad, apex and base straight, equally wide, sides convex, narrowed to the base, hind-quarter of the disc rectangular, basal fovea missing, median furrow deep. Elytra: Humerus rounded; distinctly broadened towards the apex, strongly striated, intervals broad, flattened, apex straight truncated. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Assam (Jedlička 1964); Meghalaya: Khasi hills (Kirschenhofer 2010)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFB775D4AFEFF343669FD20.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Morphologically similar to P. aptinoides, but differs with head, pronotum and elytra entirely black. It is endemic to the Indo-Burma hotspot of biodiversity.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFB775D4AFEFCC93702F85F.taxon	description	(Fig. 1 B)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFB775D4AFEFCC93702F85F.taxon	description	Description. Length: 20.0 mm Colour: Head both above and below, middle of the metasternum, base of the antennae, trochanters and legs reddish-yellow; pronotum and prosternum, elytra as well as a spot on apex of mesofemur and metafemur, black; elytra with the apical margin yellow, colour extends along the striations; antennae with only the scape (1 st segment) reddish yellow, rest dark brown. Head: Large; antennae slender; eyes protruding; neck wrinkled Pronotum: Anterior margin convex, basal margin concave, lateral margin convex in anterior 3 / 4 th, straight in posterior 1 / 4 th, narrowed towards the base, disc smooth and convex. Elytra: Elongated, convex on sides, width increasing towards apex; humerus obliterate; surface flat; striations narrow, shallow, separated by flat intervals, aciculate. Legs: Apex of femur with black spot; tibiae with spines arranged in rows; tarsi with brownish black ring at its posterior edge. Geographical distribution. Eastern India (Chaudoir 1876)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFB775D4AFEFCC93702F85F.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species may have not been recorded from India as ‘ East Indies’ as the type locality could mean any locality in South and Southeast Asia.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFB775B4AFEF91337C3FDF9.taxon	description	(Fig. 1 C, 5 C) Ssp. Pheropsophus bimaculatus posticalis ARROW, 1901 Carabus bimaculatus Linnaeus, 1771: 532; Fabricius, 1775: 243; Olivier, 1795: 65; Dejean, 1821: 3; 1825: 299; Hope, 1838: 100; Motschulsky, 1855: 55; Redtenbacher, 1844: 5; Chaudoir, 1876: 34; Bates, 1886: 200; Andrewes, 1919: 120; 1921 a: 153; 1923 (1924 b): 460; 1930: 271. Ssp. Pheropsophus bimaculatus posticalis Arrow, 1901: 204; Andrewes, 1919: 198; 1930: 271. Specimens examined (n = 51): Holotype, labelled “ bimaculatus ”, type in LSUK Other specimens examined: 43 exs., India: Kerala: Nilambur, 28. II. 2016, Hand picking (under stones), coll. S. V. Akhil; 3 exs., India: Kerala: Palakkad, 26. XI. 2017, Hand picking (paddy field), coll. M. Divya; 4 exs., India: Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore. Description. Length: 15.8 – 17.5 mm; TW: 6.2 – 7.3 mm Colour: Head yellow; pronotum disc and lateral margin brownish black, with a yellowish spot, oblong, more or less large, placed on each side along the lateral margin; elytra black with yellow spots; antennae, legs yellow; antennal segments 1 – 4 of lighter shade; underside of body blackish brown; eyes brownish. Head: With a dark spot somewhat elongated towards the apex extending to the pronotum; two weak longitudinal impressions between the antennae; antennae about half the length of the body; eyes not protruding. Pronotum: Subcordiform; contracted posteriorly; apical and basal margins straight; hind angles right angled, not protruding; median furrow distinct; a few scattered deep punctures on disc. Elytra: Nearly twice as wide as pronotum; enlarged towards apex, straight truncated at apex; striations wide, rounded, intervals flat; humeral spot rounded; transverse band rounded with weakly serrated edges; apical yellow band narrow, extends anteriorly along each striation. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Anaimalai Hills, Kodaikanal, Thirunelveli, Chennai, Coimbatore, Ramanathapuram, Chengalpattu, Madurai, Thiruchirapalli (Andrewes 1930); Pondicherry (Andrewes 1930); Kerala: Travancore (Andrewes 1930), Nilambur (New record), Palakkad (New record); Karnataka: Mysore: Chikkabellapura (Andrewes 1930); Maharashtra: Pune (Andrewes 1930); SRI LANKA: Kitugalle (Bates 1886). Udagama (Andrewes 1930). Weligama (Andrewes 1930). Colombo (Andrewes 1930). Elephant pass (Andrewes 1930). Avisawella (Andrewes 1930).	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFB775B4AFEF91337C3FDF9.taxon	discussion	Remarks. In the subspecies P. bimaculatus posticalis the elytral transverse band has united with the humeral spot and covers two-thirds of the elytra, the posterior third of elytra, the sutural line (expanded below the scutellum) and two vestiges below the humerus are black.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFD775B4AFEFBBF363AF8C3.taxon	description	(Fig. 1 D)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFD775B4AFEFBBF363AF8C3.taxon	description	Description. Length: 11.0 – 13.0 mm Colour: Head, pronotum, antennae reddish yellow, first four segments of the antennae brighter than the rest; elytra black; pale black pygidium; legs uniformly yellow. Head: Wider than long; eyes protruding, head with eyes wider than pronotum. Pronotum: Cordiform, with hind angles acute; anterior 2 / 3 rd highly convex; posterior 1 / 3 rd narrow compared to anterior, diverging laterally; mid line distinctly dark brown coloured; middle of the disc highly coloured, reddish brown and clearly demarcated from the lateral region which are pale reddish yellow by dark brown margins. Elytra: Narrowed to apex, humerus prominent, straight, right angled; finely striated, at strial intervals carries two wavy yellow spots, the first wider, irregularly rounded occupy the upper third and almost reach the suture; smaller second spot, more round than the first, not reaching the penultimate striation near the suture. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Jharkhand: Chota Nagpur: Nawatoli (Maindron 1898); Chhattisgarh: Bastar (Andrewes 1930)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFD775B4AFEFBBF363AF8C3.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Distinct from all other Pheropsophus species in having four yellow wavy spots on elytra (but without humeral spot). Pronotum peculiar with strong cordiform shape.