Heteropsis oberthueri Lees, sp. nov.
Creators: name: C, Lees David
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Nymphalidae
Heteropsis
Heteropsis oberthueri

description: Heteropsis oberthueri Lees, sp. nov.
LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FEE8CA6F-A53B-43A5-8C9F-E5D69AD0E468
Prior references: sp. 89, sp. 87 (on some envelopes). “KA518_Heteopsis_ anceps ” [sic] in Aduse-Poku et al., (2015, Fig. 1).
Type material. Deposition BMNH: Holotype: ♂ (Fig. 24 D), Madagascar E, Zahamena NW, 17.5131o S, 48.7269o E +/- 1.5 km, 1064 +/- 25 m, 5/11/2006, D.C. Lees: DL 06-064, G04 [leg for DNA], NHMUK 010289159 [QTR barcode].
Paratypes: Deposition BMHN: ♂, Madagascar E, Ambavala camp, Zahamena, 17.5451o S, 48.7237o E +/- 0.5 km, 1300 +/- 50 m, 6/11/2006, 13:10, D.C. Lees: DL 06-130A, NHMUK 010289160 [QTR barcode]; ♀ (Fig. 24 E), E, Zahamena NW, 17.5376o S, 48.71965o E +/- 0.94 km, 1180 +/- 125 m, 6/11/2006, D.C. Lees: DL 06-130, IA585 [isotope voucher], NHMUK 010289161 [QTR barcode]; ♂, E, Zahamena NW, 17.5376o S, 48.71965o E +/- 0.94 km, 1180 +/- 125 m, 6/11/2006, D.C. Lees: 371 DL, NHMUK 010289192 [QTR barcode]; ♂, E, Zahamena NW, 17.53o S, 48.7269o E +/- 1.5 km, 1064 +/- 25 m, 6/11/2006, D.C. Lees: DL 06-086, IA586 [isotope voucher], NHMUK 010289162 [QTR barcode]; ♂, E, Zahamena NW, 17.5376o S, 48.71965o E +/- 0.94 km, 1180 +/- 125 m, 6- 7/11/2006, D.C. Lees: DL 06-1001, IA324 [isotope voucher], NHMUK 010289163 [QTR barcode]; ♀, E, Zahamena NW, 17.5376o S, 48.71965o E +/- 0.94 km, 1180 +/- 125 m, 6/11/2006, 11:30, D.C. Lees: DL 06-112, IA587 [isotope voucher], NHMUK 010289164 [QTR barcode]; ♀, E, Towards Ambavala camp, Zahamena, 17.5376o S, 48.71965o E +/- 0.94 km, 1180 +/- 125 m, 6/11/2006, D.C. Lees: DL 06-141, IA588 [isotope voucher], NHMUK 010289165 [QTR barcode]; ♀, E, returning to Bemoara camp, Zahamena, 17.5356o S, 48.71875o E +/- 0.70 km, 1180 +/- 100 m, 5/11/2006, 14:59, D.C. Lees: DL 06-059, IA589 [isotope voucher], NHMUK 010289166 [QTR barcode];
Deposition MNHN: ♂, Madagascar E, Ambavala, Zahamena NW, 17.5451o S, 48.7237o E +/- 0.25 km, 1325 +/ - 50 m, 6/11/2006, 14:11, D.C. Lees: DL06-117, IA584 [isotope voucher], DSC03096.jpg [image];
Deposition ABRI: ♂, Madagascar E, Zahamena NW, 17.5376o S, 48.71965o E +/- 0.94 km, 1180 +/- 125 m, 6/ 11/2006, D.C. Lees: DL06-121.
Deposition summary: BMNH (HT ♂, 4 PT ♂♂, 4 PT ♀♀), MNHN (PT ♂), ABRI (PT ♂).
Type locality. NW Zahamena, 17.5131o S, 48.7269o E +/- 1.5 km, 1064 +/- 25 m.
