Malagasyprinus, a new genus of the Saprininae from Madagascar with description of two new species (Coleoptera, Histeridae, Saprininae) (First contribution to the knowledge of the Histeridae of Madagascar)

Abstract

Based on the results of recent phylogenetic analysis of the higher taxa of the Saprininae as well as external morphological characters, especially the presence of deep and large prosternal foveae, and the shape and position of the sensory organs of the antennal club, the species Saprinus (s.str.) caeruleatus Lewis, 1905 is excluded from the genus Saprinus and a new genus Malagasyprinus, exclusive to Madagascar, is established for it. The new genus shows mainly characters that are apomorphic for the subfamily and contains another two, highly similar allopatric species Malagasyprinus perrieri sp. n., and Malagasyprinus diana sp. n., described herein. The three species are best separated from each other by the structure of the prosternum and male terminalia, especially the shape of the aedeagus. We re-describe Malagasyprinus caeruleatus comb. n. and provide Malagasyprinus perrieri and Malagasyprinus diana with brief differential diagnoses. All taxon descriptions are accompanied with color habitat photographs, SEM micrographs and drawings of their male genitalia. A key to the species of Malagasyprinus is given. Sensory structures of the antenna of Malagasyprinus caeruleatus comb. n. are likewise depicted herein. The systematic position of the newly erected genus is discussed. A lectotype of Saprinus caeruleatus Lewis, 1905 is designated.

A monograph of the Australopacific Saprininae (Coleoptera, Histeridae)

“…This work presents another contribution to on-going revisionary work on the genera of the subfamily Saprininae by the first author (Lackner 2009a, b, c, 2010, 2011a, b; Lackner 2012; Lackner 2013a,b,c; Lackner 2014a,b,c,d; Lackner 2015; Lackner 2016a,b; Tishechkin and Lackner 2012; Lackner and Gomy 2013; Lackner and Tishechkin 2014; Lackner and Gomy 2016; Lackner 2017). …”

Phylogeny of the Saprininae reveals interesting ecological shifts in the history of the subfamily (Coleoptera: Histeridae)

“…With more than 620 described species worldwide, the Saprininae represent the second largest subfamily of the family Histeridae, after the Histerinae (Mazur, ). Currently, there are 63 recognized genera and subgenera of the Saprininae worldwide (see Lackner, , , c and Lackner & Gomy for details). The zoogeographical distribution of the Saprininae genera and subgenera around the world is shown in Figure .…”

“…Olexa () tried to disentangle the relationships of the Philothis complex of genera based on morphology alone, albeit without using a cladistic method. More serious studies on the phylogeny of the subfamily have been conducted only recently: Lackner () discussed the monophyly of psammophily of the Palaearctic higher taxa and offered some pointers for future research, and the first phylogeny‐based discussions were included in papers by Lackner (, c) and Lackner & Gomy (). Work dealing with the higher classification of the subfamily Saprininae using cladistic methods has therefore been long overdue.…”

Satrapister nitens Bickhardt, 1912: redescription and tentative phylogenetic placement of a mysterious taxon (Coleoptera, Histeridae, Saprininae)

“…In this paper the taxon is redescribed based on the type material as well as three newly discovered specimens from Peru, and complement the redescription with habitus images and drawings of the sensory organ of the antennal club and male genitalia. This work presents another contribution to my on-going revisionary work on the genera of the subfamily Saprininae (Lackner 2009a(Lackner -c, 2010(Lackner , 2011aLackner 2012;Lackner 2013a,b,c;Lackner and Gomy 2013;Lackner 2014a,b,c,d;Lackner 2015;Lackner and Tishechkin 2014;Tishechkin and Lackner 2012).…”