Ptilophorus purcharti sp. nov., the first ripiphorid from Socotra Island, with an account of the biogeography of the Ptilophorini (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae)
Batelka Jan
Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 52(supplementum 2): 269-285, 2012
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Abstract: Ptilophorus purcharti sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae) from Socotra Island,
Yemen, is described and figured. It is compared with all known Afrotropical and
Palaearctic species of the genus and is considered to be a relictual species
with Asian relatives. The distribution of the species seems to be restricted to
the Afromontane forest habitats in Al Hagher mountain range. A preliminary
phylogenetic analysis of Ptilophorini is performed and discussed. The density
and length of setation on the antennal rami of Ptilophorini males are shown to
be characters of potential phylogenetic importance which may help to understand
the biogeography of the tribe. A preliminary hypothesis of Ptilophorini
biogeography is proposed.
Key words: Coleoptera, Ripiphoridae, Ptilophorinae, Ptilophorini, Ptilophorus, Toposcopus, biogeography, new species, phylogeny, Yemen, Socotra