Digitonthophagus aksumensis Genier, new species
Creators: name: Génier, François
name: Moretto, Philippe
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Scarabaeidae
Digitonthophagus
Digitonthophagus aksumensis

description: Digitonthophagus aksumensis Génier, new species
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2316941C-3BDF-4900-9212-25C83F5AC88F (Figs. 17, 43–44, 65, 81, 107–108, 129, 165–167, 184; Map 12)
Type locality. Obock, Colonie française des Somalies [= Djibouti].
Diagnosis. Male cephalic horns lacking granules internally at apex (Fig. 44); FLP sclerite apical portion rather large, obliquely oriented and tapering to apex (Fig. 165–166); males with pronotal anterior angles surface convex, simply round anteriorly (Fig. 43); FLP sclerite ventral portion with two carinae (Fig. 167); SA sclerite apex approximately in line with apex of apical portion of FLP sclerite (Figs. 165–166).
Description. Holotype ♂ (Fig. 17). Measurements. Length 11.0 mm, width 6.5 mm. Head (Figs. 43–44). Anterior clypeal edge straight on median fifth in dorsal view; clypeofrontal carina broadly arcuate and interrupted at gena; vertex lacking median tubercle, surface with punctures fine to small, separated by one to four diameters. Horns rather short, slightly divergent in frontal view, gradually tapering from base to apex; posterointernal edge produced into an low, angular projection basally; apicointernal surface lacking granules; genal edge upturned and distinctly angulate on anterior third, forming a distinct angle with clypeal edge. Pronotum (Fig. 65). Surface with granulate punctures restricted to anterior half medially, with distinct umbilicate punctures on posterior half of disc; punctures weaker but distinct posterolaterally with distinct, minute punctures throughout. Anteromedian tubercle atrophied, forming an obtuse angle in lateral view, median longitudinal sulcus weakly-defined; surface behind the eyes with a simple round depression, surface of anterior angles convex; anterior half of lateral edge arcuate in dorsal and lateral view; posterior angles slightly upturned and simply arcuate in dorsal view. Anterior hypomeral ridge arcuate, anterior hypomeral depression slightly darker in color medially. Elytra (Fig. 17). Intervals 2 and 4 lacking fine granules from base to apex. Legs. Protibial apicointernal tooth enlarged, with dorsal ridge extending to apex. Aedeagus (Fig. 129). Parameres with dorsal and ventral edges slightly diverging toward apex in lateral view. Internal sac sclerites (Figs. 165–167). Axial sclerite weekly sclerotized, reduced in size and almost straight. Subaxial sclerite, large basally and abruptly reduced, extending straight approximately in line with apex of frontolateral peripheral sclerite apical portion, with fine and scattered villi. Frontolateral peripheral sclerite basoventral apophysis well developed; two medioventral carinae present; right lateral fold produced into a rather large everted and open apically conical process with irregular apical edge; left lateral lobe membranous, slightly developed; subapicodorsal lobe membranous not reaching anterior edge, apex set on left side in dorsal view; apical lobe tapering into a point and directed obliquely on left side, apical villi regular in shape; subapicoventral lobe acute and in line with apical lobe apically.
Variation. Measurements (86 ♂♂, 69 ♀♀). Length: male 6.5–11.5 mm (10.1 ± 1.0 mm), female 7.0–11.0 mm (9.6 ± 0.9 mm). Female allotype. Cephalic outline in dorsal view as in Fig. 81; vertex with a straight, transverse carina, dorsal edge broadly arcuate in frontal view, lateral portion gradually sloping down; anterior pronotal tubercles atrophied, external lateral edges parallel sided, anterolateral surface simply convex, anterosuperior edge slightly arcuate in dorsal view (Fig. 107), lateral portions of anterosuperior edge slightly upturned (Fig. 108). Protibia short, with external teeth more robust.
