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

description: Heteropsis roussettae Lees & Kremen, sp. nov.
LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7F5B27F5-6625-4B55-83D8-B92869CF1545
Prior references: sp. 26 (Lees, 1997).
Type material., Deposition BMNH: Holotype: ♂ (Fig. 22 A): ♂, Madagascar, Montagne d'Ambre, 12.5262o S, 49.1710o E, 1060 m, forestry station, GPS point AMBRE-2 [used max] 20/2/1992, C.Kremen: CK840, IA314 [isotope voucher], NHMUK 010289154 [QTR barcode].
Paratypes: Deposition BMNH: ♂, Madagascar, Montagne d'Ambre, 12.525o S, 49.1722o E +/- 5 km, 900 +/- 50 m, 16/1/1995, D.C. Lees: DLMDA 95-0002, IA362 [isotope voucher], DCLW _0085 [wing prep.], KA2068, KA4085 [=KA-P2068, KA-P4085 [extract numbers], NHMUK 010289155 [QTR barcode]; ♂, N, Montagne d'Ambre, 900 m, 12.525o S, 49.1722o E +/- 5 km, 900 +/- 50 m, 16/1/1995, D.C. Lees: DLMDA 95-0003, KAP18 [=KA-P18; DNA extract number], IA316 [isotope voucher], NHMUK 010289156 [QTR barcode]; ♀ (Fig. 22 B), Madagascar N, Montagne d'Ambre, tourist campsite, c. 1000 m, 12.5268o S, 49.1721o E +/- 0.15 km, 1055 +/- 50 m, 14/1/1995, D.C. Lees: KAP17 [=KA-P17; DNA extract number], DLMDA 95-0004; IA315 [isotope sample], NHMUK 010289157 [QTR barcode]; ♂, N, Montagne d'Ambre [12.5253o S, 49.1483o E +/- 2.47 km, 1185 +/- 115 m], 20/2/1992, C. Kremen: CK92-0002, NHMUK 010289188 [QTR barcode]; ♂ (Fig. 23 A), Madagascar N, Montagne d'Ambre, W of divide, 1080 m, [12.5253o S, 49.1483o E +/- 2.47 km, 1185 +/- 115 m], 20/2/1992, C. Kremen: CK92-0003, 33 DL [genitalia], NHMUK 010289189 [QTR barcode]; ♂, N, Montagne d’Ambre, vers premier petit sommet, route GCASC->Gite, 12.59435o S, 49.1583o E +/- 0.26 km, 872 +/- 25 m, 17/11/2004, R. Ranaivosolo: DL-05-122, BMNH (E) #671644 [DNA voucher; FJ 819174, 357 bp cytochrome b];
Deposition PBZT: ♂ [PBZT], 9/12/1958, Madagascar Nord, Montagne d'Ambre, Les Roussettes, 1100 m, IX & XII-58 A. Robinson.
Deposition summary: BMNH (HT ♂, 5 PT ♂♂, 1 PT ♀); PBZT (PT ♂).
Type locality. Montagne d'Ambre, ‘Les Roussettes’, 12.5262o S, 49.1710 o E, 1060 m.
Diagnosis. With a white point emphasised in space-M2 and often M3 of the FW and in M1-M 3 in the HWV, Ht. roussettae looks very like Ht. andasibe. It is however allopatric to Ht. andasibe, as far as known confined to the northern rainforest of Montagne d’Ambre, and likewise it is allopatric to Ht. anceps (Oberthür, 1916), Ht. tianae and Ht. oberthueri sp. nov., which like Ht. andasibe are distributed at more central latitudes of the eastern rainforests. Ht. roussettae has a smoother outcurve to the HWV Mb than those species at M3, and in known material there is a strong tendency to expression of an ocellus, albeit small, in space-M3 on the HWD (Fig. 22 A- B); these features distinguish it from the other four generally similar species. In the ♂ genitalia from LV, compared to Ht. andasibe, the tegumen has a relatively straight dorsal edge (and wide and shallow proximad notch from DV), appearing quite extended proximad and the uncus tip extends towards or slightly beyond maximum extension (distad lobe) of valve tips; the reliability of these distinguishing features is unknown. The HWV has a relatively straight Mb (compared to Ht. strigula (Mabille, 1877) and to Ht. ankova, where it is outangled at M2), and this characteristic is similar to Ht. anceps and the light orange Ht. menamenoides described above, distinguishing it strongly from members of the Ht. angulifascia clade (Ht. strigula group).
