Genome sequencing reveals extraordinary cephalic horns in the Madagascan dung beetle genus Helictopleurus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeinae): insight from a revision of fungicola species group

By

Rossini, Michele
Montreuil, Olivier
Grebennikov, Vasily
Tarasov, Sergey

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2021

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1033

Pages

63--79

Subjects

dung beetles , fungicola species group , Heterosyphus , Madagascar , male horns , mitogenomics , Scarabaeinae

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1033.63527

 

Abstract

In this study, we test and corroborate the phylogenetic position ofHeterosyphuswithinHelictopleurususing mitogenomes and nuclear loci. Our recent samplings revealed that males of the formerHeterosyphus sicardiPaulian, 1975 (today underHelictopleurusd’Orbigny, 1915) have extraordinary bilateral clypeal horns which are exclusive within the genus. We provide a taxonomic review of thefungicolaspecies group ofHelictopleurusand discuss the systematic position ofH. sicardiwithin the group. The male phenotype ofH. sicardiis described and photographs of the body and genitalia of the members of thefungicolagroup are given, as well as a diagnostic key to species of the group.Helictopleurus fungicola peyrierasiis considered to be a distinct species within the genus (H. peyrierasistat. rest.).Helictopleurus pluristriatusd’Orbigny, 1915syn. nov.is established as a junior synonym ofH. fungicola(Fairmaire, 1899).