Revision of the genus Epuraea Er. From Africa with remarks to related genera (Col., Nididulidae)

Abstract: Apart from a few obviously heterogeneous elements, Ethiopian and Malagassy Nitidulidae, hitherto described as Epuraea, belong to a complex of five closely related genera. Two of those genera, Haptoncurina and Parepuraea, are described as new to science in the present paper. The genus Trimenus Murray is given as new to the Ethiopian fauna. Genus Epuraea Er. is represented by 10 species in Ethiopian and 2 species in Malagassy regions. Six of them are described as new to science. Genus Haptoncurina Jelinek is represented by only widely distributed species in Africa. Two further Malagassy species are listed. Genus Parepuraea Jelinek includes three Ethiopian and one Malagassy species. 1 species and 3 subspecies are new to science. Epuraea bohemani Plavilshtshikov (= E. bisignata Boheman) is conspecific with Haptoncus ocularis (Fairm.). Ethiopian and Malagassy faunas of Epuraea Er. and Parepuraea are without any doubt very closely related. They have, like the only Ethiopian species of Trimenus, some peculiar features, suggesting their long isolated development. On the other hand, Haptoncurina and Haptoncus Murray are essentially Oriental genera and they seem to be rather recent immigrants to the Ethiopian region.

Key words: Coleoptera, Nitidulidae, Afrotropical, Madagascar, new species, new genus, key to species, new synonym