New dung beetle (Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae : Scarabaeinae) taxa from arid south-western Africa

Abstract

In this paper we describe new taxa and discuss others previously described from arid south-west Africa. Descriptions are provided for a new monotypic genus (Variuscorpus Deschodt, Davis and Scholtz gen. n.) and three new species, Variuscorpus erongoensis Deschodt, Davis and Scholtz sp. n., Namakwanus endroedyi Deschodt, Davis and Scholtz, sp. n., and Scarabaeus (Kheper) kalaharicus Davis, Deschodt and Scholtz, sp. n. Scarabaeus (Scarabaeus) hottentorum Péringuey is examined and the validity of its name and type locality are discussed. The recently described Scarabaeus (Kheper) namibicus Krajcik 2006 is synonymised with Scarabaeus (Kheper) cupreus Castelnau 1840. Distribution records are provided for all cited taxa and closely related species are discussed.