Schuelkelia Jałoszyński, 2015, gen. n.
Creators: name: Jałoszyński, Paweł
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Staphylinidae
Schuelkelia

description: Schuelkelia gen. n.
Type species: Schuelkelia unicornis sp. n. (here designated).
Diagnosis. Body slender, with distinct and relatively deep constrictions between head and pronotum and between pronotum and elytra; head capsule with occipital constriction only slightly narrower than vertex; tempora longer than eyes; mandible with several small mesal teeth and prostheca; antennae with indistinct club composed of three terminal antennomeres; submentum lacking lateral sutures; hypostomal ridges long and posteriorly reaching posterior tentorial pits; tempora and vertex lacking bristles; prothorax lacking lateral edges and pronotum lacking antebasal pits or groove; basisternal part of prosternum only slightly shorter than coxal part; procoxal sockets broadly closed; prosternal process weakly elevated and very narrow, with pointed tip; notosternal sutures and hypomeral ridges entire; sides of prothorax with dense bristles; mesoventral intercoxal process long, parallel-sided but weakly elevated, extending from anterior ridge of mesoventrite to posterior margins of mesocoxae; mesothorax with deep ventrolateral foveae; metaventral intercoxal process with pair of long spines; each elytron with two asetose and barely discernible rudiments of basal foveae; aedeagus asymmetrical, with large and complicated assemblage of darkly sclerotized internal structures and free parameres.
Description. Body of male (Figs 1–2) elongate and slender, moderately convex, with deep constrictions between head and pronotum and between pronotum and elytra, brown and setose, BL about 1 mm.
Head capsule (Figs 1–2, 3, 7–9) with anterior part (in front of occiput) approximately pentagonal in shape. Occipital constriction (Figs 3, 7; occ) only slightly narrower than vertex, extending dorsally and ventrally as transverse impressions separating anterior part of head capsule from 'neck' region (Figs 7–8; nr), which is subcylindrical and short. Tempora (Fig 7; tm) longer than eyes and rounded, weakly convergent posteromesally; vertex (Fig. 7; vt) strongly transverse; frons (Fig. 7; fr) subtrapezoidal, posteriorly confluent with vertex; frontoclypeal groove absent; anterior margin of clypeus (Fig. 7; cl) rounded; supraantennal tubercles weakly raised; antennal insertions broadly separated. Eyes bean-shaped (Fig. 8) and oblique in relation to long axis of head.
Gular plate (Figs 3, 9; gp) very large and subtrapezoidal; gular sutures (Fig. 9; gs) superficial; posterior tentorial pits (Figs 3, 9; ptp) exposed, C-shaped and located slightly in front of transverse impression demarcating 'neck' region ventrally.
Labrum (Fig. 10) transverse with indistinctly three-lobed anterior margin and two transverse rows of long dorsoanterior setae. Mandibles (Fig. 11) symmetrical, each subtriangular with broad base and curved, robust apical tooth (Fig. 11; ap), mesal margin with several small and sharp mesal teeth (Fig. 11; mt); prostheca (Fig. 11; pst) present, short and with dense setae along mesal margin. Each maxilla (Fig. 9) with subtriangular basistipes (Fig. 9; bst), broad mediostipes (Fig. 9; mst), elongate galea (Fig. 9; gal) and lacinia (Fig. 9; lac) and moderately long maxillary palp (Fig. 9; mxp) composed of distinctly elongate palpomere I, strongly elongate, pedunculate palpomere II, broad palpomere III broadest near distal third, and elongate and slender subconical and pointed palpomere IV. Labium (Fig. 9) with transverse submentum (Fig. 9; smn) not demarcated laterally from postcardinal parts of hypostomae; subrectangular mentum (Fig. 9; mn); and long prementum (Fig. 9; pmn) bearing small 3- segmented labial palps (Fig. 9; lp) and indistinctly demarcated median ligula with one pair of long setae. Hypostomal ridges (Fig. 9; hr) long and recurved, extending posteromesally up to posterior tentorial pits, not connected.