Primary type data. Holotype ♂ (MNHN): [C. FR. Des SOMALIES / Obock] handwritten; [MUSÉUM PARIS / 1918 / Dr. Yousseaume] partly handwritten on blue card; [WORLD / SCARAB. / DATABASE / WSD00029901]; [HOLOTYPE ♂ / Digitonthophagus / aksumensis n.sp. / des. F. Génier, 2016] red card.
MAP 12. Distribution of Digitonthophagus aksumensis.
Material examined (92 ♂♂, 74 ♀♀), distribution (Map 12): DJIBOUTI: ARTA, Grand Bara (11°16'N, 42°39'E), 22.xii.1989, [anonymous] —1 ♂ (paratype) (CMD); Grand Bara (11°16'N, 42°39'E), 24.v.1991, G. Nazaret— 4 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂ (6 paratypes) (CMD); DJIBOUTI, Ambouli (11°33'13''N, 43°9'31''E), v.1990, G. Nazaret— 3 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂ (6 paratypes) (CMD); Ambouli (11°33'13''N, 43°9'31''E), 9.xi.1972, Mission Balachowsky-Menier— 1 ♀, 3 ♂♂ (4 paratypes) (MNHN); Ambouli (11°33'13''N, 43°9'31''E), 15.ii.1990, G. Nazaret— 4 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂ (8 paratypes) (PMOC); Ambouli (11°33'13''N, 43°9'31''E), 21.ii.1990, G. Nazaret— 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂ (4 paratypes) (CMD); Ambouli (11°33'13''N, 43°9'31''E), 12.i.1992, G. Nazaret— 2 ♂♂ (2 paratypes) (CMD); Ambouli (11°33'13''N, 43°9'31''E), 12.i.1992, [anonymous]—1 ♂ (paratype) (PCSR); Djibouti (11°35'N, 43°9'E), vii.1897, Jousseaume— 6 ♀♀, 7 ♂♂ (13 paratypes) (MNHN); Djibouti (11°35'N, 43°9'E), 1897, H. Coutière— 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (MNHN); Djibouti (11°35'N, 43°9'E), [no date], [anonymous]— 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (MNHN); OBOCK, Obock (11°58'N, 43°17'E), 1918, Dr. Yousseaume— 3 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂ (holotype, allotype, 5 paratypes) (MNHN); Obock (11°58'N, 43°17'E), [no date], Faurot— 1 ♀ (paratype) (MNHN); Obock (11°58'N, 43°17'E), 1893, Maindron— 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (MNHN); ERITREA: SEMENAWI-KEYIH-BAHRI, Massawa (15°36'35''N, 39°27'0''E), [no date], [anonymous]— 1 ♂ (paratype) (BMNH); ETHIOPIA: DIRE DAWA, Dire Dawa (9°36'N, 41°51'E), ix.1935, H. Ulenhuth— 1 ♀, 2 ♂♂ (3 paratypes) (BMNH); Dire Dawa (9°36'N, 41°51'E), 1936, [anonymous] — 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (MNHN); Dire Dawa (9°36'N, 41°51'E), 1935, [anonymous] — 1 ♀ (paratype) (MNHN); OROMIA, 23 km NEE Welenchiti (8°46'N, 39°36'E), 29.iv.2013, [anonymous] — 1 ♂ (paratype) (CMD); 30 km SW Awash (8°54'N, 39°56'E), 29–30.iv.2013, I. Martinu—1 ♂ (paratype) (JFJC); SOMALI, Adigala (10°25'35''N, 42°14'25''E), [no date], Dr. Martin— 2 ♂♂ (2 paratypes) (MNHN); Dewele (11°2'5''N, 42°37'53''E), [no date], Dr. Martin— 1 ♂ (paratype) (MNHN); Lassarat (10°39'52''N, 42°27'21''E), [no date], Dr. Martin— 2 ♀♀, 7 ♂♂ (9 paratypes) (MNHN); SAUDI ARABIA: Hedjaz (24°30'N, 38°30'E), [no date], [anonymous]— 1 ♀, 2 ♂♂ (3 paratypes) (MNHN); [unspecified locality], [no date], [anonymous] —1 ♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (MNHN); ASEER, 35 km N Mahayl [=Muhayil] (18°50'N, 41°58'E), 7.xi.1982, A.R. Pittaway— 1 ♂ (paratype) (OUMNH); Muhayl [=Muhayil] (18°32'40''N, 42°3'3''E), 8.i.1983, A.R. Pittaway— 