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

description: Digitonthophagus sahelicus Moretto, new species
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:659D2617-892E-4CA3-803B-A727B64D643C (Figs. 9, 27–28, 57, 73, 91–92, 121, 141–143; Map 4)
Type locality. Toulfé (13°53’43”N 01°52’25”W), 300 m, Lorum, Burkina Faso.
Diagnosis. Africa species; Male pronotal anterior angles surface sloping laterally and usually with a dark spot (Figs. 57); female vertex with horns (Fig. 73).
Description. Holotype ♂ (Fig. 9). Measurements. Length 9.5 mm, width 5.5 mm. Head (Figs. 27–28). Anterior clypeal edge emarginate on median fifth in dorsal view; clypeofrontal carina nearly straight and extending to clypeal edge; vertex convex medially, surface with scabrous punctures. Horns long, divergent in frontal view, gradually tapering from base to apex, posterointernal edge unmodified basally, internal surface with numerous coarse granules. Genal edge slightly upturned and arcuate on anterior third, forming a broad angle with clypeal edge. Pronotum (Fig. 57). Surface with granulate punctures extending slightly beyond posterior half, with a few scattered simple punctures on posterior portion of disc, larger punctures absent posterolaterally, with distinct, minute punctures throughout. Anteromedian tubercle atrophied, forming a simply convex projection in lateral view, surface of tubercles covered with rather regular and fine squamiform granules; median longitudinal sulcus absent; surface behind the eyes with a small and shallow oval depression, surface of anterior angles irregularly sloping laterally; anterior half of lateral edge slightly sinuous in dorsal and lateral view; posterior angles simply arcuate in dorsal view. Anterior hypomeral ridge nearly straight posteriorly and abruptly arcuate anteriorly with anterior most portion crenulate, anterior hypomeral depression surface light in color. Elytra (Fig. 9). Interval 2 and 4 lacking fine granules from base to apex. Legs. Protibial apicointernal tooth enlarged, with dorsal ridge interrupted before apex. Aedeagus (Fig. 121). Parameres with dorsal and ventral edges slightly diverging toward apex in lateral view. Internal sac sclerites (Figs. 141–143). Axial sclerite strongly sclerotized, abruptly bent ventrally on apical third. Subaxial sclerite, extending straight past apex of right lateral fold apical portion, with villi on apical half. Frontolateral peripheral sclerite basoventral apophysis moderately developed; a single medioventral carinae present; right lateral fold short, produced into a rather large everted and open apically conical process with extremely irregular apical edge; left lateral lobe absent; subapicodorsal lobe membranous, narrow, not reaching anterior edge, apex set on left side in dorsal view; apical lobe elongate and round apically, directed obliquely on left side, apical villi regular in shape; subapicoventral lobe short not reaching apical edge of apical lobe, oriented obliquely and in line with ventrally folded left edge of apical lobe.
Variation. Measurements (103 ♂♂, 111 ♀♀). Length: male 6.5–11.0 mm (9.5 ± 0.8 mm), female 7.5–11.0 mm (9.4 ± 0.7 mm). Female lectotype. Cephalic outline in dorsal view as in Fig. 73; vertex with horns low, very wide basally and tapering to apex, posterointernal edge lacking tooth basally; anterior pronotal surface (Figs. 91–92) with a single callus approximately half interocular distance in width, dorsal edge of callus weakly defined. Protibia short, with external teeth more robust.
Primary type data. Holotype ♂ (CMNC): [BURKINA FASO: LORUM / Toulfé, 300m / 13°53’43”N 01°52’25”O / 18.VII.2006, zone sahélienne / steppe arborée, collecte géné- / rale, F. & S. Génier, 2006-43]; [COLÉOPTÈRES / DU / BURKINA FASO / BF008585] barcode label; [HOLOTYPE ♂ / Digitonthophagus / sahelicus n.sp. / des. P. Moretto, 2016] red card.
Map 4. Distribution of Digitonthophagus sahelicus.
