Sternopriscus aquilonaris
Ordo: Coleoptera
Familia: Dytiscidae
Genus: Sternopriscus
Name
Sternopriscus aquilonaris Hendrich & Watts, 2004
Type locality
Intermittent creek near Mount Borradaile, Northern Territory, Australia.
Type material
Holotype: male, "Cooper Creek nr. Mt. Borradaile N.T. 7/10/98 C.Watts" (SAMA). - Paratypes: Northern Territory: 12 male and 11 femalesame data as holotype (SAMA); 3 female, "NT Kakadu Hwy 31km from Pine Creek 31/1/99 C.H.S.Watts" (SAMA); 8 male and 17 female, "N.T. 5km. SE Mt. Borradaile stn 8/10/98 C. Watts", "Shallow rock pool, dead leaves" (SAMA); 3 maleand 6 female, "45k W Borroloola NT. T.Reardon 8/82" (SAMA); 2 female, "Moriarity Creek N.T. T. Reardon 8/82" (SAMA); 5 maleand 7 female, "Australia N.T./ Kakadu N.P., Jim Jim District, Jim Jim Falls Camping Area, Jim Jim Creek, 60 m, 26. & 27.10. 1996 S 13°16. 218' E 132°49. 276', L. Hendrich leg. / Lok. 2." (CLH, NMW); 3 maleand 2 female, "Australia N.T. / Kakadu N.P., Mary River District, Old Darwin Road, Black Jungle Spring, 30 m, 30.10.1996 S 13°02. 908' E 132°09. 715', L. Hendrich leg. / Lok. 7." (CLH); 1 female, "Australia, N.T./ Kakadu N.P., Mary River District, 3 km ESE Gunlom Camping Area. South Alligator River, 50 m, 2.11.1996 S 13°27. 276' E 132°26. 268', L. Hendrich leg. / Lok. 14." (CLH); 1 female, "Australia N.T./ Kakadu N.P., Jim Jim District, Old Darwin Road, Barramundi Creek, 30 m, 30.10.1996 S 12°59. 652' E 132°22. 928', L. Hendrich leg. / Lok. 8" (CLH); 2 female, "Australia N.T./ Kakadu N.P., Jim Jim District, Gungurul Lookout, 50 m, 1.11.1996 S 13°59. 359' E 132°19. 904', L. Hendrich leg. / Lok. 11" (CLH); 1 male, "12.41S 132.56E Georgetown Billabong 7 km NbyW Mt. Brockman NT 12 Nov. 1981 P. Outridge" (ANIC); 10 male and 7 female, "12.06S 133.04E Cooper Ck., NT 19km E by S of Mt. Borradaile 3.xi.72, in stagnant pool in sandy creek bed, E. Britton" (ANIC); 1 female, "N.T. Gosse R. Murchison Ranges 29.ix.1983 H.Larson" (NTM); 3 male, "Australia No. Terr. Pond @ junction Edith Falls road & Hwy 1, Oct. 1, 1992 G.L.Challet" (CGC); 4 male, "Australia No. Terr. Large pond nr. Butterfly Gorge Nature Park, Oct. 1, 1992 G.L.Challet" (CGC); 12 exs., "AUSTRALIA/ NT/ Great Northern Hwy., 50 km S Wyndham, Black Flag Creek, 13.8.1999, Hendrich leg./coll. Loc. 4/ 104" (CLH); 14 exs., "AUSTRALIA/ NT/ Great Northern Hwy., 38 km WSW Katherine, King River Bridge, 50 m, 12.2.1999, Hendrich leg./coll. Loc. 2/ 102" (CLH); 1 male and 8 female, "Adelaide River NW Australia J.J. Walker", "G.C. Champion Coll. B.M.1927-409", "Sternopriscus hansardii Clk. Balfour-Browne det."; 4 female, "4947", "Adelaide River 92-2", "Sternopriscus hansardii Clk. = clavatus Sharp Balfour-Browne det." (BMNH). Queensland: 1 male and 1 female, "Australia N.Qld./Atherton Tableland, 30km NNW Mareeba n. Mitchell lake, 9.11.1996, Hendrich leg./Lok.20" (CLH); 2 female, "40k N. Coen Qld. 25/7/82 C. Watts" (SAMA); 1 male, "Lakeland Downs Qld. 10/83 C. Watts" (SAMA); 2 male and 3 female, "8 km N Bluewater QLD 3.2.97 C.Watts" (SAMA); 1 female, "Bowen Queensland A. Simson", "865/1787" (SAMA); 1 male and 6 female, "Bluewater 8 km N QLD 3.11.95 C.Watts" (SAMA); 1 female, "Almaden, Qld. 8/82, T. Reardon" (SAMA); 1 male, "Australia (QLD) Atherton Tableland creek Mareeba env. 18/11/98 Pederzani" (CLH); 17 exs., "13.06'S 142.56'E QLD Wenlock River Xing 26 Oct. 1992 T. Weir, P. Zborowski still stagnant pools in dry river bed" (ANIC); 1 male and 2 female, "13.26'S 142.19'E QLD Archer River 27 Oct. 1992 T. Weir, P. Zborowski stagnant rocky