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (OUMNH); MAKKAH, Lith, 10 mi. inland (20°9'N, 40°16'E), i.1945, B.P. Uvarov— 1 ♂ (paratype) (BMNH); Wadi Jizan (21°37'N, 39°10'E), 18.iii.1978, Filipponi— 1 ♂ (paratype) (FETC); Wadi Jizan (21°37'N, 39°10'E), 26.iii.1978, Filipponi— 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (FETC); Wadi Jizan (21°37'N, 39°10'E), 6.viii.1978, Filipponi— 1 ♂ (paratype) (FETC); Wadi Jizan (21°37'N, 39°10'E), 11.viii.1978, Filipponi— 2 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂ (8 paratypes) (FETC); Wadi Jizan (21°37'N, 39°10'E), 14.viii.1978, Filipponi— 7 ♀♀, 7 ♂♂ (14 paratypes) (FETC); Wadi Jizan (21°37'N, 39°10'E), 18.viii.1978, Filipponi— 7 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂ (9 paratypes) (FETC); Wadi Jizan (21°37'N, 39°10'E), 24.viii.1978, Filipponi— 1 ♂ (paratype) (FETC); Wadi Jizan (21°37'N, 39°10'E), 30.xi.1978, Filipponi— 1 ♀, 2 ♂♂ (3 paratypes) (FETC); MINTAQAT MAKKAH, 12 mi. N Jidda [=Jeddah] (21°38'15''N, 39°13'35''E), 4.xii.1944, A.R. Waterston— 1 ♂ (paratype) (BMNH); SOMALIA: Dolphin Bay, 22.iii.1903, M. Cameron— 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (BMNH); SUDAN: KHARTOUM, Environs de Khartoum (15°35'N, 32°32'E), [no date], [anonymous]— 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (MNHN); Khartoum (15°35'N, 32°32'E), 18.i.1904, Zaphiro— 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (BMNH); RED SEA, Khor Arbaat Delta (20°1'N, 37°8'E), iv–v.1926, H.B. Johnston—1 ♂ (paratype) (BMNH); Tokar (18°26'N, 37°44'E), 1914, H.W. Bedford— 1 ♂ (paratype) (BMNH); YEMEN: [unspecified locality] (14°14'N, 44°29'E), [no date], Mellingen— 3 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂ (5 paratypes) (BMNH); [unspecified locality] (14°14'N, 44°29'E), [no date], [anonymous]—2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (MNHN); ADEN, Aden (12°45'56''N, 45°1'1''E), [no date], [anonymous] —2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (BMNH); Aden (12°45'56''N, 45°1'1''E), [no date], C. Pérez— 4 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂ (8 paratypes) (MNHN); AL HUDAYDAH, Kamaran Island (15°20'N, 42°35'E), 24.xii.1902, M. Cameron— 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (BMNH); Lahij, Lahij (13°3'N, 44°53'E), [no date], Dodson— 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (MNHN); TA’IZZ, Taizz (13°34'N, 44°2'E), xi.1975, N. Hadi— 1 ♂ (paratype) (BMNH).
Etymology. Derived from Aksum, a historical kingdom approximately corresponding to the distribution of the species.
Natural history. Unknown except for two specimens collected from camel dung and five specimens collected at light.
Remarks. The Egyptian records for D. gazella from Quena in the Nil Valley (Alfieri 1976) presumably refer to this species.
description: Published as part of Génier, François & Moretto, Philippe, 2017, Digitonthophagus Balthasar, 1959: taxonomy, systematics, and morphological phylogeny of the genus revealing an African species complex (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), pp. 1-110 in Zootaxa 4248 (1) on pages 57-59, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.439444