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFD77584AFEF8943738FDF9.taxon	description	(Fig. 1 E)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFD77584AFEF8943738FDF9.taxon	description	Description. Length: 10.0 – 18.0 mm; TW: 6.8 mm Colour: Head, pronotum, reddish brown without spots; elytra black; apex of antennae and legs pale red; eyes greyish; legs with coxa, trochanter, tibia and femur light reddish yellow; apex of the femur dark brown; 1 st tarsomere reddish yellow in middle with dark reddish brown margins; rest dark reddish brown; claws brownish black; venter brownish black with underside of head reddish yellow including the mouth parts and palpi; prosternum brownish black with a reddish yellow patch in the middle; metasternum brownish black. Head: Small, narrow Pronotum: Convex, broader anteriorly, narrowed posteriorly; apical and basal margins straight; lateral bead faint; disc scarcely punctuate; deep median furrow. Elytra: Elongated, narrow; subparallel; median transverse bands narrow, with few serrations along edges; apex wider with narrow yellow apical band extending anteriorly along the striations. Venter: Abdomen pubescent, covered with brownish yellow hairs. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Bengal (Dejean 1825); Arunachal Pradesh (Hrdlička 2017); Sikkim (Hrdlička 2017); Meghalaya: Garo (Saha and Halder 2000); Assam; Himachal Pradesh: Bajaura (Kangra distr.) (An- drewes 1924 a). Kulu (Naggar and Mandi). Nalagar. Spiti (Gharry) (Andrewes 1924 a); Uttar Pradesh: Dahora (Andrewes 1924 a); Kashmir: Balta (Andrewes 1930); Andaman Is (Andrewes 1924 a); BANGLADESH: Dhaka (Arrow 1901); IRAN (Hrdlička 2017); AFGHANISTAN (Hrdlička 2017); PAKISTAN: Sind and the Khyber Pass (Ullah et al. 2017); SRI LANKA (Andrewes 1930); MYANMAR (Andrewes 1930); NEPAL (Hrdlička 2017); BHUTAN (Hrdlička 2017).	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFD77584AFEF8943738FDF9.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Morphologically similar to P. hilaris. Differs by elongated body; absence of spots on pronotum and presence of larger elytral humeral spots.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFE77594AFEFBB031F6FEC8.taxon	description	(Fig. 1 F)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFE77594AFEFBB031F6FEC8.taxon	description	Description. Length: 10.0 – 18.0 mm Colour: Head reddish brown; epistome with reddish yellow spot; pronotum reddish brown without spots bordered laterally by dark black margin; elytra black with reddish brown scutellum; legs with coxa and trochanter brownish yellow; femur bright yellow, knees black, tibia anterior quarter yellow and rest dark brown including the tarsi and claws; apex of meso and metafemur with broad black spot; venter brownish black with underside of head reddish yellow including the mouth parts and palpi; prosternum brownish black with a reddish yellow patch in the middle; metasternum reddish yellow coloured. Head: Small, narrow; eyes flat Pronotum: Wider anteriorly, rectangular posteriorly; apical margin concave, basal margin straight; deep median furrow. Elytra: With disc short but wide, convex, with narrower apical band that covers striations as well as intervals also; humeral spot small; humerus obliterate; median transverse band narrow, not reaching 1 st stria; striations broad, rounded with the 8 th stria not reaching the apex, intervals narrow, flat. Venter. Abdomen pubescent, covered with brownish yellow hairs. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Uttarakhand: Almora (Andrewes 1930); Maharashtra: Nagpur (Andrewes 1930); Madhya Pradesh: Mandla (Andrewes 1930); Chhattisgarh: Rajadhar (Andrewes 1930); Karnataka: Belgaum, Ramandrug (Andrewes 1930); Odisha: Surada (Andrewes 1930); Tamil Nadu: Chennai, Thiruchirapally (Andrewes 1930); Kerala: Thrissur (Andrewes 1930); SRI LANKA: Vavuniya, Nedunkeni (Andrewes 1930); NEPAL (Arrow 1901).	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFE77594AFEFBB031F6FEC8.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Morphologically similar to P. catoirei, distinguished by the dark black lateral margin of the pronotum, dark brown tibia, convex elytra with reddish brown scutellum, narrow median transverse band, obliterate humerus, and the apical border of the elytra, which covers the striations as well as intervals.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFF77594AFEFEE934B3F81B.taxon	description	(Fig. 1 G)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFF77594AFEFEE934B3F81B.taxon	description	Description. Length: 15.8 – 16.9 mm Colour: Head pale reddish yellow, with beret / ” V ” shaped black spot; first 4 segments of antennae yellow, the remaining darker, brownish; pronotum black with two longitudinally elongate reddish yellow spots; elytra black; legs pale reddish yellow with coxa, trochanter brownish yellow; femur, tibia pale reddish yellow; tarsi dark brown; black spot on the apex of femur. Venter with mentum, mandibles and last segment of palpi brownish black; submentum, gula and gena reddish yellow; prosternum brownish black with prosternal lobe having reddish yellow colour; metasternum and metepisternum reddish yellow with reddish brown borders; third abdominal sternite yellowish posteriorly. Head: Elongated and narrow, small eyes, a pair of flat impressions between the eyes. Pronotum: As broad as the head, longer than broad, almost straight laterally, posterior portion as broad as anterior, with pronounced anterior transverse impression, the anterior margin straight; two elongated, narrow, dark reddish yellow spots on both sides of the shallow median furrow that converge backwards. Elytra: Twice as wide and three times as long as the pronotum, narrow, sub parallel, less constricted towards the base, almost straight. Humerus almost erased with round humeral spot; median band transverse, strongly serrated; striations narrow, pointed, intervals rounded, broad, apex of the striations yellowish; very narrow apical border. Venter: With well-marked gular sutures; prosternal process having 4 long apical setae. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Assam: Silonibari (Andrewes 1923), Sibsagar (Andrewes 1923); Bengal: Siliguri (Andrewes 1923); Arunachal Pradesh: Rotung (Andrewes 1930); Himachal Pradesh: Kangra, Spiti: Gharry (Andrewes 1930); Bihar: Chapra (Andrewes 1923); Uttarakhand: Dehra dun (Andrewes 1930). Ranikhet (Andrewes 1930); Jharkhand: Tetara (Bates 1891 a), Konbir (Bates 1891 a); Odisha: Surada (Andrewes 1924 a); MYANMAR: Bhamo. Karen Hills. Tanintharyi (Tennasserim). Karin cheba. Palon (Bates 1892 b); BANGLADESH: Dhaka (Andrewes 1923). Sardah (Andrewes 1923); PAKISTAN: Islamabad. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Swat. Maidan (Ullah et al. 2017).	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFF77594AFEFEE934B3F81B.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Pheropsophus consularis is similar to P. javanus but differs from it by having unique ‘ V’ / Beret shaped black spot over its head, broader elytral median transverse band, smaller humeral spot and smaller black spot over the apex of femur.