Antennae (Figs 1–2) short, with small club composed of antennomeres IX–XI.
Pronotum (Figs 1–2, 12) in dorsal view oval with arcuate anterior and posterior margins, weakly marked and obtuse-angled anterior and posterior corners and strongly rounded sides; lateral edges or carinae absent; antebasal pits and groove absent. Sides of pronotum and hypomera with long, dense bristles.
Prosternum (Figs 4, 13) with moderately long basisternal part (Fig. 13; bst) only slightly shorter than coxal part and indistinctly demarcated from procoxal cavities (Fig. 13; pcc); median part of sternum with weakly elevated and very narrow subtriangular prosternal intercoxal process with pointed tip; procoxal sockets (Fig. 13; pcs) broadly closed by lateral lobes of prosternum; hypomera (Fig. 13; hy) elongate, each divided into broad lateral part confluent with side of pronotum and narrow inner (adcoxal) part; pronotosternal sutures (Fig. 13; nss) and hypomeral ridges (Fig. 13; hyr) complete; posterior margin of sternum with deep median subtriangular emargination.
Mesonotum subtrapezoidal, with subtriangular and posteriorly pointed mesoscutellum, mesoscutoscutellar suture not visible in studied specimen. Mesoscutellum not visible between elytral bases in intact specimens.
Mesoventrite (Figs 5, 14) with broad anterior ridge (Fig. 14; ar); mesoventral intercoxal process (Fig. 14; msvp) long and parallel-sided but moderately elevated (not keel-like), extending from anterior ridge of mesoventrite up to posterior margins of mesocoxae; lateral impressions functioning as procoxal rests (Fig. 14; pcr) present, separated at middle and asetose except posterior margins; ventrolateral foveae (Fig. 14; vlf) present and deep, dorsolateral foveae absent; mesocoxal projections (Fig 14; mcp) prominent, each with short and setose posterior lobe (Fig. 14; pl) and mesocoxal sockets (Fig. 14; mscs) located on their mesoventral surface; mesocoxal cavities (Fig. 14; mscc) posteriorly demarcated by dense setae.
Metaventrite (Fig. 14; v3) subtrapezoidal, anteriorly fused with mesoventrite, posteriorly shallowly bisinuate and with moderately broad metaventral intercoxal process (Fig. 15; mtvp) bearing pair of long pointed spines. Metanepisterna and metepimera narrow.
Metendosternite (= metafurca) (Fig. 14) with short and broad stalk and divergent lateral furcal arms (Fig. 15; lmfa).
Elytra (Figs 1–2, 12) oval, with indistinct humeral calli and lacking basal impressions, each with two rudimentary and asetose basal foveae barely discernible even in transparent mounts; elytral apices rounded, unmodified.
Hind wings absent.
Legs (Figs 1–2, 14) moderately long and slender; pro- and mesocoxae oval, metacoxae strongly transverse; all trochanters short; all femora distinctly clavate; tibiae broadening distally; tarsi short and robust.
Abdominal sternites (Fig. 6) unmodified, suture between VII and VIII distinct.
Aedeagus (Figs 6, 15–16) very large, in repose occupying major part of abdomen between posterior margin of the first visible sternite and tip of abdomen; median lobe asymmetrical, stout; endophallus strongly asymmetrical and containing several large sclerites projecting distally from ostium; basal orifice located in submedian region of dorsal wall; parameres free (i.e., not fused with median lobe), each with single apical seta.
Sexual dimorphism. Males with larger eyes, small horn-like posteromedian vertexal projection (Fig. 8) and strongly swollen profemora.
Distribution and composition. Schuelkelia is represented by one species occuring in Yunnan, China.
Etymology. The name Schuelkelia is dedicated to Michael Schülke, a distinguished specialist on Staphylinidae, who collected this new genus. Gender feminine.
