ANDOGYRUS OCHS, 1924

SUBGENUS ANDOGYRUS OCHS, 1924 STAT. NOV.

( FIGS 2 View Figure 2 , 4D View Figure 4 , 5B View Figure 5 , 6B View Figure 6 , 8A, 8D View Figure 8 , 9A View Figure 9 , 12A View Figure 12 )

Type species: Andogyrus ellipticus (Brullé, 1836) .

Synonyms: Proteogyrus Mouchamps, 1951.

Diagnosis: Within the genus Macrogyrus , Andogyrus can be diagnosed by the following combination of characters: (1) clypeus narrow, (2) elytra without canaliculate microsculpture, (3) metaventrite medially pentagonal in form ( Fig. 6B View Figure 6 ) and (4) metaventral discrimen with elongate transverse sulcus ancestrally (as in Fig. 10A View Figure 10 ). The elongate transverse sulcus of the metaventral discrimen is lost in many species of the subgenus Andogyrus , but its presence in M. seriatopunctatus suggests the absence to be a secondary loss, given its phylogenetic position ( Fig. 2 View Figure 2 ).

Taxonomy: This subgenus has twenty known species. The species of this subgenus were last treated by Brinck (1977).

Distribution: Found along the Andes of South America, from Venezuela to Argentina ( Brinck, 1977).

Discussion: The separation of Andogyrus from Macrogyrus was based primarily on distribution ( Ochs, 1924), and Hatch (1926) proved quite correct in asserting that the Australian Macrogyrus were derived from a common ancestor similar to Andogyrus . As can be seen from the phylogeny ( Fig. 2 View Figure 2 ), Andogyrus is far too similar to Macrogyrus to be regarded as a genus distinct from the latter. Instead Andogyrus should be regarded as an early diverging lineage within Macrogyrus . Especially given the very distinct synapomorphy of the male protarsal discus. Separating these two groups into formal genera would also suggest Cyclous and Dineutus s.s. deserve separation into distinct genera, using similar phylogenetic logic.