Material examined (266 ♂♂, 193 ♀♀, 496 sex not recorded), distribution (Map 4): BURKINA FASO: HAUTS-BASSINS, Bobo-Dioulasso (11°12'N, 4°18'W), viii.2002, [anonymous] —1 ♀ (paratype) (PMOC); SAHEL, après le pont, route Essakane-Dori, Gorum-Gorum, 271 m (14°9'32.8''N, 0°1'20.4''E), 7.viii.2012, P. Moretto— 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (PMOC); Conseil régional, Dori, 283 m (14°2'4.5''N, 0°3'10.5''W), 23– 25.viii.2013, P. Moretto (2013-50)— 9 ♀♀, 9 ♂♂ (18 paratypes) (PMOC); Conseil régional, Dori, 283 m (14°2'4.5''N, 0°3'10.5''W), 30.viii.2013, P. Moretto— 1 ♀ (paratype) (PMOC); Dori (14°2'N, 0°1'W), iv.2007, [anonymous]— 8 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂ (11 paratypes) (JFJC); Essakane, Gorum-Gorum, 264 m (14°22'40.2''N, 0°5'47.7''E), 13–15.viii.2012, P. Moretto— 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (PMOC); N’djomga, Dori (14°3'55.7''N, 0°3'3.4''W), 24– 27.viii.2013, P. Moretto— 3 ♂♂ (3 paratypes) (PMOC); LOROUM, Toulfé, 300 m (13°53'43''N, 1°52'25''W), 16.vii.2006, F. & S. Génier (2006-38)— 24 ♀♀, 28 ♂♂ (52 paratypes) (FGIC); Toulfé, 300 m (13°53'43''N, 1°52'25''W), 16.vii.2006, F. & S. Génier (2006-40)— 2 ♀♀, 13 ♂♂ (15 paratypes) (FGIC); Toulfé, 300 m (13°53'43''N, 1°52'25''W), 17.vii.2006, F. & S. Génier (2006-41)— 2 ♀♀, 7 ♂♂ (9 paratypes) (FGIC); Toulfé, 300 m (13°53'43''N, 1°52'25''W), 18.vii.2006, F. & S. Génier (2006-43)— 23 ♀♀, 24 ♂♂ (holotype, allotype, 45 paratypes) (CMNC, FGIC); Toulfé, 300 m (13°53'43''N, 1°52'25''W), 18.vii.2006, F. & S. Génier (2006-42)— 4 ♂♂ (4 paratypes) (FGIC); NAHOURI, Forêt de Nazinga, Boulieselo, 310 m (11°11'50''N, 1°35'9''W), 27.vii.2006, F. & S. Génier (2006-82)— 2 ♂♂ (2 paratypes) (FGIC); CAMEROON: EXTREME NORTH, Waza National Park (11°15'N, 14°39'E), 18.viii.2006, C. Vanderbergh— 1 ♂ (paratype) (PMOC); CHAD: ENNEDI, Fada (17°11'N, 21°35'E), 9/4/1935, [anonymous]— 1 ♂ (paratype) (MNHN); HADJER-LAMIS, Sitje, rive sud Lac Tchad (12°53'N, 14°52'E), 11.viii.2006, C. Vanderbergh— 1 ♀, 2 ♂♂ (3 paratypes) (PMOC); KANEM, Zigueï (14°43'N, 15°47'E), 19–21.vii.1935, [anonymous] —1 ♀ (paratype) (MNHN); N’DJAMENA, Farcha (12°7'N, 14°59'E), vi.1968, [anonymous]— 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (MNHN); DJIBOUTI: DJIBOUTI, Djibouti (11°35'N, 43°9'E), [no date], [anonymous]— 4 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂ (7 paratypes) (IRSNB); ERITREA: ANSEBA, Hagaz (15°42'N, 38°16'E), vii.2003, M. Forti— 1 ♂ (paratype) (PMOC); GASH-BARKA, 18 km E Akordat (15°33'N, 38°1'E), vii.2003, M. Forti— 2 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂ (5 paratypes) (FGIC, PMOC); NORTHERN RED SEA, Nefasit (15°20'N, 39°4'E), vii.2002, Czeppel & Forti— 3 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂ (6 paratypes) (FETC); MALI: SEGOU, Sansanding (13°43'18''N, 6°0'11''W), [no date], R. Demange— 1 ♀ (paratype) (MNHN); MAURITANIA: Trarza Desert, [no date], [anonymous]— 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂ (4 paratypes) (IRSNB); ADRAR, Atar (20°31'N, 13°3'W), 24.ix.1968, P. Tauzin— 1 ♂ (paratype) (PMOC); INCHIRI, Oued Akjoujt (19°45'N, 14°23'W), x.1937, P. Malzy— 1 ♂ (paratype) (MNHN); NOUAKCHOOT, Nouakchoot (18°5'N, 15°59'W), 15.viii–30.ix.2006, Famille Stalmanns— 5 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (PMOC); SÉLIBABY, Tachoot [=Tassota Barene] (15°26'N, 12°16'W), 20.x.1941, [anonymous]— 1 ♂ (paratype) (OMOC); NIGER: AGADEZ, Agadez (16°58'N, 7°59'E), 1909, Cortier— 2 ♂♂ (2 paratypes) (MNHN); Agadez (16°58'N, 7°59'E), 2.viii.1947, L. Chopard & A. Villiers— 1 ♀ (paratype) (MNHN); Agadez (16°58'N, 7°59'E), 20.viii.1947, L. Chopard & A. Villiers— 1 ♂ (paratype) (MNHN); Agadez (16°58'N, 7°59'E), 25.viii.1947, L. Chopard & A. Villiers— 1 ♀ (paratype) (MNHN); Agadez (16°58'N, 7°59'E), 20.viii.1989, [anonymous]— 3 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (OMOC); Arlit (18°44'N, 7°23'E), 15.ix.1977, P. Tauzin— 1 ♀ (paratype) (PMOC); Dabaga, Aïr sud, 600 m (17°18'N, 8°10'E), 13–16.viii.1947, L. Chopard & A. Villiers— 2 ♂♂ (2 paratypes) (MNHN); Taquei, Aïr Massif (18°25'48''N, 8°24'36''E), 26.viii.1983, P.C. Matteson— 1 ♂ (paratype) (BMNH); DIFFA, N’Guigmi (14°15'N, 13°7'E), viii.1919, Dr. Noel— 7 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂ (12 paratypes) (MNHN); N’Guigmi (14°15'N, 13°7'E), ix.1919, Dr. Noel— 12 ♀♀, 13 ♂♂ (25 paratypes) (MNHN); N’Guigmi (14°15'N, 13°7'E), vi–vii.1919, Dr. Noel— 1 ♂ (paratype) (MNHN); N’Guigmi (14°15'N, 13°7'E), x.1919, Dr. Noel— 1 ♂ (paratype) (MNHN); DOSSO, Toudou (14°7'N, 3°54'E), 10.viii.1989, [anonymous] —1 ♀ (paratype) (OMOC); Toudou (14°7'N, 3°54'E), 13.viii.1989, [anonymous]— 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (OMOC); SENEGAL: [unspecified locality], [no date], [anonymous] —1 ♂ (paratype) (BMNH); DAKAR, Keur Ndiaye Lô (14°45'25''N, 17°14'11''W), 20.viii.2013, I. de Dinechin— 1 ♂ (paratype) (CMD); DIOURBEL, Bambey (14°42'N, 16°28'W), viii.1939, J. Risbec— 2 ♂♂ (2 paratypes) (BMNH); Bambey (14°42'N, 16°28'W), 1945, J. Risbec— 1 ♂ (paratype) (BMNH); FATICK, Diouroup (14°21'N, 16°32'W), 14–18.viii.2007, P. Moretto— 4 ♀♀, 9 ♂♂ (13 paratypes) (FGIC, PMOC); KAOLAK, Missirah, 45 m (13°59'26''N, 15°7'4''W), 16.vii.2007, F. Génier (2007-01)— 12 ♀♀, 9 ♂♂ (21 paratypes) (FGIC); LOUGA, Linguère (15°24'N, 15°7'W), ix.1967, A. Descarpentries, T. Leye & A. Villiers— 496 specimens (paratype) (MNHN); Ndam-Dam (15°36'22''N, 16°23'35''W), xi.1967, A. Descarpentries, T. Leye & A. Villiers— 2 ♀♀, 7 ♂♂ (9 paratypes) (MNHN); Ndilla (15°20'N, 15°3'W), ix.1967, A. Descarpentries, T. Leye & A. Villiers— 1 ♂ (paratype) (MNHN); SAINT-LOUIS, Commune