pools" (ANIC); 2 female, "13.06'S 142.56'E QLD Wenlock River Xing 22 Nov. 1992 A. Calder, P. Zborowski water sweep" (ANIC); 1 female, "11.07'S 142.39'E QLD 16 km W by N of Ussher Point 18.Oct.1992 T.Weir, P. Zborowski water sweep" (ANIC); 1 female, "12.06'S 142.33'E Rocky Ck QLD 17 Aug 1992 water sweep, P. Zborowski & J. Cardale" (ANIC); 1 male, "16.28S 144.46E Reedy St. George R. Cooktown Rd., Q. 22.V.76, E.B. Britton" (ANIC); 1 male, "15.26'S 144.11'E QLD Kennedy River Xing 16 Jun. 1992 T. Weir temp.pool in dry river bed, sandy base" (ANIC); 1 female, "12.40'S 142.39'E Batavia Downs QLD 22 Jun – 23 Aug 1992 Flight Intercept Trap, P. Zborowski & J. Cardale" (ANIC); 5 female, "12.12'S 142.22'E Bertiehaugh Creek QLD 13 Aug. 1993 watersweep P. Zborowski & J.Balderson" (ANIC); 1 female, "18.35'S 138.03'E GPS Murrays Spring 8 km WbyN of Musselbrook Mining Camp (QLD)NT 9-20 May 1995 T.Weir" (ANIC); 1 female, "18.37'S 137.59'E GPS Border Waterhole, Musselbrook Ck 15km W by S Musselbrook Mining Camp (QLD)NT 14 May 1995 T.Weir at light" (ANIC); 1 male, "18.39S 138.12E GPS 10km SE Musselbrook Mining Camp QLD 13 May 1995 T.Weir at light" (ANIC); 1 male, "Australia: N. QLD Southedge R.D. via Mareba 30.ix.1990 D. Larson ex. Farm dam" (QDPIM); 1 male, "Australia: N. QLD Little Mitchell R. 40 km N Mareeba 21.ix.1990 D. Larson" (QDPIM); 1 male, "Australia: N. Qld 11 km WSW of Petford 3-4-IV-1988 R.I. Storey at light" (QDPIM); 3 male and 7 female, "Australia N Qld. Crk. in Silver Valley 14.4 km from Hwy 1 Dec.7, 1997, G. Challet" (CGC); 1 ex., "Australia: N Qld. Silver Valley, Dec 8 1997 G. L. Challet" (CGC); 8 female, "Australia N Qld. pond at E Annan Riv. Dec. 9, 1997, G. Challet" (CGC); 2 exs., "Australia: N Qld. Pond on Development Rd. 2km S. Cookshire line Dec 9, 1997 G. Challet" (CGC); 4 exs., "Australia: N Qld. Emu Creek near Petford Dec 4, 1997 G. L. Challet" (CGC); 7 exs., "Australia: N Qld. Chiligie Creek Dec 8, 1997 G. L. Challet" (CLH, CGC); 1 female, "Hann River 110km S of Coen N. Qld, 27 June 1970 J.C. LeSouef" (NMV), 1 female, "Australia: N Qld. Archer Creek south of Ravenshoe Petford Dec 6, 1997 G. L. Challet" (CGC); "Australia: N Qld. Bismark Creek @ Hwy Dec 4, 1997 G. L. Challet" (CGC). Western Australia: 2 exs., "AUSTRALIA/ WA/ East Kimberley, East Gibb River Road, Barnett River Gorge, 450 m, 19.6.1999, Hendrich leg./coll. Loc.17/ 117" (CLH); 4 exs., "AUSTRALIA/ WA/ East Kimberley, Kalumburu Road, Meelarie Creek, 5 km N Drysdale Crossing, 350 m, 19.6.1999, Hendrich leg./coll. Loc. 15/ 115" (CLH); 2 exs., "AUSTRALIA/ WA/ East Kimberley, Kalumburu Road, 25 km NW King Edward Homestead, 370 m, 18.6.1999, Hendrich leg./coll. Loc. 14/ 114" (CLH); 1 exs., "AUSTRALIA/ WA/ East Kimberley, Mitchell Plateau, Mitchell Falls Camp. Area, 300 m, 14. + 15.6.1999, Hendrich leg./coll. Loc.11/ 111" (CLH); 1 ex., "AUSTRALIA/ WA/ East Kimberley, Mitchell Plateau, Little Mertens Falls, 15.6.1999, Hendrich leg./coll. Loc.11a/ 111a" (CLH); 2 exs., "AUSTRALIA/ WA/ East Kimberley, N.N. Creek 40 km W Kununurra, 50 m, 29.6.1999, Hendrich leg./coll. Loc. 30/ 130" (CLH); 6 exs., "AUSTRALIA/ WA/ East Kimberley, Mitchell Plateau, Surveyors Pool, 150 m, 17.6.1999, Hendrich leg./coll. Loc. 12/ 112" (CLH); 1 ex., "AUSTRALIA/ WA/ East Kimberley, Gibb River Road/Fairfield Leopold Road, Lennard River Bridge, 50 m, 24.6.1999, Hendrich leg./coll. Loc. 23/ 123" (CLH); 7 exs., "AUSTRALIA/ WA/ East Kimberley, Gibb River Road, Saddler Spring, Iminji Aboriginal Community, 350 m, 22.6.1999, Hendrich leg./coll. Loc. 20/ 120" (CLH).
