Onthophagus anthracinus Harold, 1873

Arriaga-Jiménez, Alfonsina, Escobar-Hernández, Fernando, Rös, Matthias & Kohlmann, Bert, 2020, The establishment of the Onthophagus anthracinus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) species complex and the description of a new species, The Canadian Entomologist 152 (1), pp. 1-17 : 11-12

Onthophagus anthracinus Harold, 1873

Howden and Cartwright (1963: 65) found the name Onthophagus anthracinus Harold, 1873 to be preoccupied by Onthophagus anthracinus Faldermann, 1835 , which had been described from Transcaucasia in the Russian Empire. Kolenati (1846: 12) later established O. anthracinus Faldermann, 1835 to be a synonym of O. histeroides Ménétriés, 1832 (which was later transferred to the genus Caccobius Thomson, 1859 ). Consequently, the name Onthophagus anthracinus Harold, 1873 must be considered as a primary junior homonym of O. anthracinus Faldermann, 1835 .

The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (1999) (Article 23.9.5) states that “When an author discovers that a species-group name in use is a junior primary homonym (Article 53.3) of another species group name also in use, but the names apply to taxa not considered congeneric after 1899, the author must not automatically replace the junior homonym; the case should be referred to the Commission for a ruling under the plenary power and meanwhile prevailing usage of both names is to be maintained [Art. 82].” This Article also indicates that the senior homonym should be in use, which is not the case with Faldermann’ s name. O. anthracinus Harold, 1873 is a junior primary homonym that is currently in use and has not been considered congeneric with its senior homonym after 1899. So, although Faldermann’ s name is not in use, one can interpret the spirit of the Article as to preserve the usage of junior primary homonyms that have been in use, by not being considered congeneric as its senior homonym for a long time. One can consider that this does not violate the principle that no two taxa should share the same name; therefore, we do here maintain the use of O. anthracinus Harold as a valid name. We have submitted a case to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature as directed in Article 23.9.5 for the conservation of the specific name Onthophagus anthracinus Harold, 1873 and it is presently under review as case number 3807.

Onthophagus anthracinus ( Figs. 3–4 , 14 , 17 , 21 ) is known to occur from Chiapas, Mexico to Chiriquí, Panama . We cite here localities that were studied for the present analysis. Mexico, Chiapas: 5 km W San Cristóbal de las Casas, 8000’, 13–16.viii.1969, pine-oak forest, S.J. Peck (one male, eight females); 3 miles NW San Cristóbal de las Casas, 29.v.1969, H.F. Howden (two males, nine females); 6 miles E San Cristóbal de las Casas, 2.vi.1969, H.F. Howden (one male, two females); 10 miles E Teopisca, 11–12.v.1969, H.F. Howden (two males, four females); junction of highways 190 and 195, 8.v.1969, H.F. Howden (one male, two females). All of the Chiapas specimens are from the Canadian Museum of Nature. The following specimens represent country records for Guatemala : Baja Verapaz, San Rafael Chilascó, 1700 m, viii.2000, horse manure, A. Higueros (two males); Baja Verapaz, San Rafael Chilascó , 1700 m, 17.iii.2000, H. Morales (one female); Huehuetenango, road between Bulej and junction of San Mateo Ixatán-Nentón , 2700 m, conifer forest, 22.vii.1988, E.B. Cano (three females); Sacatepequez, Florencia , 15.ix.1990, J Martínez (two males, one female); San Marcos, La Fraternidad , 1900 m, viii.1997, cloud forest, J. Monzón (one male); San Marcos, La Fraternidad , 1900 m, ix.1998, A.C. Bailey and J. Monzón (one male, one female); Totonicapán, San Cristóbal Totonicapán, 2300 m, 9.vii.1995, E.B. Cano (one male, one female). All of the Guatemala specimens are from the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala .

Figures

Figs. 1–4. Onthophagus etlaensis and O. anthracinus habitus. 1, Onthophagus etlaensis dorsal view; 2, O. etlaensis anterolateral view; 3, O. anthracinus dorsal view; 4, O. anthracinus anterolateral view.

Figs 13–15. Species in the Onthophagus anthracinus species complex. 13, Male pronotum of Onthophagus etlaensis; 14, male pronotum of Onthophagus anthracinus; 15, dorsal view of a male Onthophagus durangoensis.

Figs 16–20. Aedeagi of the Onthophagus anthracinus species complex. 16, Onthopagus alluvius; 17, O. anthracinus; 18, O. durangoensis; 19, O. etlaensis; 20, O. mextexus.

Figs 21–22. Lamella copulatrix and accesory lamellae. 21, Onthophagus anthracinus; 22, O. etlaensis.