de Saint-Louis, 7 m (16°4'34''N, 16°22'40''W), 27.viii.2009, F. Génier (2009-33)— 1 ♀ (paratype) (FGIC); Commune de Saint-Louis, 7 m (16°4'34''N, 16°22'40''W), 27.viii.2009, P. Moretto— 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂ (4 paratypes) (PMOC); Podor (16°39'N, 14°57'30''W), viii–ix.1911, R. Chudeau— 1 ♀ (paratype) (MNHN); Richard-Toll (16°28'N, 15°41'W), 7–10.viii.2008, P. Moretto— 1 ♀ (paratype) (PMOC); Richard-Toll (16°28'N, 15°41'W), 28–31.viii.2009, F. Génier (2009-38)— 8 ♀♀, 20 ♂♂ (28 paratypes) (FGIC); Richard-Toll (16°28'N, 15°41'W), 28–30.viii.2009, F. Génier (2009-40)— 4 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (FGIC); Richard- Toll (16°28'N, 15°41'W), 28.viii.2009, F. Génier (2009-36)— 1 ♂ (paratype) (FGIC); Richard-Toll (16°28'N, 15°41'W), 28.viii–1.ix.2009, P. Moretto & F. Génier— 1 ♀, 2 ♂♂ (3 paratypes) (PMOC); Richard-Toll (16°28'N, 15°41'W), 30.viii.2009, F. Génier (2009-43)— 2 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂ (5 paratypes) (FGIC); Richard-Toll (16°28'N, 15°41'W), 30.viii.2009, F. Génier (2009-44)— 3 ♀♀, 17 ♂♂ (20 paratypes) (FGIC); Richard-Toll (16°28'N, 15°41'W), 31.viii.2009, F. Génier (2009-48)— 6 ♂♂ (6 paratypes) (FGIC); Richard-Toll (16°28'N, 15°41'W), 1.ix.2009, F. Génier (2009-49)— 1 ♀, 4 ♂♂ (5 paratypes) (FGIC); Richard-Toll (16°28'N, 15°41'W), 1.ix.2009, F. Génier (2009-50)— 3 ♂♂ (3 paratypes) (FGIC); Richard-Toll (16°28'N, 15°41'W), 3.ix.2009, F. Génier (2009- 52)— 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (FGIC); Saint-Louis (16°0'30''N, 16°29'30''W), 1899, V. Planchat— 13 ♀♀, 19 ♂♂ (32 paratypes) (MNHN); THIÈS, Kayar (14°55'N, 17°7'E), viii.1971, A. Villiers— 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (OMOC); Mbour (14°25'N, 16°58'W), viii.1995, P. Moretto— 13 ♀♀, 8 ♂♂ (21 paratypes) (PMOC); Meckhé (15°7'N, 16°38'W), [no date], [anonymous]— 1 ♂ (paratype) (MNHN); Nianing, 8 m (14°19'N, 16°55'43''W), 23.vii.2006, A. Coache— 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (JFJC); SUDAN: KHARTOUM, Environs de Khartoum (15°35'N, 32°32'E), [no date], [anonymous]— 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (paratypes) (MNHN).
Etymology. Sahelicus is a Latin adjective pertaining to the distribution of this species.
Natural history. A mostly Sahelian species associated with grassland and wooded and acacia steppes habitats and grassland enclave within degraded sudanese vegetation and along dried sandy riverbeds, on deep sandy soils. Individuals are common at light traps and also collected from, donkey, cow, and human dung. Some individuals collected in pitfall traps baited with rumen content, recently killed toads and monitor lizards.
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 21-24, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.439444