Remarks. Among Palaearctic Cyrtoscydmini, Schuelkelia can be readily distinguished from all other genera on the basis of oval pronotum lacking antebasal pits and groove, elytra lacking externally visible basal elytral foveae and impressions, eyes distant from the broad occipital constriction, long and parallel-sided but not keel-like mesoventral intercoxal process, the metaventral intercoxal process with a pair of long spines and a strongly asymmetrical and heavily sclerotized, complicated endophallus. As in many genera of Scydmaeninae, this is a combination of synapomorphies that, separately or in different configurations, can be found in other taxa, but this particular set occurs together only in Schuelkelia. The only character that seems to be an autapomorphy of Schuelkelia is a row of small sharp mesal mandibular teeth; this feature is not known in any other world genus of Cyrtoscydmini that has been revised so far.
Schuelkelia belongs to a group of genera characterized by the submentum not demarcated laterally by sutures. Remaining Eurasian genera showing this character state are (in alphabetical order): Elacatophora, Euconnus, Horaeomorphus, Leptocharis, Loeblites, Microscydmus, Nanoscydmus, Protoscydmus and Syndicus. Comparative notes on this group are given below:
Schuelkelia differs from Elacatophora (Figs 18, 36, 51, 66) in the head capsule in lateral view only slightly higher near antennal insertions than at occipital constriction (head near antennal insertions about twice as high as at occipital constriction in Elacatophora), occipital constriction only slightly narrower than frons (as narrow as about half of frons or less in Elacatophora, except one species, E. euconnoides Jałoszyński, 2015b), posterior ends of hypostomal ridges and posterior tentorial pits located clearly behind eyes (between eyes in Elacatophora), gular plate lacking long and narrow anterior part in front of the 'neck' region (in Elacatophora gular plate with broad posterior part located on the 'neck' region and with much narrower, strongly elongate anterior part expanding onto the anterior part of head capsule and extending up to the level of eyes), maxillary palpomere IV subconical, with broad base (palpomere IV nearly rod-like in Elacatophora), pronotum lacking sublateral carinae and antebasal impressions (with carinae and impressions in Elacatophora), mesoventral intercoxal process weakly elevated (keel-like and strongly expanding ventrally in Elacatophora), metaventral intercoxal process with a pair of long spines (lacking spines in Elacatophora), elytra with rudimentary basal foveae (each elytron with one large and distinct fovea in Elacatophora).
Schuelkelia differs from Euconnus (Figs 19–22, 37, 52, 67) and Protoscydmus in the lack of frontoclypeal groove (present in Euconnus and Protoscydmus), basal elytral foveae visible only as indistinct rudiments in transparent mounts (two foveae on each elytron in Euconnus, although in some subgenera, mainly from the Southern Hemisphere, and in Protoscydmus rudimentary, but still marked on the surface of elytra), nearly contiguous metacoxae (moderately broadly to narrowly but always distinctly separated in Euconnus and Protoscydmus; not separated in some Southern Hemisphere taxa currently placed as subgenera of Euconnus, but their taxonomic status requires verification), metaventral intercoxal process with a pair of long spines (spines absent in Euconnus and Protoscydmus).
Schuelkelia differs from Horaeomorphus (Figs 23, 38, 53, 68) in the pronotum lacking antebasal pits and groove (pits always present in Horaeomorphus, often connected by a transverse groove), prosternum with weakly marked prosternal process with pointed posterior tip (in Horaeomorphus prosternal process distinct, parallel-sided, lacking defined posterior tip), mesoventral intercoxal process parallel-sided and extending in front of mesocoxal cavities (in Horaeomorphus process broad at base and narrowing caudad, not extending anteriorly beyond mesocoxal cavities), elytra with rudimentary basal foveae (two distinct foveae on each elytron in Horaeomorphus).