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFF77564AFEF9DE3670F8D1.taxon	description	(Fig. 3 A, 3 B, 3 C, 3 D, 3 E)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFF77564AFEF9DE3670F8D1.taxon	description	Other specimens examined: 1 ex., “ in India Orient. Dejean. ” (in MNHN); 1 ex. „ Ost-Indien / Trichinopoly / T. Paesler G. “ (labelled as P. discicollis) (in ZMHB); 1 ex. “ India Oriental. Dejean. ” (in ZMHB. Nr. 2368); 1 ex. „ South India / Madras State / Coimbatore / 1400 F “ (in ZMHB); 4 exs., India: Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore (TNAU). Description. Length: 13.0 – 16.0 mm; TW: 5.6 mm Colour: Head yellowish anteriorly and brownish red posteriorly, a black spot in the middle of the brownish red portion; pronotum brownish black with reddish brown oval spots on both sides of the middle furrow (but not extending to the lateral margin in some variations), posterior and anterior margins of pronotum black / brownish-black, cordiform reddish brown spot on pronotum with wing like colour projection laterally (absent in some variations); elytra black; elytral apex with moderate yellow band; legs with coxa, trochanter, femur and tibia reddish yellow; 1 st tarsi with middle region reddish yellow and borders brown; rest of the tarsi brown coloured; claws brownish black; ventral side of head reddish yellow; prosternum brownish black with light reddish yellow coloured prosternal process; rest of the ventral region brownish black. Head: Elongated, longer than broad; neck wrinkled; eyes protruding; first four antennal segments bright. Pronotum: Convex anteriorly and narrowed posteriorly; lateral bead present, narrow; median furrow distinct. Elytra: Convex, narrower at the base, widest just before apex; humerus obliterate, base rounded; the median transverse band somewhat strongly serrated on its edges (the marking almost touches the apical band in some variations), apex with sharp, broad yellow band. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Maharashtra: Nagpur (Andrewes 1930). Deccan (Chaudoir 1876); Tamil Nadu: Chennai, Thiruchirappalli (Thichinopoly), Redhills, Coimbatore (Andrewes 1930); Pondicherry (Andrewes 1930); SRI LANKA: Murunkan, Anuradhapura (Andrewes 1930); BANGLADESH (Andrewes 1930). CHINA (Jedlička 1963)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFFF77564AFEF9DE3670F8D1.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Pheropsophus hilaris is morphologically similar to P. catoirei, but distinct by basic colour of pronotum black with heart-shaped reddish brown mark, elytra convex with obliterate humerus, smaller elytral humeral spot. Pheropsophus hilaris is the most confused Indian Pheropsophus species due to difficulties with its taxonomy following the misplacement of the type species during 1798 – 1920 period, later workers who were not referring to the notes of Andrewes (1921 a) regarding the misplacement of type species and the misinterpretation of the very brief description provided by Fabricius (1798). It led to the split of the species in two subspecies — P. hilaris hilaris and P. hilaris sobrinus, both of which are actually variants of P. sobrinus (see reinstating the species status of P. sobrinus). Pheropsophus hilaris was first described by Fabricius (1798) and the type was presumed to be kept at Copenhagen museum. Andrewes (1921 a) specifically mentioned that “ the original type species at Copenhagen (now at ZMUK) is having a misplaced label and it does not agree with the description of P. hilaris rather it resembles P. tripustulatus described by Fabricius itself; the type is ignored and the description accepted ”. However, the type was not ignored and P. tripustulatus was maintained as the type for P. hilaris. This error was noticed during the revision of the description of P. hilaris, P. discicollis and P. tripustulatus while analysing the type species. Analysing the type of P. hilaris at Copenhagen museum (as per Andrewes, 1921 a) it was found that Andrewes was correct in his statement on misplaced type and what was kept labelled as type of P. hilaris at Copenhagen was actually P. tripustulatus. Authors could trace the three P. hilaris specimens from the Fabrician collection preserved at Kiel museum, which exactly matched the type description of P. hilaris by Fabricius 1798. One of them is designated as lectotype (Fig. 3 A), and the others as paralectotypes (Fig. 3 B). Analysis of the types of P. hilaris (Fabricius 1798) and P. discicollis (Dejean 1826) (3 C, 3 D, 3 E) showed that these two species are conspecific having exactly similar morphological characters. This error might have happened probably because Dejean (1826) did not see the holotype of P. hilaris described by Fabricius (1798). Pheropsophus hilaris, being the older name among the two, is retained.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF077574AFEF898318FF862.taxon	description	(Fig. 1 H) = Brachinus interruptus SCHMIDT GOEBEL, 1846 (non Dejean)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF077574AFEF898318FF862.taxon	description	Description. Length: 18.0 – 19.0 mm; TW: 6.8 – 7.3 mm Colour: Head reddish yellow; large black coloured spot present over the vertex of head; palpi reddish yellow; antennae pale reddish yellow, brownish from the fourth segment onwards; eyes grey; pronotum black with two pale reddish- yellow oval spots on either sides of the median furrow; elytra black; legs with anterior half of coxa reddish yellow and posterior half reddish brown; femur and tibia reddish yellow with a black round spot on the apex of the femur; tarsi reddish brown with dark brown claws. Underside of head reddish yellow; prosternum reddish brown with reddish yellow spot at the tip; mesosternum and metasternum with centrally reddish yellow and brownish lateral border; mesepisternum reddish yellow while proepisternum and metepisternum brownish black; sternites with anterior reddish brown and posterior brownish black. Head: Broad; eyes protruding; with a prominent spot (of various shape) on vertex; labrum convex, long and protruding. Pronotum: Lateral edges subparallel, narrowing posteriorly; wider than the head; distinct median longitudinal furrow; yellowish spot on both side of the median furrow, not reaching the lateral margins. Elytra: Narrow, elongated, subparallel, with both base and apex narrower than mid region; humeral spot present (of varying size); median transverse band narrow and with highly serrated edges; apical margin yellowish only along the striations. Venter: Body underside generally pubescent. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Assam: Margherita; Odisha: Balighai (Andrewes 1923); Kerala: Malabar (Andrewes 1930); Throughout MYANMAR (Schmidt-Goebel 1846) and the Malay Peninsula (Habu 1984); THAI- LAND (Habu 1984); ‘ Indo- China’ (Habu 1984). CHINA (Habu 1984); JAPAN (Habu 1984); TAIWAN (Dupius 1914); VIETNAM (Bates 1889); INDONESIA: Java (Dejean 1825). Sumatra (Andrewes 1930). Borneo (Habu 1984). Palembang (Bouchard 1903); PHILIPPINES (Andrewes 1930); NEW GUINEA (Darlington 1968); RUS- SIA: Far East (Hrdlička 2017).	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF077574AFEF898318FF862.