Sclerocoelus elephas Kuwahara, Marshall & Paiero, 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Kuwahara, Gregory K.
name: Marshall, Stephen A.
name: Paiero, Steven M.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Sphaeroceridae
Sclerocoelus
Sclerocoelus elephas

description: Sclerocoelus elephas sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A297C0D2-4881-43C8-A4D4-1B03C751A4F4
Figs 6F, 50–52
Etymology
This name refers to the elephant trunk-like epiphallus (from the Latin ‘ elephas ’, meaning ‘elephant’).
Material examined
Holotype
VENEZUELA • ♂; Mérida, Los Chorros; 23 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweeps; DEBU.
Paratypes
BOLIVIA – La Paz • 7 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; Chulumani, Apa-Apa Reserve; 16°21′15″ S, 67°30′21″ W; 2000 m a.s.l.; 1 Apr. 2001; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweep; CBFC.
ECUADOR – Napo • 1 ♀; 4.8 km W of El Chaco; 1750 m a.s.l.; 7 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; QCAZ • 1 ♀; Baeza; 1500 m a.s.l.; 16–19 May 1987; L.D. Coote and B.V. Brown leg.; wet montane rainforest, Malaise trap; DEBU • 2 ♂♂; SierrAzul Lodge, 14 km W of Cosanga; 5 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; QCAZ • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 2200 m a.s.l.; forest, sweep; QCAZ • 8 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; SierrAzul Reserve, 14 km W of Cosanga; 0°40′55″ S, 77°56′09″ W; 2200 m a.s.l.; 9 May 2002; M. Buck leg.; trail sweep; DEBU • 2 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 10–11 May 2002; Marshall and Paiero leg.; treefall, yellow pans; QCAZ • 3 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 9–11 May 2002; O. Lonsdale leg.; DEBU • 6 ♂♂; SierrAzul Reserve, 14 km W of Cosanga; 5 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; disturbed trail sweep; QCAZ. – Pichincha • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; 11.7 km SE of Tandayapa, road to Nono; 28 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; near stream, litter/wood; DEBU • 3 ♂♂; 20 km N of Nono, road to Mindo; 1900 m a.s.l.; 24 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; path sweep; DEBU • 1 ♀; 22.7 km E of Tandapi; 2440 m a.s.l.; 24–29 Jun. 1975; S. Peck leg.; moss forest, dung traps; DEBU • 10 ♂♂, 1 ♀; 3.5 km SE of Tandayapa; 28 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; in green leaf litter (treefall); QCAZ • 1 ♂; Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve; 0°01′13″ S, 78°40′30″ W; 2200 m a.s.l.; 1 May 2011; S.A. Marshall leg.; pans near treefall; debu00339885 / MYCRO918-21 sequenced for CO1-5’; DEBU. – Zamora Chinchipe • 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; San Francisco Biological Reserve, Canal trail; 3°58′30″ S, 79°04′25″ W; 2000 m a.s.l.; 18–25 Feb. 2009; M. Pollet and A. De Braekeleer leg.; blue pan traps; RBINS.
VENEZUELA – Mérida • 16 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; DEBU • 32 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀; 6 km S of Azulita; 3 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; near road; DEBU • 9 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Jají-La Azulita; 3 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; roadside sweeps; DEBU • 7 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Mérida, El Vallecita; 2400 m a.s.l.; 1 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; second growth, sweep; DEBU • 1 ♂; Mérida, Los Chorros; 2100 m a.s.l.; 5 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweep at trailhead; DEBU • 3 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; wet leaves; DEBU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 2200 m a.s.l.; 23 Apr. 1988; decaying vegetation; DEBU • 1 ♂; Mérida, Los Chorros; 1–5 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; flight-intercept trap; DEBU • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; leaf debris, flight-intercept trap; DEBU • 2 ♂♂; Mérida, Los Chorros, Santa Rosa Road; 30 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweep; DEBU • 4 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; Mérida, Mucui, 10 km E of Tobay; 2000 m a.s.l.; 28 Apr. 1981; H. Townes leg.; CNCI • 1 ♂; Mérida, Santa Rosa Trail; 23–30 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; flight-intercept trap; DEBU.
Other material examined
BOLIVIA – Chapare • 3 ♀♀; Paracti; 2200 m a.s.l.; 1–4 Feb. 1976; L.E. Peña leg.; CNCI • 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Yungas; 2200 m a.s.l.; 1–3 Feb. 1976; L.E. Peña leg.; CNCI. – La Paz • 1 ♀; 10 km NW of Caranavi, road to ENTEL tower; 15°46′35″ S, 67°35′48″ W; 1400 m a.s.l.; 13 Apr. 2001; S.A. Marshall leg.; dung pans; DEBU • 4 ♂♂; Chulumani, Apa-Apa Reserve; 16°21′15″ S, 67°30′21″ W; 2000 m a.s.l.; 1 Apr. 2001; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 2 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; dung baits; DEBU • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 1–3 Apr. 2001; pan traps; DEBU.
