Chiron vignei Huchet, 2025

Chiron vignei Huchet View in CoL sp. nov. ( Figs. 3 View FIGURE 3 , 8, 11 View FIGURES 8–13 , 15 View FIGURES 14–17 , 18–20 View FIGURES 18–26 , 27 View FIGURE 27 )

Holotype ♂ ( CJBH), labeled: (a) rectangular, white paper, printed: “TANZANIA-Dodoma Prov. / 35 km E. Dodoma / S 05°54’ E 35°45’, 14 XII 2006, 1100 m / M. Kadlecová lgt.”; (b) rectangular, red paper, printed: “ HOLOTYPE ”; (c) rectangular, red paper, printed: “ Chiron vignei n. sp. / HOLOTYPE / Huchet 2025”. Genitalia included in a small drop of DMHF on a glue board pinned beneath the specimen. To ensure the perpetuity of this material, the holotype is intended to be deposited at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris.

Allotype ♀ idem holotype with red label: “ Chiron vignei n. sp. / ALLOTYPE ♀ / Huchet 2025” ( CJBH) . Paratypes (69): idem holotype ( 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ in MNHN; 13 ♂♂, 18 ♀♀ in CJBH; 1 ♀ in CJDV; 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀ in CADW) ; TANZANIA c., pr. Dodoma / 40 km N of Dodoma / 05°54’ S; 35°45’ E, 1100 m / leg. F. Kantner 15.XII.2007 ( 6 ♂♂, 16 ♀♀ in SMNS) GoogleMaps ; Tanzanie Tabora prov. / Wembere Swamp / 10km S Iguna, 1057m / 04°21’47’’S 33°45’46’’E / J. Halada 13 XII 2017 ( 2 ♂♂ in CJBH) GoogleMaps ; Tanzania : D. O. Africa, Upangwa * ( 3 specimens in NHRS) .

* The locality “D. O. Africa, Upangwa” as indicated on the labels of the three specimens housed at NHRS, proved difficult to pinpoint with precision. However, the article by Marcus (1921: 177) provides crucial information, situating this locality as follows: “Nordost-Ufer des Nyassa-Sees, Upangwa, 2000–2500 m ”. This indicates that Upangwa is located on the northeastern shore of Lake Nyassa (present-day Lake Malawi), at an elevation between 2000 and 2500 meters.

Diagnosis. Body cylindrical, robust. Dorsal surface highly glossy, orangish brown; margins of mandibles, including occlusal region, black; inner margin of juxtasutural interstria and outer edge of fore tibiae darkened. Ventral surface and legs reddish. Body size relatively large (total length: 6.5–9.0 mm).

Description of the holotype ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 ). Length: 8.3 mm (from apex of mandibles to apical margin of tergite VIII). Width: 2.3 mm (greatest pronotal width).