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Pherosophus javanus is closely placed to P. occipitalis, P. picicollis and P. consularis and Jedlička (1963) considered all as variants of P. javanus. However we disagree with Jedlička (1963), as P. javanus is distinct from P. occipitalis by having simple broad, rectangular black spot over vertex, pronotum rectangular with anterior and posterior margins straight, elytral median transverse band narrow, apex of elytra straightly truncate; distinct from P. picicollis by having smaller black spot over vertex, presence of reddish yellow spots on pronotum, narrow and highly serrated elytral median transverse band, elytral apical band very faint, apex of elytra straightly truncate; and distinct from P. consularis by the presence of simple black spot on head, wider pronotum, rectangular elytra with lateral margins subparallel, elytral humeral spot larger, elytral median transverse band narrow.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF177544AFEF90C300AFFB8.taxon	description	Description. Length: 19.0 – 25.0 mm Colour: Body black; mouthparts, palpi, base of antennal segments 1 – 2 reddish; short reddish setae; elytra dark with apices vaguely margined with reddish yellow; legs black. Body: Remarkable by its pitch black colour. Head: Slender Pronotum: Long, slender; sides parallel, hardly sinuate in its posterior. Elytra: Surface matt; humerus obliterate; striations fine, convex; intervals rough. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Assam: Khasi Hills (Maindron 1906). Meghalaya: Shillong (Saha and Halder 2000).	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF177544AFEF90C300AFFB8.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Holotypes and other types could not be located. Description and remarks from Maindron (1906) are given. Very similar to P. aptinoides, but differs by longer form, longer and slender pronotum, completely black legs and antennae, intervals of elytral striations much rougher. It is endemic to Indo-Burma hotspot of biodiversity.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF277544AFEFE71343EFB8A.taxon	description	(Fig. 1 I)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF277544AFEFE71343EFB8A.taxon	description	Other specimen examined: 1 ex., “ Kutch, Gujarat, India, coll. B. Horne, det S. V. Akhil ” Description. Length: 15.0 – 16.0 mm Colour. Head and pronotum reddish brown; clypeus, labrum and anterior part of head reddish yellow; forehead with a brownish black patch between anterior impressions; elytra black with humeral spots and median band little darker yellow, reddish brown colour along the suture; apex of antennae and legs pale reddish yellow; first four antennal segments light coloured, segments 5 – 11 dark brownish coloured; eyes greyish; yellowish red with black spot on apex of the femur. Head: Smaller, narrower; disc smooth over vertex, rough with wrinkles posteriorly; eyes protruding; antennal segment two very short; labrum convex. Pronotum: Broad, anterior convexity covering 3 / 4 th of the disc, contracted posteriorly; scarcely punctuate; median furrow present; surface smooth. Elytra: Elongated and narrow; subparallel laterally; humerus present but rounded; median band rounded with serrated edges; striations rounded, broad; apical band present but narrow. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Assam: Tezpur (Andrewes 1930); Bengal: Darjiling (Chaudoir 1876); Bihar: Pusa, Chapra (Andrewes 1930); Uttarpradesh: Allahabad, Mughalsarai (Andrewes 1930); Uttarakhand: Lachhiwala (Andrewes 1930); Himachal Pradesh: Simla (Andrewes 1930); Chota Nagpur plateau (Andrewes 1930); Gujrat: Kutch (New record); Maharashtra: Nagpur (Andrewes 1930); BANGLADESH: Dhaka (Chaudoir 1850); PAKISTAN: Islamabad. Khyber Pashtunkhwa. Punjab (Ullah et al. 2017).	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF277544AFEFE71343EFB8A.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Pheropsophus lineifrons is morphologically most similar to P. catoirei, but distinct from it in having a black patch over the anterior part of head, reddish brown elytral suture, more serrated elytral median transverse band, darker legs.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF277524AFEF9A4301DFCFC.taxon	description	(Fig. 2 A, 5 D)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF277524AFEF9A4301DFCFC.taxon	description	Other specimens examined: 1 ex., “ Orientalis. Indes, Ex Musaeo Mniszech ”, coll. Dupuis, in MNHN Paris; 2 exs., India: Kerala: Kalpetta, 13. IX. 2017, Pitfall trap (paddy field), coll. K. Ashly; 7 exs. India: Coimbatore: TNAU, 16. X. 2017; 1 ex. “ India: Gujrat: Kutch, coll. B. Horne, det. S. V. Akhil ”. Description. Length: 15.5 – 16.0 mm Colour: Head and pronotum reddish brown; head with labrum and edges of clypeus reddish yellow coloured, rest reddish brown; pronotum with lateral margin black; antennal segments 1 – 4 light reddish yellow, segments 5 – 11 dark brown; elytra black; legs reddish yellow with large black spot on the apex of the femur. Head: Narrower than pronotum; disc smooth; eyes highly protruding. Pronotum: Wider than the head, as long as wide, square shaped; anterior margin truncated squarely; disc smooth without wrinkles. Elytra: Subparallel, narrowed towards the base, elytral base and apex squared; humerus straight, prominent; the median transverse band ‘ dagger shaped’, transverse, margins strongly serrated, dilated near the outer edge that it does not reach, and truncated squarely by the 2 nd striation; apical yellow band broader covering the intervals. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh (Hrdlička 2017); Himachal Pradesh (Hrdlička 2017); Kashmir (Hrdlička 2017); Bengal: Darjiling (Hrdlička 2017); Uttarakhand (Hrdlička 2017); Gujrat: Kutch (New re- cord); Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore (New record); Kerala: Kalpetta (New record); SRI LANKA: Kandy and Peradeniya (Andrewes 1930); BHUTAN (Hrdlička 2017). CHINA: Tibet (Chaudoir 1850); PAKISTAN: Islamabad. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Muzaffarabad (Ullah et al. 2017).	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF277524AFEF9A4301DFCFC.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Very similar to P. catoirei, differs by the shape of pronotum which is as wide as long and square shaped, not narrowing posteriorly; elytral median transverse band is more transverse, more serrated at its edges.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF477524AFEFCBE3420F8F7.taxon	description	(Fig. 2 B)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF477524AFEFCBE3420F8F7.taxon	description	Description. Length: 9.0 mm Colour: Body black, shiny; head bi-coloured with frontal yellow and posterior black, yellow frontal spot between the eyes continue to the margin of eyes; clypeus brownish yellow, labrum brown coloured with yellow bor- der; antennal segments 1 – 2 light brownish yellow coloured, segments 3 – 11 dark brown; pronotum brownish black; elytra deep black; legs with coxa, trochanter, femur and tibia reddish yellow; tarsi reddish brown; prosternum, mesosternum and metasternum reddish yellow; ventral side of head entirely reddish yellow including palpi, mentum and submentum. Head: Oval, eyes protruding, smooth, neck punctuated and wrinkled. Pronotum: Wider than long, with round yellow spots on both sides of the median furrow, disc laterally with anterior 3 / 4 th rounded, posterior 1 / 4 th narrow, hind angle sub-acute; lateral bead raised, broad; disc sparsely punctuated. Elytra: Short, convex, narrow towards base, humerus erased, disc with narrow striations; with small yellow spot in the middle; very narrow apical yellow band. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Assam: Sadiya (Bates 1892 b), Panji (Andrewes 1930); Arunachal Pradesh: ‘ between Pasighat and Kobo’, Dosing, Yambung, ‘ below Damda’ (Andrewes 1930); CHINA: SE. Tibet: Zayul: Rong Chu Valley (6000 ft) (Andrewes 1933).	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF477524AFEFCBE3420F8F7.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The smallest Indian Pheropsophus recorded. It is morphologically similar to P. nigricollis but differs by having head bi-coloured with anterior yellow and posterior black, broad lateral bead of pronotum, obliterate humerus without spot, with median spot instead of median transverse band. Endemic to Eastern Himalaya hotspot of biodiversity.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF477534AFEF8A23784FDB1.taxon	description	(Fig. 2 D)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF477534AFEF8A23784FDB1.taxon	description	Other specimens examined: 3 exs., India: Tamil Nadu: Ettimadai, 28. II. 2016, coll. S. V. Akhil, Hand Picking; 3 exs., India: Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore (TNAU) Description. Length: 15.0 – 16.0 mm Colour: Pitch black; very bright; head brownish yellow except the mid line; epistome reddish brown; first four antennal segments reddish yellow with reddish brown rings on their posterior end, segments 5 – 11 reddish brown, pronotum completely black; elytra black with pale yellow humeral spots and median bands; legs with coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia reddish yellow and tarsi dark reddish brown; apex of femur without black spot; palpi, labial and maxillary, with last two segments reddish brown and apex reddish yellow; mentum and submentum reddish yellow with a black spot on each lateral tooth of the mentum; ventral side of head completely reddish yellow; prosternum, mesosternum and abdomen black; metasternum and metepisternum reddish yellow. Head: Narrower than pronotum; spear shaped mark on the head extending from behind the eyes to the clypeus; eyes protruding. Pronotum: Longer than broad, disc with apical margin straight, basal margin bisinuate, disc convex, sparsely punctuate; lateral margin of basal half parallel and that of apical half convex; with pronounced lateral bead. Elytra: Broad, wider towards apex, lateral sides curved; humerus distinct, humeral spot small and rounded; median transverse band wide, rounded and reaching the suture and the lateral edges; yellow apical band very fine and narrow; striations deep, wide and rounded, intervals flat, wide. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Karnataka: Bangalore (Arrow 1901), Chikkaballapura, Manganale, Shivamogga (Andrewes 1930); Tamil Nadu: Ettimadai (New record), Coimbatore (New record).	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF477534AFEF8A23784FDB1.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Very close to P. bimaculatus but differs by narrow head and pronotum, pronotum entirely black and presence of spear shaped black spot on the forehead.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF577504AFEFC79374CFF9C.taxon	description	(Fig. 2 E, 5 E)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF577504AFEFC79374CFF9C.taxon	description	Description. Length: 15.0 – 19.0 mm Colour: Head yellow with black spots on vertex, anterior and posterior black spot connected by middle narrow black line; antennal segment 1 – 2 reddish yellow and rest reddish brown; pronotum dark black, with two lateral yellow spots, in dumbbell shaped black background; elytra black with humeral spots; legs reddish yellow with hind femur with black spot on apex. Head: Eyes protruding; pronounced wrinkles on neck. Pronotum: Glabrous, smooth, shiny; anterior margin curved inwards; disc laterally with anterior margin convex, narrow posteriorly with posterior 1 / 3 rd of lateral margin diverging rather than parallel; posterior margin straight. Elytra: Subparallel rather than convex, narrowed toward base; humeral spot large, extending somewhat posteriorly; median band narrow; lateral edge with yellow margin starting from the humeral spot and joins the prominent yellow apical band; disc matt and finely pubescent; narrow, deep striations with wider intervals. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Manipur; Assam; Mizoram-Tripura: Lushai Hills; Bengal: Kolkata (Saha et al. 1992); Bihar; Odisha; Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore (New record); Kerala: Malampuzha (New record), Nilambur (New record), Thamarassery (New record), Kalpetta (New record); Andaman Is (Andrewes 1930); SRI LANKA (Andrewes 1919); MYANMAR (Andrewes 1919); MALAYSIA (Andrewes 1930); INDONESIA: Java, Borneo (Macleay 1825); Malay Peninsula and Archipelago (Andrewes 1919); CHINA (Habu 1984); HONG KONG (Andrewes 1930); TAIWAN (Andrewes 1930); JAPAN (Habu 1984).	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF577504AFEFC79374CFF9C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Very similar to P. bimaculatus but differs by the presence of three spots (anterior and posterior rounded, middle spot narrow connecting the two) on vertex, pronotum with larger spots reaching the lateral margin and narrow median transverse band.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF677504AFEFDAD307FF8EA.taxon	description	(Fig. 2 C, 5 F)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF677504AFEFDAD307FF8EA.taxon	description	Other specimens examined: 1 ex., India: Kerala: Koorachund, Hand picking, 24. VIII. 2015, coll. V. A. Jithmon; 1 ex., India: Kerala: Chelari, Hand Picking, 28. I. 2016, coll. S. V. Akhil; 1 ex., India: Kerala: Nilambur, Light trap, 29. II. 2016, coll. S. V. Akhil; 1 ex., India: Kerala: Koorachund, Hand picking, 04. VI. 2016, coll. V. A. Jithmon; 2 exs., India: Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore (TNAU). Description. Length: 15.0 – 17.0 mm Colour: Head almost entirely black with reddish yellow borders (lateral, anterior and posterior); clypeus and labrum reddish yellow; reddish yellow epistome; first four antennal segments light yellow red and 5 – 11 dark brown; eyes grey; pronotum entirely black; elytra black with humeral spots and median bands; legs with coxa, trochanter and tarsi dark reddish brown; femur and tibia reddish yellow; black spot on the apex of femur present on all legs; underside of head reddish yellow with black patch around eyes; last articles of palpi reddish; underside of body black, with episternum yellow posteriorly, middle of the metasternum light brown. Head: Narrow; neck wrinkled; eyes prominent and protruding. Pronotum: Smooth, glabrous, oblong, barely convex on sides, anterior and posterior similarly narrowed; anterior and posterior margins straight; weak bead along lateral margin; two long setae (one each on either side) in the center towards the lateral margin. Elytra: Subparallel, narrowed towards base; humerus prominent; humeral spot more angular posteriorly, median band narrow, more transverse, extending to the second stria, rather strongly serrated on both edges, not reaching the lateral margin; yellow apical border serrated on the striation, extending between the 2 nd and 8 th striations; the first and eighth striations are black to the end; striations shallow but broad, intervals flat, glabrous. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Karnataka: Bangalore (Andrewes 1930); Kerala: Thiruvananthapuram (Andrewes 1930), Chelari (New record), Koorachudu (New record); Goa: Mormugao (Andrewes 1930); Arunachal Pradesh and Assam: Dafla Hills (Bates 1892 b); Mizoram and Tripura: Lushai Hills (Andrewes 1930); Andaman Is. (Andrewes 1930); BHUTAN (Andrewes 1930); SRI LANKA (Andrewes 1930); MYANMAR: Karen Hills (Andrewes 1930). Shan hills (Andrewes 1930). Bhamo (Bates 1892 b). Palon (Bates 1892 b). Rangoon (Chaudoir 1876); Malay Peninsula (Andrewes 1930); THAILAND (Chaudoir 1876); LAOS (Andrewes 1930).	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF677504AFEFDAD307FF8EA.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Very similar to P. occipitalis but differs by narrow, more transverse elytral median band and the narrow black head with the epistome and the anterior corners near the base of the antennae reddish yellow.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF677514AFEF88436B8FD6C.taxon	description	(Fig. 2 F)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF677514AFEF88436B8FD6C.taxon	description	Description. Length: 18.0 – 19.0 mm Colour: Glossy brownish black; head, pronotum, elytra black; eyes grey; yellowish spot over the epistome; middle of the forehead with a crescent-shaped bright transverse spot; reddish brown border towards pronotum which extends laterally towards the base of eyes; antennal segments 1 – 2 light reddish brown, 3 – 4 brownish black and rest dark brown legs with coxa reddish brown; trochanter and femur pale reddish yellow with femur having a dark black ring on the posterior end (apex black); tibia more reddish brown and tarsi brownish; ventral side of head yellowish-brown with gula reddish yellow, gular sutures black; prosternum and mesosternum black while metasternum having reddish yellow patch in the middle. Head: Pentagonal, eyes protruding; wrinkled neck; with long supra orbital setae. Pronotum: Narrow, longer than wide, anterior a little wider; hind angle obtuse-right; lateral margins convex anteriorly, straight posteriorly; anterior margin concave, posterior straight; surface glabrous (but with two long setae in the center of disc towards the lateral margin); median furrow absent. Elytra: Convex with base narrowed, wider towards apex (posterior region just before the apex the widest); humerus obliterate, striations flattened; entirely black without any spots. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Assam: Sibsagar (Andrewes 1930); Arunachal Pradesh and Assam: Dafla Hills (Andrewes 1930); Meghalaya: Garo Hills, Chandkira (Andrewes 1930); Manipur (Heller 1903).	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF677514AFEF88436B8FD6C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Pheropsophus prophylax is quite similar to P. aptinoides from which it differs by black head; long, narrow pronotum. It is endemic to the Indo-Burma hotspot of biodiversity.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF7774E4AFEFC1D376EFF2D.taxon	description	(Fig. 2 G, 2 H)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFF7774E4AFEFC1D376EFF2D.taxon	description	Specimens examined (n = 2): Holotype, labelled “ Gopaldhara, Darjeeling. 3,440 – 4720 ft., 21. XII. 1917, H. Stevens, H. E. Andrewes Coll. B. M. 1945 – 97 ”, type in BMNH; Other specimens examined: 1 ex., labelled “ Laos: La Casade, 5. I. 1918, R. V. de Salvaza, 30 Kilm. From Xieng Khonang; ‘ Co-type’, H. E. Andrewes Coll. B. M. 1945 – 97, ‘ Lectotype’ Pheropsophus dissolutus Andrewes 1923, det. Jan Hrdlička ” Description. Length: 12.0 – 16.0 mm long; TW: 4.5 – 5.2 Colour: Black to brownish black; head in front of eyes and beneath, epipleurae (at base), apical margin of elytra, prosternal process, metasternum, palpi, and antennae (darker towards apex) testaceous yellow. Head: Convex, smooth, wrinkled behind and generally with two or three large punctures near eye, frontal foveae shallow, a small rounded depression on inner margin of eye, eyes moderately prominent, antennae long and thick, reaching beyond middle of elytra. Pronotum: Convex, as wide as head, and a little longer than wide, sides gently rounded in front and sinuate behind, hind angles right and sharp, projecting faintly laterally; median line shallow, deeper behind at its junction with the clearly marked transverse impression; surface smooth with a few small punctures at sides of base. Elytra: Convex, wider than pronotum, humerus obliterate, apical truncature with a very distinct re-entrant angle at suture; striations rather narrow, smooth, the outer ones finer, eighth not reaching apex, intervals between the costae finely aciculate. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Sikkim: Gopaldhara (Andrewes 1923 b); Assam (Kirschenhofer 2010); Bengal: Kurseong (Andrewes 1923 b), Pashok (Andrewes 1923 b), Mungphu (Andrewes 1923 b); Meghalaya: Shillong (Andrewes 1923 b), Khasi Hills (Andrewes 1923 b); CHINA: Tibet: Pedong (Andrewes 1923 b); BHUTAN: Maria Basti (Andrewes 1923 b). P. scythropus dissolutus LAOS: Ban Sai, Pang Bo and ‘ La Cascade’ ’ near Xieng Khonang (Hrdlička 2017). Remarks. Pheropsophus scythropus is evidently allied to P. aptinoides, a much larger insect, but differs by having black head, elongated, glossy, more convex pronotum and apex of femur without black spot. Endemic to Eastern Himalaya hotspot of biodiversity.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFE8774C4AFEFEDC30FCFF55.taxon	description	(Fig. 3 F, 3 G, 3 H, 5 G)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFE8774C4AFEFEDC30FCFF55.taxon	description	Other specimens examined: 3 exs., India: Bengal, Coll. Lamarc Piqot; 1 ex., India: Pondicherry; 2 exs. India: Madras; 1 ex. India: Calcutta, Coll. Thieme; 2 exs. India: Calcutta; 1 ex., India: S. Indien: Coimbatore, 1400 ft. XII. 69, Coll. P. S. Nathan; 1 ex. India: Pondicherry; 22 exs. India: South India: Pondicherry: Karikal, Coll. P. S. Nathan; 2 exs. India: South India: Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore, 1400 Ft., coll. P. S. Nathan; 1 ex., India: South India: Anamalai Hills: Cinchona, 3500 Ft., Coll. P. S. Nathan; 2 exs. India: S. Indien: Coimbatore, 1400 ft., IV. 68, Coll. P. S. Nathan; 1 ex., India: Tamil Nadu: Tranquebar (now Tharangambadi), V. 1951, Coll. H. Korge; 44 exs. India: Coimbatore: TNAU; 1 ex., India: Kerala: Palakkad, Hand picking, 27. XII. 2016, coll. M. Divya; 2 exs., India: Kerala: Palakkad, Hand picking, 26. XI. 2017, coll. M. Divya. Description. Length: 