Description. Wings: Upperside uniform dark brown. FW space-CuA1 ocellus with black iris spanning veins CuA1 and CuA2; Orng not perfectly circular, tending to be angled towards base of vein CuA1. FW space-M1 ocellus small, with faint orange ring; M2 ocellus white pupil only evident. In HW, space-CuA1 ocellus elliptic, with narrow dark orange ring, spanning about 1/3 of vein CuA1-CuA2 distance; space-M3 ocellus expressed (unusually for a member of the Ht. strigula group), but smaller, less elliptic. White pupils as points only, in HW spaces-M1-M3 particularly. Underside has ochreous-olive brown cast. FW space-CuA1 ocellus with orange ring that is yellower towards costa tending to be blocked by vein M3, and forming Ore that follows concave curve of dark brown FWV Mb, which as usual curves back towards mid costa. Background colour is slightly yellower olivebrown distad of Mb. Mb in HW relatively straight, as in Ht. menamenoides, and there is a distinct dark brownish convex PMb. Fine irroration of small darker brown line fragments throughout wing and concentrated in basal area, with Cbs on FW comprising two sets of approximately parallel transverse lines in the FW cell area. Very wavy darker diffuse brown line runs submarginally in both wings especially FW (somewhat toothed outward at each vein) and narrow darker brown line tracks wing margin, which is fairly smooth, only very slightly crenate. Variation. ♂♂ similar to each other, but seasonal variation has not been quantified. ♀♀ similar in pattern, but larger and somewhat lighter dorsally with a more rounded HW shape.
Wingspan/fwl: range 39.4–40 mm (n=2 ♂♂)/ 19.7–21.7 mm (n=3 ♂♂), including HT ♂ 40/ 22 mm; 40/ 20.89 mm (n=1 ♀).
Androconia. Aside from Sdb, dark dispersed Cub consists of brownish hairs emanating from above 1A+2A and 3A that may contact a blackish patch of specialized scales located on abdominal sternite A3–A5 (Lees, 1997: 99, Fig. 5). Note that an androconial abdominal patch in this position is not very evident, and does not appear distinctly from superficial examination. The cubital/anal brush(es) partially overlie two ‘balloon’ inflations (swellings) terminating around mid-vein in 1A+2A and 3A, tapering towards base, covered in very small thin grey scales, that in 3A are rather larger than that in 1A+2A (Lees 1997: 96, Fig. 3 A).
Palps: penultimate segment with medial narrow brown strip, flanked by yellowish scales, and fringed with browner scales; yellowish scales prominent on mesad face of labial palp.
♂ genitalia: 33DL (Fig. 23 A, PT): from LV, very similar to Ht. andasibe (as “ antsianakana ” in Lees 1997: 107, Figure 7 g), but tegumen, which has fairly straight dorsal edge (and wide and shallow proximad notch from DV), appears quite extended proximad from LV and uncus tip extends towards or slightly beyond maximum extension (the distad lobe) of valve tip. Uncus slightly longer than tegumen and parallel sided from LV with distinct dorsal ‘head’ at tip; slightly inflated before tip from DV. Valves stout and asymmetric at base which also has a small and gently curved ‘shoulder’; dorsal valve margin is the much more recurved one, with a recurved spine facing proximad/mesad. As in Ht. andasibe, the shallowly bifid ends of valves impart a somewhat ‘crab pincer’-like appearance, heavily armed with spinoid setae along wide, uncus-facing margin. Saccus not long and aedeagus similar length to valve, quite deep and strongly uprecurved distad. The gnathos emanates from a distinctly rectangular base, recurved downward as crossing the fairly narrow and parallel-necked uncus, at an angle of around 40 degrees in the specimen examined. The juxta is narrow proximad and slightly down-lipped.
Etymology. Named after Les Roussettes (a name likely derived from Rousettus, a genus of fruit bat; note that the derivation used here though is feminine singular from the French word ‘roussette’, which might approximate the root of both names). Les Roussettes is a rather famous touristic site at PN Montagne d’Ambre and when visited this former forestry station was provided with a ‘ gite ’ around which this low-flying species could be found. The name also reflects that of the closely related species Ht. andasibe, also named after a familiar tourist destination in Madagascar, and again also emphasing the high local endemicity of much of the fauna.
