Cyphochilus gandhii Sabatinelli, 2020

Sreedevi, Kolla, Sahoo, Kishore Chandra, Ajaykumara, Kattigehalli Math, Boopathi, Thangavel, Sushil, Satya Nand & Sabatinelli, Guido, 2025, Revision of Indian Cyphochilus Waterhouse, 1867 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) with description of two new species, Zootaxa 5693 (2), pp. 201-222 : 206

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5693.2.4
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:16A01C84-EC8B-46C0-9EDE-979CF6CE5822
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17322230
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03DD1656-DA16-FFE0-ABB7-B2838B9DF0B1
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Cyphochilus gandhii Sabatinelli, 2020
status

Treatment

Cyphochilus gandhii Sabatinelli, 2020 View in CoL

( Figs 8–11 View FIGURES 8–11 )

Type locality: India: West Bengal (Darjeeling: Kurseong)

Type material examined. Holotype ♂ MHNG: India / Kurseong , [ West Bengal, Darjeeling] V.1975 // (ENTO-81686) . Paratypes: 1 ♂ BMNH: Allahabad (sub. C. candidus det. Waterhouse) — 8 ♂♂ 8 ♀♀ ISNB: Kurseong (sub C. pygidialis det. Moser) — 4 ♂♂ 6 ♀♀ MHNG: same data as previous — 1 ♂ BMNH: same data as previous , sub C. candidus det. Arrow— 1 ♂ HNHM: same data as previous — 1 ♂ NMPC: same data as previous , sub. C. candidus det. Frey— 2 ♂♂ 6 ♀♀ MHNG: Maria Basti [Christian church near Pedong] — 2 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀ MHNG: Pedong — 1 ♂ MSNG: same data as previous — 2 ♀♀ ISNB: Darjeeling — 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀♀ ISNB: Calcutta — 2 ♂♂ ISNB: Sikkim — 3 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀ MTD: same data as previous — 1 ♂ MTD: Assam — 1 ♂ MHNG: same data as previous — 8 ♂♂ 8 ♀♀ NHMB: btw. Dirang & Bomdila pass. / 27˚19’ N 92˚22’ E, 2200m / 15.VI.2004 / leg. L.Dembický— 6 ♂♂ ISNB: India .

Additional material examined: India ( Arunachal Pradesh): 2 ♂♂ NBAIR,Ziro 27°32′N 93°49′E, 12.vii.2023, leg. K.M. Ajaykumara. GoogleMaps

Diagnosis. Parameres strongly asymmetrical; the left paramere bears a ventral process arising from its base that curves around the right paramere and projects dorsally. The right paramere displays a distinct basal concavity ( Fig. 8A–C View FIGURES 8–11 ).

Distribution. India: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal ( Sabatinelli 2020b).

Remarks: Cyphochilus gandhii can be readily distinguished from all other congeners by its relatively large body size, the absence of elevated elytral striae, the presence of a prominently elongated mesosternal process, and the unique morphology of its parameres. It is most similar to C. tenzingyatsoi , but differs notably in having a longer antennal club—surpassing the combined length of antennomeres 2–7—and a convex, pointed apex of the right paramere (cf. Figs 8 View FIGURES 8–11 vs. 27). Historical misidentifications include specimens labeled by Moser as C. pygidialis Nonfried, 1893 , and by Arrow as C. candidus .