ECUADOR – Napo • 2 ♀♀; 2.5 km W of Cosanga; 2150 m a.s.l.; 5–7 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; dung/pans; DEBU • 9 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀; 4.2 km S of Cosanga, pipeline trail; 2200 m a.s.l.; 7 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; 4.8 km W of El Chaco; 1750 m a.s.l.; 7 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀; Baeza; 1500 m a.s.l.; 16–19 May 1987; L.D. Coote and B.V. Brown leg.; wet montane rainforest, Malaise trap; DEBU • 2 ♂♂, 27 ♀♀; Baeza; 1550 m a.s.l.; 15–19 May 1987; L.D. Coote and B.V. Brown leg.; wet montane rainforest/pasture, Malaise trap off stone trail; ROME • 3 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀; Baeza; 1700 m a.s.l.; 16–19 May 1987; L.D. Coote and B.V. Brown leg.; wet montane forest/ pasture, near small creek, Malaise head; ROME • 1 ♂; Baeza; 2000 m a.s.l.; 1 Mar. 1979; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 1–10 Mar. 1979; DEBU • 1 ♂; Jatun Sacha Reserve, 6 km W of Misahualli; 1°04′ S, 77°37′ W; 450 m a.s.l.; 7 May 2002; O. Lonsdale leg.; sweep; DEBU • 67 ♂♂, 28 ♀♀; SierrAzul Lodge, 14 km W of Cosanga; 2200 m a.s.l.; 5 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; forest, sweep; DEBU • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; SierrAzul Lodge, 14 km W of Cosanga; 5 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 10 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; sweeping disturbed trail; DEBU • 2 ♂♂; SierrAzul Reserve, 14 km W of Cosanga; 0°40′55″ S, 77°56′09″ W; 2200 m a.s.l.; 9 May 2002; O. Lonsdale leg.; DEBU • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 10 May 2002; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; downed bromeliads, dung pans; DEBU • 6 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; treefall, yellow pans, 9–10 May 2002, M. Buck leg.; DEBU. – Pichincha • 3 ♀♀; 3.5 km SE of Tandayapa; 28 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; in green leaf litter (treefall); DEBU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; 7 km SE of Nanegalito, trout farm ‘San Jose’; 1500 m a.s.l.; 27–30 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; riverine forest, sweep treefalls; DEBU • 8 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve; 0°01′13″ S, 78°40′30″ W; 2200 m a.s.l.; 9–13 May 2009; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 5 ♂♂; same collection data as preceding; 1 May 2011; pans near treefall; DEBU • 10 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; Bellavista Reserve; 0°00′54″ S, 78°40′46″ W; 2200 m a.s.l.; 1 May 2011; S.A. Marshall leg.; treefall; DEBU • 5 ♀♀; Bellavista Reserve; 0°01′13″ S, 78°40′30″ W; 2200 m a.s.l.; 1 May 2011; S.A. Marshall leg.; pans near treefall; DEBU • 3 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 9–13 May 2011; DEBU • 6 ♂♂, 38 ♀♀; Bellavista Reserve; 2150 m a.s.l.; 30 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; on sifted litter; DEBU • 16 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀; Bellavista Reserve; 2200 m a.s.l.; 30 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Bellavista Reserve, ridge trail; 2200 m a.s.l.; 28–30 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; pans near dung; DEBU • 69 ♂♂, 76 ♀♀; Bellavista Reserve, ridge trail; 28 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweeping/aspirating; DEBU • 47 ♂♂, 43 ♀♀; Bellavista Reserve, trail ‘B’; 30 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweeping; DEBU • 1 ♀; Maquipucuna Biological Reserve; 0°07′34″ S, 78°37′57″ W; 1200 m a.s.l.; 27–28 Apr. 2002; M. Buck leg.; sweep; DEBU. – Zamora Chinchipe • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; San Francisco Biological Reserve, Canal trail; 3°58′30″ S, 79°04′25″ W; 2000 m a.s.l.; 13–18 Feb. 2009; M. Pollet and A. De Braekeleer leg.; red pan trap; RBINS • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; yellow pan trap; DEBU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 17–25 Feb. 2009; RBINS • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 18–25 Feb. 2009; DEBU.
VENEZUELA – Aragua • 21 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; Colonia Tovar; 2300 m a.s.l.; 10 Mar. 1995; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 12 ♂♂, 14 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 2400 m a.s.l.; bamboo forest, sweep; DEBU • 1 ♀; Henri Pittier National Park, Rancho Grande, La Toma trail; 9 Apr. 1994; L. Masner leg.; CNCI • 1 ♂; Maracay, Rancho Grande Biological Station; 1250 m a.s.l.; 5 Mar. 1995; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweep along trail; DEBU. – Mérida • 1 ♀; Jají; 27 Apr.–3 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; cloud forest, flight-intercept trap; DEBU • 2 ♀♀; Jají to La Azulita; 3 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; roadside sweeps; DEBU • 2 ♀♀; Mérida, Los Chorros; 23 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweeps; DEBU • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 2200 m a.s.l.; decaying vegetation; DEBU • 7 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 2300 m a.s.l.; flight-intercept trap, 23–30 Apr. 1988; DEBU • 1 ♀; Mérida, Los Chorros; 2300 m a.s.l.; 5 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; wet leaves; DEBU • 1 ♀; Páramo La Culata; 3000 m a.s.l.; 25 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; Espeletia, pan traps; DEBU • 33 ♂♂, 18 ♀♀; Santa Rosa Trail; 1500 m a.s.l.; 24–30 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; flight-intercept trap along spring; DEBU. – Trujillo • 1 ♂; 10 km E of Bocono, Laguna de Lucerdo; 3 Mar. 1995; S.A. Marshall leg.; aspirated along river; DEBU • 3 ♂♂; Guaramacal National Park; 2000–3000 m a.s.l.; 26 Aug.–1 Sep. 1992; L. Masner leg.; car net; DEBU.