Discussion. This species was first recognized in the field as “sp. 26” by Claire Kremen on 20/02/1992 (two ♂♂). There is a single historical specimen of this species in PBZT included in the type series. All relevant Heteropsis types in the Ht. strigula group were examined to ensure recognition of this species as new. The former syntypes of Culapa antsianakana Oberthür 1916 were examined: LT ♂, according to the Code, was first designated by d’Abrera (1980: 184) who illustrated a specimen of the first species with a red label next to it and a text which stated “♂ (holotype) as illustrated” (Fig. 22 C); bearing labels “BMNH(E) #674757; Madagascar Antsianaka Perrot Freres 2e Semestre 1890”. Also examined were the STs of Culapa anceps Oberthür 1916; LT ♂, here designated (Fig. 22 D), specimen bearing labels “BMNH(E) #674762; Madagascar Antsianaka Perrot Freres 2e Semestre 1893”. Regarding Mycalesis strigula Mabille, 1877, not clearly a HT by monotypy, a LT ♂ is here also designated (not illustrated here): BMNH(E) 673784. Among the two synonyms of the last species (Lees 1997; Lees et al., 2003; illustrated in d’Abrera, 1997), also examined were Culapa ankovana Oberthür, 1916 (HT ♂, by monotypy: “BMNH(E) 673783; Madagascar Fito Mai à Aout 1897 Perrot Freres”; specimen illustrated by Oberthür, 1916, Pl. 367, f. 3060 and by d’Abrera 1980: 184 (“♂ (? holotype) as illustrated”)) and Culapa wardiana Oberthür, 1916 (HT ♂: BMNH(E) 673785); illustrated by Oberthür 1916, Pl. 356, f. 3056. Types were also examined of Mycalesis ankova Ward, 1870 (HT ♂: “BMNH(E) 673767; Madagascar Ex COLL. CHRIS WARD”). See also under Ht. tornado regarding types of Pseudonympha turbata Butler, 1880, Culapa ornata Oberthür, 1916 and Culapa pallida Oberthür, 1916.
Additional information. DNA divergences: no COI-5P barcode yet available. The cytochrome b sequence, 357 bp (BMNH(E) #671644, FJ819174) is about 4.75% divergent from Ht. andasibe (comparison sequences BMNH(E) #676684 FJ819448 from Ambatovy; BMNH(E) #676666 FJ819446, BMNH(E) #676679 FJ819447 and BMNH(E) #697771 FJ819449; dataset of Monaghan et al., 2009).
Phylogeny/sister species: Lees (1997: 156) found morphological support for a clade consisting of this species (“TWNSX”), Ht. anceps (“ ANCEPS ”) and Ht. andasibe (“ANTSI”), with a topology retained in analysis of ♂ genitalic characters. Although it resembles more closely Ht. andasibe, either species might potentially be its allospecific replacement in Northern Madagascar, but new collections of the narrowly endemic Ht. anceps are also needed to provide DNA evidence (see also combined tree in Aduse-Poku et al., 2016).
Ecology and distribution.
Habitat: fairly open areas in rainforest.
Behaviour: flies low over the ground.
Hostplant: unknown, but assumed to be low growing grasses.
Early stages: unknown.
Distribution: only known from Montagne d’Ambre, in the vicinity of Les Roussettes (Fig. 30 C. ochre dots).
Elevational range: 872–1185 m. (n=16 including referred specimens and observations).
Referred specimens. ♂, N, Parc National Montagne d'Ambre [Petit Lac road], [12.5203o S, 49.1792o E +/- 0.15 km, 1125 +/- 50 m], 4/3/2001, R. Harin'Hala; MSL 024: BO8 [genomic DNA]; BMNH (E) #672502; 1137 [= DL 1137; DNA extract number, not amplified]; ♂, data as above but: 1125 +/- 50 m], 4/3/2001, R. Harin'Hala; MSL 024: CO8 [genomic DNA]; BMNH (E) #672503; 1138 [= DL 1138; DNA extract, not amplified].
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 74-78, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4118.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/264597