Schuelkelia differs from Leptocharis (Figs 24, 39, 54, 69) in rudimentary basal elytral foveae (one deep and distinct fovea and a hardly noticeable rudiment of another in Leptocharis), subtrapezoidal and broad mesoscutellum (strongly elongate with broadened posterior portion in Leptocharis), hypomeral ridges present (absent in Leptocharis), the mesoventral intercoxal process extending from the anterior ridge of mesoventrite up to posterior margins of mesocoxae (process in Leptocharis extends from anterior to posterior margins of mesocoxae, intercoxal region in front of mesocoxae is convex but broad and not keel-like), mesothorax with a pair of deep ventrolateral foveae (absent in Leptocharis), the metaventral intercoxal process with spines (with a deep notch but lacking spines in Leptocharis).
Schuelkelia differs from Loeblites (Figs 25, 40, 55, 70) in short and clubbed antennae (very long, nearly filiform antennae in Loeblites), posterior tentorial pits exposed (hidden in a deep transverse groove in Loeblites), pronotum lacking antebasal pits (pits present in Loeblites), mesoventral intercoxal process extending from anterior ridge of mesoventrite to posterior margins of mesocoxae (process extending only from anterior to posterior margins of coxae in Loeblites), metaventral intercoxal process with a pair of long spines (lacking spines in Loeblites), elytra with rudimentary basal foveae (two deep and distinct foveae on each elytron in Loeblites), femora lacking dorsal grooves and glandular openings (grooves with glandular openings present on all femora in Loeblites).
Schuelkelia differs from Microscydmus (Figs 26, 41, 56, 71) in antennal insertions broadly separated (narrowly separated in Microscydmus), hypostomal ridges reaching posterior tentorial pits (ridges very short in Microscydmus, not reaching posterior tentorial pits), notosternal sutures complete and visible on the surface (largely internalized in Microscydmus), pronotum lacking antebasal pits (pits present in Microscydmus), mesoventral intercoxal process long, connected with the anterior ridge of mesoventrite (process short, not connected with anterior ridge in Microscydmus); elytra with rudimentary foveae (one large and setose basal fovea on each elytron in Microscydmus).
Schuelkelia differs from Nanoscydmus (Figs 27, 42, 57, 72) in the head capsule lacking median longitudinal groove and V-shaped carinae (both present in Nanoscydmus), tempora longer than eyes and therefore eyes distant from the occipital constriction (tempora much shorter than eyes and consequently eyes nearly adjacent to occipital constriction in Nanoscydmus), pronotum lacking antebasal pits and groove (with lateral pits connected by transverse groove in Nanoscydmus), present hypomeral ridges (absent in Nanoscydmus), mesoventral intercoxal process extending from anterior ridge of mesoventrite to posterior margins of mesocoxae (interrupted in front of mesocoxae in Nanoscydmus), metaventral intercoxal process with spines (lacking spines in Nanoscydmus).
Schuelkelia differs from Syndicus (Figs 34–35, 50, 65, 80) in the base of antennomere XI clearly separated from apex of antennomere XI by constriction (antennomeres X and XI forming a compact oval or at least tightly assembled, not separated in Syndicus), posterior tentorial pits exposed (hidden in a deep transverse groove in Syndicus); pronotum lacking antebasal pits (pits present in Syndicus), mesoventral intercoxal process extending from anterior ridge of mesoventrite to posterior margins of mesocoxae (process extending only from anterior to posterior margins of coxae in Syndicus), metaventral intercoxal process with a pair of long spines (lacking spines in Syndicus), elytra with rudimentary basal foveae (two deep and distinct foveae on each elytron in Syndicus), femora lacking dorsal grooves and glandular openings (grooves with glandular openings present on all femora in Syndicus).
