Three new species, a synonymy and taxonomic notes on southern African members of the dung beetle genera Scarabaeus s. str. Linnaeus, 1758 and Escarabaeus Zídek & Pokorný, 2011 (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

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Authors

Deschodt, Christian M.
Davis, Adrian L.V.
Scholtz, Clarke H.

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Taylor and Francis

Abstract

Three new species are described in the dung beetle genera Scarabaeus s. str. L., 1758, and Escarabaeus Zídek & Pokorný, 2011. Two comprise, Scarabaeus karae sp. nov. and Escarabaeus remii sp. nov. and are novelties. The third comprises Scarabaeus geminogalenus sp. nov., which describes a new species previously misidentified by Péringuey in 1901 and involved in a false synonymy by Janssens (1940). Notes are provided on the type specimen of Scarabaeus galenus. A close relative, Scarabaeus vicinus is recorded for the first time. Scarabaeus natalensis is synonymized with Scarabaeus basuto. Relationships and validity of a further five species are discussed: Scarabaeus convexus with S. spretus and S. rusticus; S. ebenus with S. interstitialis. The type specimen of Scarabaeus rixosus is also discussed galenus. Distribution maps are provided for the new species and those in the S. galenus species complex.

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Keywords

Endemic, Scarabaeidae, New species, Lost species found, New synonymy

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Christian M. Deschodt, Adrian L. V. Davis & Clarke H. Scholtz (2017) Three new species, a synonymy and taxonomic notes on southern African members of the dung beetle genera Scarabaeus s. str. Linnaeus, 1758 and Escarabaeus Zídek & Pokorný, 2011 (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), Journal of Natural History, 51:5-6, 299-316, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2016.1261949.