Diagnosis. The species is particularly similar to Ht. tianae described above and in fact few obvious distinguishing features are apparent that are likely to distinguish all examples, but that species is however allopatric, only known from the Angavo massif, and on average, the HWV Mb of Ht. oberthueri is relatively straight and there is usually no space-M3 ocellus expressed on the HWD (Fig. 24 D–E). The wings have a slightly greyer cast. Ht. oberthueri also strongly resembles Ht. andasibe. It can be distinguished from that last species (which has slightly more conspicuous white spots on the ventral wing surfaces) by the less straight, usually more evenly outangled HWV Mb at space M 2 in Ht. andasibe (Fig. 22 C), and from more yellowish lowland Ht. strigula which have a conspicuous orange crescent on the HWD, and from Ht. ankova which is smaller and has ocellus space-M3 as well as in space-CuA1 expressed on the HWD (Fig. 19 C). The ventrally very similar Ht. roussettae has a strong tendency to expression of a small ocellus M3 on the HWD (Fig. 22 A–B). The potentially sympatric (in ‘Antsianaka’ region) Ht. anceps has a relatively straight HWV Mb and a yellowish ventral cast with sparse light brown irroration and a distinct black ventral androconial patch on the ♂ sternal abdomen (Fig. 22 D). The ♂ genitalia are similar to those of Ht. tianae, differing by the more strongly inpointed subterminal spine on the valve and the terminal head covered in spinoid setae being enlarged. They also differ from the potentially sympatric Ht. anceps (Oberthür, 1916), being smaller and with a narrower distal valve tip (Lees, 1997: 107). DNA differences separating Ht. oberthueri from Ht. tianae are indicated by Aduse-Poku et al., (2016, in press). See below regarding male genitalia.
Description. Wings: description is similar to that of Ht. tianae. Upperside uniform mid brown, with FW space-CuA1 ocellus featuring an orange ocellus ‘ring’ which is sometimes rather ‘squashed’ along the diagonal from mid-costa to tergal angle. FWD space-M1 ocellus small with narrow orange ring. HWD space-CuA1 ocellus is the only one expressed there and is somewhat elliptic, with a narrow orange ring. Darkish brown, diffuse, slightly wavy and uprecurved hair-brush emanates mainly from below vein 1A+2A, as far as mid-vein. Underside greyish brown, similar to Ht. tianae, rather more uniform and less strongly irrorated than in many Heteropsis, rather uniformly irrorated brown and ochreous brown. Space-CuA1 ocellus with orange ring yellowing proximad, following darkish brown concave curve of Mb before it bends back to mid-costa. Space-M1 ocellus FWV a white pupil in HT. On HWV, space-CuA1 ocellus small and slightly elliptic with narrow black iris, also without orange ring trace. HWV space-Rs-M2 ocelli as white pupil-points and space-CuA2 ocellus hardly expressed in HT. HWV Mb darkish brown and fairly straight but minutely irregular, only gently curving, with very small yellow Mf distad of it in space-M2. FWV cell area with four darker brown rather equally spaced transverse Cbs. Basal areas not much darker than areas distad of Mb, and darker brown PMb weakly represented. Variation. ♂♂ similar to each other, but seasonal variation unknown as the entire type series was taken in a few days in early November. Space- M1 ocellus FWV sometimes features a narrow black iris and space-M2 sometimes just as a white pupil without narrow black iris nor trace of orange ring. Space-CuA2 ocellus HWV slightly expressed in some specimens. ♀♀ similar in pattern, but larger and somewhat lighter dorsally with a more rounded HW shape.
Wingspan/fwl: range 31.2–35.5 mm./17.0– 18.79 mm (n=6 ♂♂), mean= 33.8+/ 1.44 SD/17.87 +/- 0.54 SD mm (n= 6 ♂♂), including HT ♂ 32.4/ 18.79 mm. Range 34.0–39.7/17.8–20.0 mm (n=4 ♀♀), mean = 36.2 +/- 3.03 SD/18.75 +/- 1 SD mm (n=4 ♀♀).
Androconia: HWD vein 1A+2A has a narrowly tapered inflation and 3A is much more swollen distad, from base to mid-vein, covered in thin grey-brown scales. The length of HW veins M2, M3, CuA1 and CuA2 are also narrowly inflated, and have specialized scales on the dorsal surface. Abdominal black androconia are just visible ventro-laterally around A4–A5. HWD discocellular brush dark brown. Sdp HWD grey, small, lenticular, composed of narrow grey scales).
Palps: penultimate segment with narrow brown medial strip, flanked by yellow more towards where labial palp potentially wipes compound eye and fringed by dark brown scales, with yellow scales mainly on mesad face, brown inside towards tip.
♂ genitalia: 371 DL (Fig. 25 B, PT): description more or less as for Ht. tianae: from LV, uncus very slightly proud of dorsal curve of tegumen (which has a small proximad notch from DV) and slightly longer than it, fairly straight and parallel-sided to hook without a distinct ‘head’ towards tip (inflated from DV before tip), fairly narrow at hinge with vinculum. Valve without prominent dorsal ‘shoulder’. Valve arm with fairly short ‘neck’ and slight club at tip covered in spinoid setae (its crest particularly raised from DV), with distinct ‘beak’ oriented towards uncus and slightly mesad, with none of valve tip proud of uncus. Gnathos from rather small base with deepened (although not ear-like structure) near base, recurved downwards at tapered tip (appearing sinuate from DV and slightly inrecurved at pointed tip). Saccus not very long and parallel sided, aedeagus slightly shorter than valve and quite recurved, both towards and away from ostium, also proximally uprecurved. ♂ genitalia different from those of potentially sympatric (Ht. anceps (Oberthür, 1916)), which are larger and with broader distal valve tip (Lees, 1997: 107).