Among Cyrtoscydmini known to occur in other regions and whose morphological details are sufficiently known, the submentum lacking lateral sutures can be found in sixteen genera; they differ from Schuelkelia in characters listed below (only major features are mentioned):
Schuelkelia differs from Amimoscydmus Jałoszyński, 2013a (Brazil) in hypostomal ridges posteriorly reaching posterior tentorial pits (ridges very short, not reaching tentorial pits in Amimoscydmus), long basisternal part of prosternum (rudimentary in Amimoscydmus), inner part of hypomera completely demarcated from prosternum (anteriorly and posteriorly fused with prosternum in Amimoscydmus), and pronotum lacking antebasal transverse groove (with groove in Amimoscydmus).
Schuelkelia differs from Archiconnus Franz, 1980 (Peru) in maxillary palpomere III slender (strongly swollen in Archiconnus), pronotum lacking antebasal pits (pits present in Archiconnus), prosternal process present (absent in Archiconnus), hypomeral ridges complete (anteriorly obliterated in Archiconnus), and metaventral intercoxal process with a pair of long spines (lacking spines in Archiconnus).
Schuelkelia differs from Euconnomorphus Franz, 1980 (Peru, Bolivia) in pronotum lacking antebasal pits (pits present in Euconnomorphus), prosternal process present (absent in Euconnomorphus), long basisternal part of prosternum (much shorter than coxal part in Euconnomorphus), mesoventral intercoxal process uninterrupted in front of mesocoxae (interrupted in Euconnomorphus), and metaventral intercoxal process with a pair of long spines (lacking spines in Euconnomorphus).
Schuelkelia differs from Heteroscydmus Franz, 1980 (Bolivia) in hypostomal ridges posteriorly reaching posterior tentorial pits (ridges very short, not reaching tentorial pits in Heteroscydmus), inner part of hypomera completely demarcated from prosternum (anteriorly fused with prosternum in Heteroscydmus), and pronotum lacking antebasal transverse groove (with groove in Heteroscydmus).
Schuelkelia differs from Leascydmus Jałoszyński, 2014c (Australia) in the occipital constriction only slightly narrower than vertex (about half as broad as vertex in Leascydmus), broadly closed procoxal sockets (narrowly open in Leascydmus), absent anterior metaventral process (present in Leascydmus), contiguous metacoxae (broadly separated in Leascydmus), and metaventral intercoxal process with a pair of long spines (lacking spines in Leascydmus).
Schuelkelia differs from Microraphes Franz, 1980 (Brazil) in elongate head with long tempora (head short and with tempora much shorter than eyes in Microraphes), inner part of hypomera completely demarcated from prosternum (anteriorly fused with prosternum in Microraphes), basisternal part of prosternum shorter than coxal part (longer in Microraphes), prosternal process long and carinate (short and drop-shaped in Microraphes), and metaventral intercoxal process with a pair of long spines (lacking spines in Microraphes).
Schuelkelia differs from Mimoscydmus Franz, 1980 (Brazil) in elongate head with long tempora (head short and with tempora much shorter than eyes in Mimoscydmus), prosternal process lacking defined anterior tip (with anterior tip in Mimoscydmus), inner part of hypomera completely demarcated from prosternum (anteriorly fused with prosternum in Mimoscydmus), and pronotum lacking antebasal transverse groove (with groove in Mimoscydmus).
Schuelkelia differs from Parapseudoconnus Franz, 1980 (Brazil, Peru) in pronotum lacking antebasal pits (pits present in Parapseudoconnus), long basisternal part of prosternum (much shorter than coxal part in Parapseudoconnus), inner part of hypomera completely demarcated from prosternum (posteriorly fused with prosternum in Parapseudoconnus), elytra with rudiments of foveae (each elytron with one deep and setose basal fovea in Parapseudoconnus), and metaventral intercoxal process with a pair of long spines (lacking spines in Parapseudoconnus).
