Sisyphus australis Daniel &amp; Davis &amp; Sole &amp; Scholtz 2020, sp. n.
Creators: name: Daniel, Gimo M.
name: Davis, Adrian Lv.
name: Sole, Catherine L.
name: Scholtz, Clarke H.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Scarabaeidae
Sisyphus
Sisyphus australis

description: <i>Sisyphus australis</i> Daniel &amp; Davis sp. n. (Fig. 11, 12E). ZooBank: http://zoobank.org/ 762856F2-064A-4B6C-9A1C-BB22BA70A271 <b>Diagnosis</b>: <i>Sisyphus australis</i> <b>sp. n.</b> is similar to <i>S. costatus</i>. However, the new species is distinguished by the straight margin between the medial clypeal teeth. It also bears a strong clypeo-frontal carina (Fig. 11H). In addition, the parameres of <i>S. costatus</i> and <i>S. australis</i> <b>sp. n.</b> are distinctly different (Fig. 12 B, E) <b>Description</b>: Male holotype: <b>Size</b>. Length: 5.7 mm; width: 3.2 mm. <b>Colour</b>. Black body; setae brown; meso- and metasternum black; antennae grey. <b>Head</b>. Medial teeth not sharp apically; edge between medial teeth separated by a straight margin; a rectangular margin between the medial tooth and lateral indentation; genal margin straight. Dorsal surface of the clypeus setose, without punctation; clypeo-frontal carina distinctly defined; vertex setigerous with scattered ocellate punctures (Fig. 11H). <b>Pronotum</b>. Convex; maximum length longer than maximum width; dorsal surface with setation and ocellate punctures of different sizes; setae on the antero-lateral projection well-developed. Complete lateral prothoracic margin between the prothoracic disc and prothoracic episternum. <b>Elytra</b>. Elongate, narrow posteriorly; elytral striae minutely punctate and crenulate, characterized by a distinct crenulate double line, which is interrupted by fine ocellate strial puctures; interstriae with alternating rows of well or weakly developed setae; hind wing and venation are fully developed. <b>Pygidium</b>. Setigerous with ocellate punctation. <b>Sternites</b>. Abdominal sternites finely crenulate, setigerous with ocellate punctation; setae arranged in rows laterally; meso-metasternal suture visible; punctate depression on the postero-medial surface of the metasternum. <b>Legs</b>. In ventral view, antero-lateral carina of profemur punctate, with a lateral row of fine and well developed setae; meso- and metafemur with granulation, densely punctate and setose; meso- and metatrochanter contiguous with femur, metatrochanter projected somewhat backwards; protibia with three teeth and single terminal spine; mesotibia punctate and setose with two terminal spines; metatibia densely setose, serrated laterally with two spurs; pro- meso- and metatarsi five segmented with two claws, setose laterally; first tarsal segment of the meso- and meta-thoracic legs with a row of strong setae on the external edge. <b>Aedeagus</b>. Parameres simple and symmetrical (Fig. 12E) <b>Morphological variation</b> <b>Size</b>: Male: length: 8.2– 5.5 mm; width: 3.2–4.0 mm; Female: 8.0–6.0 mm; width: 3.0– 3.6 mm. <b>Head</b>: Mainly in populations from the Eastern Cape (The Haven), the surface of the clypeus is less setigerous. <b>Male</b>: Meta- and mesotibia curved; last abdominal sternite narrowed medially (Fig. 1A). <b>Female</b>: Meta- and mesotibia almost straight; last visible abdominal sternite not constricted medially (Fig. 1B). <b>Examined type material</b> Holotype: (&amp;male; TMSA) SOUTH AFRICA: /S. Cape Prov (Western Cape), Outeniekwaberg, 33.50°S; 23.11°E /; 13.12.1977; E-Y: 1422, dung collecting, leg: Endrödy-Younga. Paratypes: (3&amp;male;, 3&amp;female; TMSA) same data as holotype. (1&amp;male;, 1&amp;female; TMSA) SOUTH AFRI- CA: Cape Prov. (Western Cape) George, Saasveld, 205, leg: Breytenbach. (1&amp;female; SANC) SOUTH AFRICA: Cape Prov. (Western Cape) George, Saasveld, 205, leg: Breytenbach. (1&amp;male; SANC) SOUTH AFRICA: C.P. (Western Cape) (10 km SW), 3.iii.1973, leg: Davis. (3&amp;male;, 5&amp;female; TMSA) SOUTH AFRICA: Transkei (Eastern Cape), The Haven, 32.15°S 28.55°E, 09.xii.1979, E-Y: 1696, groundtraps, 7 days, leg: Endrödy-Younga. (2&amp;male;, 2&amp;female; TMSA): SOUTH AFRICA: Transkei (Eastern Cape), Coast Dwesa forest, 32.17°S 28.50°E, 5.iii.1985, zebra dung, leg: Endrödy-Younga. (1&amp;male; TMSA): SOUTH AFRICA: Transkei (Eastern Cape), Alexandria For. St., 33.43°S 26.23°E, 5.xii.1987, groundtraps with faeces bait, 2 days, leg: Endrödy-Younga. (1&amp;female; SANC) Transkei (Eastern Cape), Wavecrest, 25.xi.1981, leg: Doube. <b>Etymology</b>: The species name reflects the geographical distribution of the species, which is restricted to the southern part of South Africa. <b>Distribution</b>: <i>Sisyphus australis</i> <b>sp. n.</b>, has been recorded along the coastline in association with shaded vegetation of the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa (Fig. 13). <b>Remarks</b>: Detailed study of type and non-type material of <i>S. gazanus and S. costatus</i> have revealed a species complex composed of <i>S. costatus</i>; <i>S. australis</i> <b>sp. n.</b>; <i>S. inconspicuous</i> <b>sp. n.</b> and <i>S. gazanus.</i> The main distinguishing features for the species complex are present- ed in Table 1. Furthermore, the shape of the parameres (Figs. 12 A–E) and the distributions (Fig. 13) are useful to separate the four species belonging to the <i>gazanus</i> complex.
description: Published as part of <i>Daniel, Gimo M., Davis, Adrian Lv., Sole, Catherine L. &amp; Scholtz, Clarke H., 2020, Taxonomic review of the tribe Sisyphini sensu stricto Mulsant, 1842 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in southern Africa, including new species descriptions, pp. 1-61 in Insect Systematics &amp; Evolution 51 (1)</i> on pages 35-36, DOI: 10.1163/1876312X-00002195, http://zenodo.org/record/3786629