15.8 mm; TW: 6.8 mm Colour: Head, pronotum, humeral spots, elytral median transverse bands, elytral apical band, femur, tibia, reddish yellow; antennal segments 1, 3, 4 with middle reddish yellow and anterior and posterior margin reddish brown, segments 2, 5 – 11 entirely reddish brown; elytra black; legs with apex of femur with small black spot; underside of head and thorax (including prosternum) entirely reddish yellow; mesosternum and metasternum reddish brown. Head: Small, stout, smooth, pentagonal; eyes protruding. Pronotum: Square shaped, anterior and posterior margins straight, lateral margin with apical 2 / 3 rd convex, basal 1 / 3 rd straight; disc glabrous with deep puncture marks in basal part, median furrow shallow; lateral beads present, but not prominent. Elytra: Rectangular, lateral margins subparallel, basal margin straight, humerus pronounced, apical margin straight truncate; humeral spot small, median transverse band broad and rounded with serrated edges, reddish yellow apical band wide, broad, a reddish yellow line running along the lateral sides of the elytra connecting the median transverse band and apical band; striations narrow, intervals flat, broad. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore, Tharangambadi, Anaimalai hills (Andrewes 1930); Pondicherry: Karaikal (Andrewes 1930); Kerala: Palakkad (New record); Bengal: Kolkata (Andrewes 1930); Arunachal Pradesh (Hrdlička 2017); Himachal Pradesh (Hrdlička 2017); Kashmir (Hrdlička 2017); Bengal: Darjil- ing (Hrdlička 2017); Uttarakhand (Hrdlička 2017); PAKISTAN: Rawalpindi. Chakwal. Poonch (Ullah et al. 2017); NEPAL (Felix et al. 2012); SRI LANKA (Felix et al. 2012); TAIWAN (Felix et al. 2012); BHUTAN (Felix et al. 2012); YEMEN (Andrewes 1930).	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFE8774C4AFEFEDC30FCFF55.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Pheropsophus sobrinus is closely related to P. bimaculatus but differs by its smaller size, narrower elytra and pronotum, head without black spot, humeral spot very small and wide elytral apical spot. The specimen based on which Pheropsophus sobrinus was described by Dejean (1826) has pronotum completely reddish yellow (Fig. 3 F). Specimens with middle of pronotum reddish yellow and anterior and posterior margin black (Fig. 3 H) are also frequent among P. sobrinus (Felix et al. 2012). However, the variants of P. sobrinus could be misidentified as P. hilaris when the brief type description of Fabricius (1798) alone is considered without comparing with the type specimen of P. hilaris (refer the remarks of P. hilaris and misplacement of type specimens). This error might have lead Chaudoir (1876) to synonymise P. sobrinus with P. hilaris. It is this variant character seen in P. sobrinus along with the non-availability and misplacement of the type series of P. hilaris that caused subsequent workers (Arrow 1901, Andrewes 1921 a, Felix et al. 2012, Ullah et al. 2017) to misidentify P. sobrinus as a variant subspecies of P. hilaris (Fabricius 1798). Comparison of the tracked down type series of P. hilaris at ZMUK (in Fabricius Collection) with the type of P. sobrinus showed that P. sobrinus is entirely different from P. hilaris in having completely reddish yellow head, rectangular, reddish yellow pronontal marking covering the lateral margins, convex pronotal disc, narrower and subparallel elytra with prominent squared humerus, very minute humeral spot (absent in many cases) and broad, yellow elytral apical band. Hence the species status of P. sobrinus (Dejean 1826) is reinstated.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFEA774C4AFEFE1C34B2F8DA.taxon	description	(Fig. 3 I, 5 H)	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFEA774C4AFEFE1C34B2F8DA.taxon	description	Ssp. Pheropsophus tripustulatus curtus ARROW, 1901	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFEA774C4AFEFE1C34B2F8DA.taxon	description	Ssp. Pheropsophus tripustulatus curtus Arrow, 1901: 204; Andrewes, 1919: 198; 1930: 276. Specimens examined (n = 9): Verified specimen (H. E. Andrewes), labelled “ Pheropsophus 3 - pustulatus F.: marginalis D.: amoenus C., compared with 3 types, H. E. A. Ex-Musaeo A. Kuwpert 1894, Ex. coll. R. Oberthur (Dejean’s type has less yellow at apex HEA) ” (locality unknown), in BMNH. Other specimens examined: 1 ex., locality: unknown, in ZMUK (wrongly labelled as P. hilaris); 6 exs., India: Kerala: Palakkad, Hand picking, 26. XI. 2017, coll. M. Divya; 1 ex., India: Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore (TNAU). Description. Length: 13.0 mm; TW: 5.6 mm Colour: Head reddish yellow with a large blackish brown spot between the eyes; clypeus and labrum reddish yellow; antennae pale yellow-red; pronotum blackish brown with a large oblong yellow spot on each side along the outer edge; elytra black with humeral spot yellow, having a small posterior projection; yellow lateral margin; striations yellow towards apex; yellow apical band with a yellow spot in the middle; reddish yellow legs, apex of femur without black spot. Head: Short, stout; protruding, prominent eyes; neck wrinkled. Pronotum: Disc laterally with anterior 2 / 3 rd rounded, posterior 1 / 3 rd straight; anterior margin rounded, concave, posterior margin sinuate; disc with many deep punctuations; median furrow prominent. Elytra: Subparallel, rectangular, base not narrowed; humeral spot large; striations wide, blunt towards apex. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Odisha: Barkuda Is. (Lake Chilka) (Andrewes 1930); Tamil Nadu: Ennur, Chennai (Andrewes 1930); Pondicherry (Andrewes 1930); Kerala: Travancore (Andrewes 1930); THAILAND (Andrewes 1919). Ssp. Pheropsophus tripustulatus annulus – INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Tharangambadi (Chaudoir 1876). Ssp. Pheropsophus tripustulatus curtus – INDIA: Karnataka: North Kanara (Andrewes 1921 b); Kerala: Mahe, Malabar (Andrewes 1921 b), Nilambur (New record).	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFEA774C4AFEFE1C34B2F8DA.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Similar to P. bimaculatus, but differs with narrow yellow spot on pronotum, large black spot on head, large elytral humeral spot with posterior projection, small, narrow elytral median band and yellow spot on elytral apical band on each elytron.