Schuelkelia differs from Penicillidmus Jałoszyński, 2014b (Australia) in maxillary palpomere IV subconical with base about four times as broad as apical part (very narrow, with base only about twice as broad as apical part in Penicillidmus), head capsule lacking longitudinal and transverse carinae behind cardines (carinae present in Penicillidmus), pronotum lacking posterolateral rod-like penicilli (penicilli present in Penicillidmus), pronotum lacking antebasal pits (pits present in Penicillidmus), inner part of hypomera completely demarcated from prosternum (anteriorly fused with prosternum in Penicillidmus), and elytra with rudiments of basal foveae (each elytron with one large fovea located in a deep impression in Penicillidmus).
Schuelkelia differs from Sciacharis Broun, 1893 (Southern Hemisphere) in prothorax lacking antebasal pits (pits present in Sciacharis), elytra with rudiments of basal foveae (two distinct foveae on each elytron in Sciacharis), and the metaventral intercoxal process with a pair of long spines (lacking spines in Sciacharis).
Schuelkelia differs from Sciacharoides Jałoszyński, 2014c (Australia) in prothorax lacking antebasal pits and grooves (pits and/or grooves present in Sciacharoides), mesocoxae distinctly separated by long mesoventral intercoxal process (process absent between coxae in Sciacharoides), and metaventral intercoxal process with a pair of long spines (lacking spines in Sciacharoides).
Schuelkelia differs from Scydmaenozila Jałoszyński, 2014c (Australia) in prothorax lacking antebasal pits (pits present in Scydmaenozila), prosternal process present and carinate (indistinct in Scydmaenozila), complete hypomeral ridges (rudimentary in Scydmaenozila), mesoventral intercoxal process extending from anterior ridge of mesoventrite up to posterior margins of mesocoxae (process interrupted in front of mesocoxae in Scydmaenozila), and metaventral intercoxal process with a pair of long spines (lacking spines in Scydmaenozila).
Schuelkelia differs from Scydmepitoxis Jałoszyński, 2014f (Australia) in the occipital constriction only slightly narrower than vertex (about half as broad as vertex in Scydmepitoxis), prothorax lacking deep posterior constriction and lacking antebasal pits (with these structures in Scydmepitoxis), the prosternal process present and carinate (absent in Scydmepitoxis), mesoventral intercoxal process long and distinct (indistinct, barely noticeable between mesocoxae in their anterior half in Scydmepitoxis), and metaventral intercoxal process with a pair of long spines (lacking spines in Scydmepitoxis).
Schuelkelia differs from Spinosciacharis Jałoszyński, 2014c (Australia) in the occipital constriction only slightly narrower than vertex (about half as broad as vertex in Spinosciacharis), prothorax lacking antebasal pits and elytra with rudiments of basal foveae (pits and foveae present and distinct in Spinosciacharis), absent anterior metaventral process (present in Spinosciacharis), and metaventral intercoxal process with a pair of long spines (lacking spines in Spinosciacharis).
Schuelkelia differs from Stenichnoteras Scott, 1922 (Seychelles) in the prosternal process present and carinate (absent in Stenichnoteras), mesoventral intercoxal process extending from anterior ridge of mesoventrite up to posterior margins of mesocoxae (process interrupted in front of mesocoxae and posteriorly reaching middle of mesocoxae in Stenichnoteras), contiguous metacoxae (moderately broadly separated in Stenichnoteras), and metaventral intercoxal process with a pair of long spines (lacking spines in Stenichnoteras).
Schuelkelia differs from Venezolanoconnus Franz, 1988 (Venezuela) in maxillary palpomere III slender (strongly swollen in Venezolanoconnus), prosternal process present (absent in Venezolanoconnus), elytra lacking basal impressions and subhumeral lines (with distinct impressions and long subhumeral lines in Venezolanoconnus), and slender parameres (parameres extremely broad and hyaline in Venezolanoconnus).
description: Published as part of Jałoszyński, Paweł, 2015, Schuelkelia gen. n., a new eastern Palaearctic ant-like stone beetle, with synopsis of Eurasian genera of Cyrtoscydmini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae), pp. 343-369 in Zootaxa 4007 (3) on pages 345-349, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4007.3.3, http://zenodo.org/record/236588