Abstract
Four new Laccophilus species are described from Madagascar, three belonging to the L. alluaudi-group (Laccophilus leguyaderi sp. nov., endemic of the Andringitra massif, L. bergsteni sp. nov., endemic of central highland mountains, and L. makay sp. nov., endemic of the Makay massif) and one belonging to the L. laeticulus group (L. rakouthae sp. nov., endemic of the Ankaratra massif). Habitus in dorsal and ventral views and male genitalia are illustrated for the new species (and for comparison, L. alluaudi and L. transversovittatus); furthermore, their habitat preferences and geographical distributions are described and illustrated. An identification key for all species of the L. alluaudi group is provided. The discussion is focused on the interest of the newly described taxa in the context of species radiations in Madagascar.
References
Abellán, P., Millán, A. & Ribera, I. (2009) Parallel habitat-driven differences in the phylogeographical structure of two independent lineages of Mediterranean saline water beetles. Molecular Ecology, 18, 3885–3902.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04319.x
Benetti, C.J., Short, A.E.Z. & Michat, M.C. (2019) Hamadiana chapadensis, a new genus and species of diving beetle from Brazil (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Laccophilinae, Laccophilini). Zootaxa, 4651 (1), 176–184.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4615.1.10
Bergsten, J., Manuel, M., Ranarilalatiana, T., Ramahandrison, A.T. & Hájek, J. (in press) Dytiscidae, diving beetles, tsikovoka. In: Goodman, S.M. (Ed.), The natural history of Madagascar, 2nd Edition. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Biström, O., Nilsson, A.N. & Bergsten, J. (2015) Taxonomic revision of Afrotropical Laccophilus Leach, 1815 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae). ZooKeys, 542, 1–379.
https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.542.5975
Fery, H. & Bouzid, S. (2016) Notes on Graptodytes Seidlitz, 1887, re-instatement of G. laeticulus (Sharp, 1882) as valid species and description of Tassilodytes nov.gen. from Algeria (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Hydroporinae, Siettitiina). Linzer Biologische Beiträge, 48 (1), 451–481.
Ganzhorn, J.U., Wilmé, L. & Mercier, J.L. (2014) Explaining Madagascar’s biodiversity. In: Scales, I.R. (Ed.), Conservation and environmental management in Madagascar. Routledge, London, pp. 17–43.
Hjalmarsson, A.E., Bukontaite, R., Ranarilalatiana, T., Randriamihaja, J.H. & Bergsten, J. (2013) Taxonomic revision of Madagascan Rhantus (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Colymbetinae) with an emphasis on Manjakatompo as a conservation priority. ZooKeys, 350, 21–45.
https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.350.6127
Hjalmarsson, A.E., Bergsten, J. & Monaghan, M.T. (2014) Dispersal is linked to habitat use in 59 species of water beetles (Coleoptera: Adephaga) on Madagascar. Ecography, 38, 732–739.
https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.01138
Isambert, B., Bergsten, J., Monaghan, M.T., Andriamizehy, H., Ranarilalatiana, T., Ratsimbazafy, M., Andriniainimanana, J.R. & Vogler, A.P. (2011) Endemism and evolutionary history in conflict over Madagascar’s freshwater conservation priorities. Biological Conservation, 144, 1902–1909.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2011.04.016
Queney, P. & Manuel, M. (2019) Graptodytes exsanguis (Bedel, 1925) n. stat., a newly recognised species of diving beetle from North Africa, Corsica and Sardinia, with notes on other taxa of the varius/ignotus complex (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae). Annales de la Société Entomologique de France, 55 (6), 509–527.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00379271.2019.1689330
Marten, A., Brändle, M. & Brandl, R. (2006) Habitat type predicts genetic population differentiation in freshwater invertebrates. Molecular Ecology, 15, 2643–2651.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2006.02940.x
Miller, K.B. & Bergsten, J. (2016) Diving beetles of the world. Systematics and biology of the Dytiscidae. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, 320 pp.
Miller, K.B. & Nilsson, A.N. (2003) Homology and terminology: communicating information about rotated structures in water beetles. Latissimus, 17, 1–4.
Myers, N., Mittermeier, R.A., Mittermeier, C.G., da Fonseca, G.A.B. & Kent, J. (2000) Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature, 403, 853–858.
https://doi.org/10.1038/35002501
Nilsson, A.N. & Hájek, J. (2020) A world catalogue of the family Dytiscidae, or the diving beetles (Coleoptera, Adephaga). Version 1 January 2020. Distributed by the authors. Available from: http://www.waterbeetles.eu (accessed 1 April 2020)
Ranarilalatiana, T. (2019) Diversité de Copelatus Erichson, 1832 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae) de Madagascar et des coléoptères Adephaga aquatiques dans les vestiges forestiers du Haut Plateau Central particulièrement sur les aires protégées de Manjakatompo Ankaratra, d’Ambohitantely et d’Anjozorobe-Angavo. PhD Thesis, Université d’Antananarivo, Antananarivo, 265 pp.
Ribera, I. & Faille, A. (2010) A new microphthalmic stygobitic Graptodytes Seidlitz from Morocco, with a molecular phylogeny of the genus (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae). Zootaxa, 2641 (1), 1–14.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2641.1.1
Vences, M., Andreone, F., Glaw, F., Raminosoa, N., Randrianirina, J.E. & Vieites, D.R. (2002) Amphibians and reptiles of the Ankaratra Massif: reproductive diversity, biogeography and conservation of a montane fauna in Madagascar. Italian Journal of Zoology, 69, 263–284.
https://doi.org/10.1080/11250000209356469