Amazonopsis, an unusual new genus of riffle beetle from South America with two new species (Coleoptera, Elmidae, Elminae)

By

Barr, Cheryl B

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2018

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

803

Pages

71-92

Subjects

Aquatic beetles , French Guiana , Neotropics , peri-Amazonian , Peru , sexual dimorphism , taxonomy , Venezuela

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.803.28124

 

Abstract

Amazonopsisgen. n.is described to includeA.theranyisp. n.from Peru, Venezuela and French Guiana, andA.camachoisp. n.from Venezuela. The descriptions are accompanied by figures illustrating the male and female habitus ofA.theranyi, the male habitus ofA.camachoi, and male genitalia of both species.Amazonopsistheranyiexhibits pronounced secondary sexual dimorphism which likewise may be a characteristic of the genus.Amazonopsismales have modified protarsal and mesotarsal claws, a pair of small spines on the anterior prosternum, and a pair of ventrally directed processes on the posterior metaventrite. Females ofA.theranyidisplay a pair of unique, oval perforations in the cuticle of the pronotum and have unmodified claws; females ofA.camachoiare unknown. Descriptions are furnished of the stream habitats and microhabitats where the study specimens were collected.