Etymology. after Charles Oberthür, who in 1916 produced one of the first treatments, a seminal work on the Malagasy Mycalesina.
Discussion. No historical material has been found in museums. The species was first found in the field during an expedition to northwest RNI Zahamena in November 2006, where it was hoped to rediscover Ht. anceps. The STs of the similar species Culapa antsianakana Oberthür, 1916 and of Culapa anceps Oberthür, 1916 (LT ♂ designated above under Ht. roussettae) were examined but the species strongly resembles Ht. tianae (see above).
Additional information. DNA divergences: COI-5P cluster number BOLD:ACW4996 (exemplar BMAD242-15, DL06-11), about 2.58% divergent to Ht. tianae (BOLD:AAE4112, exemplar BMAD200-15, DL14Z-051).
Phylogeny/sister species: this species was not known at the time of Lees (1997). Closely related to Ht. tianae (sister in Aduse-Poku et al., 2016, in press). which it closely resembles, and based on the close relationship of the COI-5P barcode.
Ecology and distribution.
Habitat: primary rainforest.
Behaviour: flies low.
Hostplant: unknown, but likely to be low-growing grasses.
Early stages: unknown.
Distribution: as far as is known, endemic to RNI Zahamena (Fig. 30 C, brown dots).
Elevational range: 1180–1310 m. (n=27, including referred specimens).
Referred specimens. ♀, Madagascar E, returning to Bemoara camp, Zahamena, 17.5376o S, 48.71965o E +/- 0.94 km, 1180 +/- 125 m, 5/11/2006, D.C. Lees: DL 06-060, G03 [leg for DNA]; specimen, data as above but: DL 06-066; specimen, data as above but: DL 06-067; ♀, E, Zahamena NW, 17.5131o S, 48.7269o E +/- 1.5 km, 1064 +/- 25 m, 5/11/2006, D.C. Lees: DL 06-061; ♂, E, Zahamena NW, 17.53o S, 48.7269o E +/- 1.5 km, 1064 +/- 25 m, 6/ 11/2006, D.C. Lees: DL 06-070; ♂, data as above but: DL 06-118, BMAD 242-15 [DNA barcode]; ♀, E, just above cascade, Zahamena NW, 17.5376o S, 48.71965o E +/- 0.94 km, 1180 +/- 125 m, 6/11/2006: 15:29, D.C. Lees: DL 06- 084; ♂, data as above but [without time]: DL 06-132, DSC _0825 [photo]; ♀, data as above but: DL 06-119, IA432 [isotope voucher], KAP518 [=KA-P518; extract number, sequenced specimen in Aduse-Poku et al., 2015, mislabelled as Heteropsis anceps); ♀, data as above but: DL 06-124; ♂, E, Ambavala camp, Zahamena, 17.5451o S, 48.7237o E +/- 0.5 km, 1300 +/- 50 m, 6/11/2006, 13:23, D.C. Lees: DL 06-126; ♂, data as above but: 13:16, D.C. Lees: DL 06-127; ♂, E, Ankosy summit, Zahamena, 17.4946o S, 48.733o E +/- 1 km, 1321 m, 7/11/2006, 10:37, D.C. Lees: DL 06-156; ♂, E, near Ankosy summit, Zahamena, 17.49405o S, 48.73325o E +/- 0.067 km, 1300 +/- 25 m, 7/ 11/2006, D.C. Lees: DL 06-188; ♀, E, Zahamena, 17.5131o S, 48.7269o E +/- 1.5 km, 1064 +/- 25 m, 6/11/2006, D.C. Lees: DL 06-67, IA69 [isotope voucher]; ♂, E, Zahamena NW, 17.4946o S, 48.733o E +/- 1 km, 1321 +/- 25 m, 6/11/ 2006, D.C. Lees: 364 DL [genitalia voucher], IA29 [isotope voucher], leg sample [KAP].
description: Published as part of C, Lees David, 2016, Heteropsis (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae: Satyrini: Mycalesina): 19 new species from Madagascar and interim revision, pp. 1-97 in Zootaxa 4118 (1) on pages 83-85, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4118.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/264597