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFEA774B4AFEF880304BFFE1.taxon	description	(Fig. 4 A, 5 A) Specimens examined (n = 6): Holotype, labelled “ Male, India: Tamil Nadu: Courtallam (8.930855 ° N, 77.268843 ° E), Hand Picking, from under stones, 14. X. 2015, coll. S. V. Akhil ”; Paratypes, 5 exs., India: Tamil Nadu: Courtallam (8.930855 ° N, 77.268843 ° E), 14. X. 2015, coll. S. V. Akhil. Description. TLA: 20.0 mm; TW: 8.1 mm Colour: Head completely yellow without spots; clypeus (lateral edge brownish black) and labrum yellow with anterior brownish yellow border; fronto-clypeal suture light reddish brown; antennal segments 1 – 4 yellowish brown and 5 – 11 dark reddish brown; pronotum black with two large yellow spots on both sides of a narrow but prominent black median furrow, the two spots not reaching the lateral edge, lateral border being black; anterior and posterior margins of pronotum black; elytra with yellow patches including two small, yellow, rounded humeral spots, wide median transverse bands interrupted at suture and extreme apex; apical yellow band of elytra very narrow, just a small, fine yellow line; scutellum black; legs with coxa, trochanter, femur and tibia pale reddish yellow, tarsal end of tibia reddish brown, first tarsi with middle portion yellow and rest reddish brown, tarsi 2 – 5 reddish brown; claws dark brown; underside of head completely yellow; lateral side of the thorax with pale reddish yellow spot in the form of “ T ”; metasternum reddish yellow posteriorly and reddish brown anteriorly; metepisternum reddish yellow; rest of the ventral region brownish black. Head: Eyes prominent and protruding; labrum convex anteriorly; vertex with long supra orbital setae. Third antennal segment longer than segments 1 and 2 combined. Mandibles wide but short, protruding beyond the labrum; mandibular scrobe unisetose. Palpi pubescent with terminal segment dilated. Submentum setose with 4 – 5 long and 10 – 12 short setae. Gular sutures diverging. Pronotum: Narrowed posteriorly; sides rounded in the anterior half and parallel behind; beaded dark lateral margin; anterior and posterior margin straight; disc finely punctate but glabrous except for very few brown setae along lateral edges; anterior and posterior margins each with a fringe of short dense setae Elytra: convex on sides; with almost erased humerus; base narrower than apex, broadest just before apex. All nine striations (counting from the suture) well marked. Elytra very sparsely punctate with 1 – 3 setae on each intervals and a row of short yet sparse setae near apex. Abdomen: finely pubescent. Male Genitalia: Aedeagus with median lobe stout, low degree of curvature (only slightly curved); apex round- ed, blunt. Measurements: Holotype Male, TLA = 20 mm; TLB = 17.7 mm; TW = 8.1 mm; PL = 3.6 mm; PW = 3.7 mm; EL = 10.2 mm. Paratype Female, TLA = 21 mm; TLB = 16.8 mm; TW = 7.2 mm; PL = 3.6 mm; PW = 3.5 mm; EL = 9.6 mm	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFEA774B4AFEF880304BFFE1.taxon	materials_examined	Type material: Holotype male: India: Tamil Nadu: Courtallam (8.930855 ° N, 77.268843 ° E), 14. X. 2015, handpicked from under stones, coll. S. V. Akhil, deposited at ZSIC. Paratypes: 1 male, 4 females, Tamil Nadu, Courtallam (8.930855 ° N, 77.268843 ° E), 14. X. 2015, from under stones Geographical distribution. India: Tamil Nadu: Courtallam (Moist south Western Ghats eco-region) Collecting circumstances: All the six specimens were handpicked from under stones near to a stream.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFEA774B4AFEF880304BFFE1.taxon	etymology	Etymology: This species is named after the host research institution.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFEA774B4AFEF880304BFFE1.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Pherosophus devagiriensis sp. nov. is very similar to P. hilaris but differs from it by head entirely yellow, pronotum with bright yellow spot not reaching the lateral margin, lateral margin black, pronontal median furrow deep, disc glabrous and shiny, elytral humeral spot very small, elytral yellow apical band narrow.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFED774B4AFEFDE434C6F9A5.taxon	description	(Fig. 4 B, 5 B) Specimens examined (n = 2): Holotype, labelled “ Male, India: Kerala: Palakkad (10.806420 ° N, 76.690174 ° E), Hand Picking (Wet Paddy field), 26. XI. 2017, coll. M. Divya ”; Paratype, male, India: Karnataka, 2013, coll. A. Anichtchenko. Description. TLA: 15.8 mm; TW: 6.6 mm Colour: Black head, pronotum and elytra. Black spot on head wide, widest towards pronotum, broad ‘ M’ shaped black spot on vertex of head with a narrow extension up to the clypeus; clypeus and labrum black; epistome, margin around the eyes, reddish yellow; maxillary and labial palpi, reddish brown; eyes grey; first four antennal segments light reddish yellow, segments 2 – 4 with reddish brown ring on the apical portion, segments 5 – 11 reddish brown; scutellum black; humeral spot pale reddish yellow; legs with coxa, trochanter, femur, tibiae and 1 st segment of tarsi, reddish yellow; rest of the tarsal segments reddish brown; claws dark brown; apex of femur with wide black spot; underside of head reddish yellow, gula well-marked with reddish brown gular suture; prothorax including the prosternum black; mesosternum black; metasternum anterior half reddish yellow and posterior half black; metepisternum black. Head: Stout, smooth, glabrous, shiny, neck wrinkled; eyes protruding, with one supraorbital setae in the mid region above eye; antennae long, reaching the middle of elytra. Pronotum: Wider than long, smooth, glabrous except for a group of minute seta lining the apical margin; basal and apical margins straight, corners of apical and basal margin rounded, anterior 3 / 4 th of the lateral margin convex, posterior 1 / 4 th straight; deep median furrow; lateral bead narrow. Elytra: Subparallel, widest in the middle; humerus pronounced, rounded, humeral spot large; narrow median transverse band extending between 3 rd and 8 th stria, with strongly serrated edges, rounded and pointed towards suture; apical band narrow, reddish yellow, extending along the apical portion of stria; striations narrow, intervals wide, flat, glabrous. Male Genitalia: Median lobe slender compared to P. devagiriensis sp. nov.; highly arcuate, apex pointed. Measurements: Holotype Male, TLA = 16.16 mm; TLB = 15.84 mm; TW = 6.64 mm; PL = 3.28 mm; PW = 3.44 mm; EL = 9.52 mm.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFED774B4AFEFDE434C6F9A5.taxon	materials_examined	Type Material: 1 ex. Holotype, male, India: Kerala: Palakkad (10.806420 ° N, 76.690174 ° E), Hand Picking (wet paddy field), 26. XI. 2017, coll. M. Divya, deposited at ZSIC. Paratype, male, India: Karnataka, 2013, coll. A. Anichtchenko. Geographical distribution. INDIA: Kerala: Palakkad; Karnataka Collecting Circumstances: Handpicked from a paddy field of Palakkad (India: Kerala), a region belonging to the Palakkad gap.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFED774B4AFEFDE434C6F9A5.taxon	etymology	Etymology: Named after ‘ India’.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
03FB8782FFED774B4AFEFDE434C6F9A5.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Pheropsophus indicus sp. nov. is similar to P. occipitalis, but differs in having broad ‘ M’ shaped black spot on head, entirely black pronotum with straight apical and basal margins, broad elytra and narrow elytral median transverse band.	en	Venugopal, Akhil S., Thomas, Sabu K. (2019): Bombardier beetles of the genus Pheropsophus Solier 1833 (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) from Indian subcontinent. Zootaxa 4608 (1): 65-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4608.1.3