Head very transverse, distinctly convex across frons and vertex ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 8–13 ). Cephalic punctuation double, consisting of small, sparse punctures on the clypeus, becoming denser between the two tubercles; frons with deeply impressed medium-sized punctures, that are sparsely distributed and confluent in the anterior third, becoming smaller and more widely spaced on the vertex. Labrum transverse, quadridentate; outer teeth slightly projecting anteriorly beyond the inner ones; surface translucent, finely microrugose. Clypeus slightly declivous anteriorly; anterior margin weakly concave at midline, as wide as the base of the labrum; lateral margins obliquely directed posteriorly, bearing 6–7 strong denticles. Spaces between denticles each with a long, flattened, lanceolate seta. Median tubercles relatively small, closely spaced (intertubercular distance less than basal width of labrum), darkened at apex, forwardly-directed, connected by a barely perceptible carina, bounded posteriorly by a shallow transverse impression. Lateral tubercles flattened, positioned laterally behind the median tubercles. Supra-genal ridges well developed, reaching anterointernal edge of eye. Genae depressed, slightly curved, barely projecting beyond the eye in dorsal view. Epicranial suture carinulate, curved inward. Antennae entirely light yellowish brown; scape elongate, approximately 1.5× as long as the funicle. Mandibles robust, slightly asymmetrical; outer margin evenly convex; lateral ridge raised; left apical angle obtusely rounded, slightly projecting vertically at apex; right apical angle more acute. Ventral surface with a strong longitudinal median keel extending from mandibular base to just before its midlength. Mentum strongly transverse, subquadrangular, disc regularly convex, without basal fovea ( Figs. 11 View FIGURES 8–13 , 15 View FIGURES 14–17 ); anterior margin slightly sinuate before the anterolateral angles, which are prominent; median portion weakly convex anteriorly; posterior margin distinctly concave. Palpigers subtriangular; anterior margin medially concave, obliquely truncated towards posterior angles ( Fig. 15 View FIGURES 14–17 ). Pronotum cylindrical, oblong, margined at base and laterally; sides subparallel. Anterior margin translucent, attenuated, bordered posteriorly by a slightly darkened transverse band. Lateral margins subparallel; marginal border anterior to posterior angles concealed in dorsal view due to ventral inflexion; anterior angles visible from above, projecting forward; posterior angles obtusely rounded. Punctuation similar to that of head, sparser; punctures occasionally aligned longitudinally on either side of anterior rim, along anterior margin. A rudimentary darkened fovea present posterolaterally. Sternellum hemipyramidal, produced into a point between fore coxae; base obtusely angulate, darkened basally, margins ciliate. Disc with irregular punctuation of moderately coarse, setigerous punctures; two long paramedian setae located just anterior to base. Scutellum very narrow, linear, narrower than juxtasutural interstria. Mesosternum convex, finely margined along median coxae; disc with confused, vermiculate punctuation. Metasternum convex, glossy; metasternal groove complete, well-defined, distinctly foveolate. Elytra oblong, glossy, entirely black except for reddish juxtasutural interstriae; lateral margins slightly sinuate posterior to humeral callus; greatest width behind their midlength. Interstriae nearly flat. Elytral striae shallowly punctate-striate; punctures very small, separated by 1–2 puncture diameters; barely impinging on the interstriae, which are smooth with sparse micropunctures. Apical strial anastomosis: 1–10; 2–9; 3–4; 5–6; 7–8 (*). Fore tibiae quadridentate along outer margin, often with one or more basal accessory denticles. Apical spur stout, reaching midlength of third protarsomere. Abdomen convex. Sternites III–VII covered with coarse, setigerous foveolate punctures, aligned transversely. Sternite VIII with similar but larger punctures, irregularly arranged. Tergite VIII with numerous large umbilicate setigerous pores bearing very long setae along lateral margins and disc; central area smooth, with sparse micropunctures. In dorsal view, surface densely punctate-reticulate, with short setae arising from foveolate punctures on a rugose background.

(*) Remark. In some specimens, apical strial anastomosis may vary as follows: 1–10, 2–9, 3–6, 4–5, 7–8.

Genitalia ( Figs. 18–20 View FIGURES 18–26 ). Aedeagus with elongate phallobase, curved dorsoventrally; parameres symmetrical, relatively elongate, regularly apically acuminate in lateral view; outer margins of parameres evenly convex in frontal view.

Sexual dimorphism. ♂: Pygidium strongly inflexed ventrally; terminal abdominal sternite compressed and raised medially ( Figs. 4, 6 View FIGURES 4–7 ). Mentum distinctly transverse. ♀: Pygidium evenly convex; terminal abdominal sternite very broad, not medially compressed ( Figs. 5, 7 View FIGURES 4–7 ). Mentum weakly transverse, subquadrangular.

Etymology. This new species is named in honor of Dr Jean-Denis Vigne (CNRS, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris), in recognition of his pioneering contributions to the study of past human-animal relationships, and as a sincere expression of the deep esteem and enduring friendship I hold toward him. He has spent a lifetime unearthing bones from the past—a fitting namesake for a beetle with legs well designed for digging.

Distribution. Tanzania.

Habitat diversity and elevational range of Chiron vignei Huchet sp. nov., in Tanzania.

Chiron vignei Huchet sp. nov. occurs across a broad altitudinal range, from approximately 1050 m to 2500 m, and inhabits diverse ecological zones in Tanzania. It has been collected in the dry wooded savannas of the central plateau ( Dodoma region, 1100 m), as well as in the seasonal marshlands of the Wembere floodplain ( Tabora region, 1057 m), characterized by hygrophilous herbaceous vegetation and a fluctuating hydrological regime driven by seasonal flooding. At higher elevations, the species is recorded from Upangwa, on the northeastern shore of Lake Malawi ( 2000–2500 m), in a setting of humid montane to subalpine forest, with a distinctly cooler and wetter climate.

This distribution reflects a eurytopic ecology, with the species able to occupy highly contrasting habitats— from temporary wetlands and dry lowland savannas to humid tropical mountain forests.

Differential diagnosis. Chiron vignei Huchet sp. nov. is characterized by a very robust habitus, large body size, a markedly transverse head and pronotum, and highly glossy elytra and pronotum. In Tanzania, where two other species with a quadridentate labrum were previously known ( Chiron volvulus and C. massaicus ), the three species can be distinguished as detailed in Table 1.