Spilophorus ( Prospilophorus ) superbus, Perissinotto & Garnier, 2025
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/10.13133/2284-4880/1769 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03FF87C8-B012-D50E-D392-7EBFA1D7DE43 |
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treatment provided by |
Felipe |
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scientific name |
Spilophorus ( Prospilophorus ) superbus |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Spilophorus ( Prospilophorus) superbus View in CoL sp. nov.
( Figs 13-15 View Fig View Fig View Fig )
Diagnosis. This rather striking species is similar to S. ( P.) aurifer , but significantly larger in size and lacking median carina on the pygidium. Its tomentose ochreous-yellow ornamentation is also drastically more extensive than in S. ( P.) aurifer , covering most of head, pronotum, pygidium and approximately half of the elytral surface. Unfortunately, comparisons of aedeagal parameres cannot be undertaken at this stage, as the male of S. ( P.) aurifer is yet unknown ( Holm & Perissinotto 2010).
Type series. HT ♂: [ Cameroon]: S. Cameroun, Memiam, Reg. Mbalmayo, 8/10/1983, “ S. grandis ornamented form ou s. sp. nov.”, 18.5 mm ( TGMF) . PTs, Cameroon: 1♀, Ebogo, Reg. Yaounde, Dec 2002, Fourmiliere , “ S. aurifer ornamented”, 18 mm ( TGMF) ; 1♀, “ Cameroun ”, R.P. Carret ( MNHN) ; Congo-Brazzaville: Dimonika, Mayombe, X/2008, Bruno Le Rü ( BLLF) .
Description of holotype ♂
Size. 18.3 mm (TL); 10.9 mm (MW).
Head. Black and shiny at margins, with wide yellow-ochreous tomentose area from vertex to frons ( Fig. 13 A, D View Fig ); glabrous,
with scattered punctate sculpture across entire surface; clypeus deeply concave with anterior margin roundly bilobate, lateral margins steeply upturned and protruding outwards at centre; clypeal base roundly elevated towards frons; vertex with black median longitudinal ridge, bilaterally depressed with ochreous tomentum on entire surface; antennal clubs black, approximately as long as pedicel and flagellum combined; pedicel black, but flagellum brown, each carrying tufts of medium-length light-brown setae.
Pronotum. Largely covered in yellow-ochreous tomentum, except on central disc area which is black and shiny ( Fig. 13 A, D View Fig ); lateral margins roundly angled at centre, widest just anteriad of base; roundly emarginate above scutellum; generally glabrous, with few short brownish setae along lateral margins; large but sparse round punctures on disk, becoming smaller and more scattered towards margins.
Scutellum. Shiny black, with only residual patch of yellow tomentum on basal part of lateral margins; with round punctures along all margins, but virtually absent on central disc; lateral margins compressed at centre and apex very pointed ( Fig. 13 A View Fig ).
Elytra. Shiny black, covered in dense yellow-ochreous tomentum on lateral and apical margins and declivities, as well as around humeral callus and on apical half of disc, as intruding flame-shaped tongues; with marked perisutural depression in basal half, smaller depressions also mediad of humeral calli; glabrous, with only tiny light setae noticeable along lateral and apical margins; very sparse round to umbilicate punctures on disc becoming smaller to absent on declivities and margins ( Fig. 13 A, C View Fig ).
Legs. Black, short and robust, with short brown setae; densely sculptured with round to elongate irregular punctures; protarsi particularly short, protibiae externally bidentate and with very short internal tooth; mesotibia with sharp median outer denticle and short but pointed spurs; metatibia with poorly-developed median outer denticle, but long and sharp spurs ( Fig. 13 View Fig A-C).
Pygidium. Entirely covered in yellow-ochreous tomentum, except on baso-lateral corners and central part of basal margin; surrounded by a sharp basal ridge, with deep concavity along entire basal margin; glabrous with few short setae only along apical margin; large round punctures in basal and baso-lateral area, becoming smaller and sparser on disc and towards apical margin ( Fig. 13 E View Fig ).
Venter. Shiny, black but dark brown on abdominal ventrites, with extensive cover of yellow-ochreous tomentum on metasternum, metepisternum and metepimeron; small- er spots and patches of tomentum also on 7 th abdominal sternite, femoral and coxal bases; mesosternal lobe minute and rounded, not protruding; metasternal lobe concave and bell-shaped, with median sulcus narrow and shallow; very fine round punctures scattered across entire surface, becoming larger and more densely spaced towards margins; very short brownish setae along margins of metasternum and abdominal ventrites ( Fig. 13 B View Fig ).
Aedeagus. Dorsal lobes wide and compact, tapering very gradually towards apex; slightly diverging at centre and converging but not overlapping at apex ( Fig. 13 F View Fig ); perfectly rounded dorsally and sharply pointed at apex in lateral view ( Fig. 13 G View Fig ).
Derivatio nominis. This species is named after the striking tomentose ornamentation of its general body surface.
Distribution. The species is currently known from the Centre Region of Cameroon and from the southern part of Congo-Brazzaville ( Fig. 15 View Fig ).
Remarks. Specimen size ranges from 18.3-19.1 mm (TL) to 10.6-10.9 mm (MW). The four type specimens currently known are virtually identical in general habitus. The female is slightly smaller in size than the male and exhibits wider tomentose areas on the sides of each abdominal ventrites ( Fig. 14 View Fig ). Data accompanying one of the female specimens indicate that it was found in an anthill (“Fourmiliere”).
| MNHN |
Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle |
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.