Description
BODY (Fig. 50A). Length 2.8–3.9 mm. Head dark brown, lower fifth of frons orange; face, gena, and antennae orange-brown. Frontal width 2.3–2.4× frontal height. Three pairs of strong interfrontal bristles surmounting a very fine fourth pair; anterior orbital 0.4–0.5 × length of posterior. Palpus pale yellow. Eye very large, greatest height about 5.0× shortest genal height. Thorax dark brown, scutum with paler lateral edges. Two pairs of dorsocentral bristles (anterior pair only slightly larger than surrounding acrostichal setulae) separated by 9–10 rows of acrostichal setulae. Membrane around prosternum sometimes with a lateral sclerite bearing 1–2 inner setulae. Legs brown, hind femur darker. Fore femur with three large ventral preapical setae. Ventral surface of male mid tibia with two rows of stout setae in apical third. Wing (Fig. 6F) slightly infuscate. CS2 0.7–0.8× CS3. Halter pale brown with white apex.
MALE ABDOMEN (Figs 50B–D, 51). Dark brown, posterior edges of tergites sometimes slightly desclerotized. T2–5 and S2–4 uniformly long-setose with large posterolateral setae. S5 large, subquadrate, 3.0 × length of S4, anterior third overlapped by S4; laterally sparsely setose with a dark, rectangular posteromedial patch of dense setulae flanked by large desclerotized areas, patch extending posteriorly on right side. Anterior flange of S6+7 2.0 × as long as wide. Sclerite A small, slightly separated from S6; sclerites B and C fused to form short, broad, curved band; sclerite D triangular, apparently fused with left side of posteromedial patch of S5; sclerite E large, elongate triangular and parallel to similar sclerite F; sclerite G elongate with a posterior bulge; ring sclerite thin and indistinct. Epandrium large, 0.4 × length of S8, height 1.3× maximum length and 0.6 × maximum width, uniformly setose, posterior setae longest; posterior quarter of epandrium separated from anterior three-quarters by a deep lateral groove extending halfway up epandrium; anal fissure short but round; perianal pads weakly developed. Pseudocercus small, separate from epandrium but with a narrow process reaching laterally to epandrium, with three setae; halves of subepandrial sclerite arched, forming an M-shape and medially fused. Subcercus with broad, elongate inner lobe, posteroventrally extended to a pointed prominent process, outer part broad and folded back outside and around inner lobe. Hypandrium with anteromedial apodeme well developed with two short posterior lobes. Surstylus short, crescent-shaped in lateral view with a dark anterobasal process and two thick, sinuate inner setae. Postgonite broad basally, apically digitate and curved anteriorly. Phallapodeme very large, thick with a very large dorsal ‘fin’; basiphallus stout, with lateral ridges and an elongate, trunk-like epiphallus; distiphallus strongly reduced with two thin ventrolateral sclerites.
FEMALE ABDOMEN (Fig. 52). T7 broad, darker than preceding tergites; T8 divided into a small, pale, dorsal sclerite and 2 broad, dark, lateral sclerites, posteroventral corners greatly expanded posteriorly. Epiproct broad, medially desclerotized and posteriorly setulose. Cercus slightly elongate, rounded with long preapical dorsal and medial setae. S7 broad, posteromedially pointed with four large posterior setae; S8 reduced to a pair of small lateral sclerites. Two spermathecae, bulb elongate, bean-shaped, finely striate with shallow invaginations on both ends.
Distribution
Neotropical: Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela.
Remarks
This very abundant species of the S. galapagensis group belongs to a clade of three species defined by a long, trunk-like epiphallus: S. copiosus sp. nov., S. elephas sp. nov., and S. tantus sp. nov. Sclerocoelus elephas can be separated from these other two species by the very large male S6–8, characteristic shape and setation of the surstylus, and the large, subtriangular lateral sclerites of the female T8. Like other members of the species group, it can be abundant in cloud forest leaf litter.
description: Published as part of Kuwahara, Gregory K., Marshall, Stephen A. & Paiero, Steven M., 2025, A revision of the genus Sclerocoelus Marshall (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae), pp. 1-277 in European Journal of Taxonomy 979 on pages 53-56, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.979.2803, http://zenodo.org/record/14980852