REVISION OF THE GENUS RHYZODINA CHEVROLAT, 1873 (COLEOPTERA, TENEBRIONIDAE, RHYSOPAUSSINI)
Resumen: El material típico, histórico de las especies del género Rhyzodina Chevrolat. 1873 es por primera vez revisado. Rhyzodina disctincta Wasmann, 1921, es redescrita y figurada. Rhyzodina mniszechii Chevrolat, 1873, de Etiopia corresponde a la descripción original y a las figuras de Westwood (1875). Esta especie es separada de Rhyzodina methneri Gebien, 1925 y de Rhyzodina mourgliai Ferrer, 1996, mal interpretadas y tratadas por Schawaller (2011, 2013) como dos subjectivos sinónimos de R. mniszechii Chevrolat. El método inadecuado empleado por Schawaller (2011), asumiendo sin ver los tipos, que las figuras no son realísticas, ya que no corresponden con su propio material es criticado. Muchos caracteres morfológicos y genitalias indicando la validez de los tres taxones son presentados. Como resultado de esta revisión, seis otras especies desconocidas, nuevas para la ciencia son descritas en esta revisión, confundidas entre el material previamente presentado como"Rhyzodina mniszechii" por Schawaller (2011, 2013). Todos los taxones son descritos, presentando los principales caracteres discriminatorios. La validez de los subgéneros Rhyzodina (s. str.), Apistocerus Fairmaire, 1869 y Eurhysodina Wasmann, 1921 queda confirmada. Una nueva clave se da para separar las diversas especies de Rhyzodina confundidas. Se presenta el material de diferentes museos, previamente examinado por Schawaller (2011, 2013), corregiendo las identificationes erróneas. Los tipos fueron fotografiados con un programa digital y sometidos a análisis morfológicos, para evitar artefactos de perspectiva. La especie omitida Rhyzodina distincta Wasmann, 1921, de Zimbabwe y cinco especies nuevas, previamente mal identificadas como “Rhyzodina mniszechi” Schawaller in litt., conservadas en diversas colecciones son descritas y figuradas: Rhyzodina neglecta n. sp., de Congo, Central Africa y Ruanda, Rhyzodina defraudata n. sp. de Congo, Rhyzodina merkli n. sp. de Camerun, Rhyzodina barclayi n. sp. de Zambia y Zaire y Rhyzodina bremeri n. sp., de Namibia. Además se describe una Rhyzodina n. sp. aff. mniszechii Chevrolat (nec Schawaller loc. cit.) de Zambia. La transferencia de Rhyzodina a la tribu Amarygmini propuesta por Schawaller (2011, 2013), es rechazada como arbitraria y basada en malas interpretaciones. Elementales nociones de dibujo, geometría y perspectiva se exponen explicando las persistentes equivocaciones de este autor. Key words: Rhysopaussini, Rhyzodina, revisión, material típico, errores, especies válidas, nuevas especies, Africa. Taxonomy / Taxonomía: Rhyzodina neglecta n. sp., Rhyzodina defraudata n. sp., Rhyzodina merkli n. sp., Rhyzodina barclayi n. sp. y Rhyzodina bremeri n. sp. Introduction In two recent papers Schawaller (2011, 2013) propose two subjective synonyms of Rhisodina mniszechii Chevrolat, 1873: Rhyzodina methneri Gebien, 1925 and Rhyzodina mourgliai Ferrer, 1996. This decision is taken without knowledgee of types of Chevrolat (1873) and Ferrer (1996), basing the examination in the description and figures by Westwood (1875), compared exclusively with the type of Rhyzodina methneri Gebien (1925). The characters exposed by Schawaller (2011, 2013) not agree with the morphology of the two types, unknown by him, nor with the description and figure of Rhyzodina mourgliai Ferrer, 1996. Following, the results presented by Schawaller (2011, 2013) not agree with the types of the three species treated as synonyms, or with the description and figures respectively given by Chevrolat (1873), Westwood (1875), Gebien (1925) and Ferrer (1996). Unfortunately, Schawaller (2011, 2013) overlook a good
Palabras clave:Rhysopaussini, Rhyzodina, revisión, material típico, errores, especies válidas, nuevas especies, Africa.
Abstract: The historic type material of the species of the genus Rhyzodina Chevrolat. 1873 is for the first time revised. Rhyzodina disctincta Wasmann, 1921, is redescribed and figured: Rhyzodina mniszechii Chevrolat, 1873, from Ethiopia agree with the original description and with the figures of Westwood (1875). This is separated from Rhyzodina methneri Gebien, 1925 and Rhyzodina mourgliai Ferrer, 1996, misinterpreted and treated by Schawaller (2011, 2013) as subjective synonyms of R. mniszechii Chevrolat. The inadequate method applied by Schawaller (2011) assuming that the original description and figures are unrealistic, because not correspond to their own material belonging to other taxa, is criticized. Several morphological characters and genitalia supporting the validity of all three taxa are presented. As results of this misinterpretation, six other unknown species, new to science were found under this revision, between the Rhyzodina materials previously examined and presented as "Rhyzodina mniszechii" by Schawaller (2011, 2013). All taxa are presented and the principal discriminatory characters described. The validity of the subgenera Rhyzodina (s. str.), Apistocerus Fairmaire, 1869 and Eurhysodina Wasmann, 1921 is confirmed. A new key is given to separate the diverse confused Rhyzodina species. The reexamined material from different museums, previously examined by Schawaller (2011, 2013) is listed, correcting the erroneous identifications; the types were accurately photographed, and submitted to digital program and mor- phologic analysis, to avoid perspective artifacts; the overlooked species Rhyzodina distincta Wasmann, 1921, from Zimbabwe and five new species, previously labeled as “Rhyzodina mniszechi” by Schawaller in litt. preserved in several collections are described: Rhyzodina neglecta n. sp., from Congo, Rep. of Central Africa and Ruanda, Rhyzodina defraudata n. sp. from Congo, Rhyzodina merkli n. sp. from Camerun, Rhyzodina barclayi n. sp. from Zambia and Zaire and Rhyzodina bremeri n. sp., from Namibia. Addi- tionally, a Rhyzodina n. sp. aff. mniszechii Chevrolat (nec Schawaller loc. cit.) from Zambia is described. The assignation of Rhyzodina to the tribe Amarygmini proposed by Schawaller (2011, 2013), is rejected as arbitrary and based in confusions.The inad- equate morphologic method applied by Schawaller (2011, 2013) is discussed. Elementary notions of drawing, geometry and per- spective are given explaining the persistent misinterpretations of this author.
Key words: Rhysopaussini, Rhyzodina, revision, type material, misinterpretations, valid species, new species, Africa.