DNA Sequences
European Nucleotide Archive (ENA)
Description
Measurements: Holotype, male: TL = 3.40 mm, TL-H = 3.04 mm; width = 1.64 mm. Paratypes, males: TL = 3.16 - 3.40 mm, TL-H = 2.84 - 3.04 mm; width = 1.62 - 1.66 mm; females: 2.84 - 3.08 mm, TL-H = 2.52 - 2.80 mm; width = 1.46 - 1.56 mm.
Colour: Head dark brown to black, central triangular area from antennal bases to rear margin, testaceous; pronotum testaceous, front and rear margins widely dark brown to black except near lateral edges; elytron dark brown to black with three testaceous bands, often breaking up into two spots, tip testaceous; ventral surface dark brown to black, prosternum, appendages lighter, antennal segments 5 - 7 darker, palpi testaceous.
Sculpture: Moderately reticulate, punctures moderate, weaker on head. Pronotal plica moderately raised reaching halfway or a bit more along pronotum. Edge of elytron weakly serrate towards tip, slightly wider towards tip, abruptly narrowing near apex, apex acuminate. Pronotal process relatively broad, rugose-punctate, curved in lateral view, reaching mesosternum. Centre of mesosternum ridged anteriorly. Metacoxal lines raised, relatively close, moderately diverging in apical half.
Male: Larger. Antennal segments 5 - 7 progressively enlarged, segment 8 as wide as segment 7 about two thirds length, segments 9 and 10 weakly expanded, apical segment a little wider than segment 10 about as long as segments 9 and 10 combined, segments 7 - 8 concave beneath. Apical segment of labial palpi very stout, tip bifid. Pro- and mesotrochantera with thin ridge near apex. Protarsus moderately expanded; protibia curved on inside near base; profemur with small spine on front edge near middle. Mesotarsal segments 1 and 2 moderately, asymmetrically, expanded; mesotibia weakly curved; mesofemur with small peg-like structure at base, adjacent to ridge on mesotrochanter. Median lobe of aedeagus broad, tip complex with strong ventral finger, very thin in lateral view, parameres broad.
Female: Smaller. Appendages simple, tarsal segments symmetrical, weakly expanded.
Affinities
A member of the S. hansardi group. The only Sternopriscus in northern Australia with the palpi evenly pale. Median lope of aeadeagus with well developed ventral finger-like extention.
Habitat
A rheophilic species. In the Northern Territory the species was collected in exposed, deep (60 - 100cm), broad (up to 6 m), low-gradient parts of rivers with bottoms consisting of stones, gravel and sand, and with a thin layer of organic debris. The riverine forest was dominated by Swamp Bloodwood or Anbamberre. Most of the specimens were collected in mats of floating grass and roots along the edge of the water. A few were obtained from small, semi-shaded, flood-zone pools with coarse sand and gravel and the bottom covered with a few decaying leaves in an otherwise mostly dry area of the Jim Jim Creek river bed. At Gunlom the species was collected among leaf litter in protected, shallow, shaded (Giant Bamboo, Eucalyptus) embayments along the sandy bank of the South Alligator River. At Gubara the species was collected in small, shaded pools in the flood-zone of a monsoon rainforest stream dominated by Native Nutmeg, Calophyllum, Horsfieldia and Antwolbon Trees. The water was clear, up to 20 cm deep, the bottom gravely and sandy with a thick layer of decaying leaves. In the dry season the Black Jungle Spring is a spring fed, slow flowing, shallow (up to 30 cm deep) stream, rich in organic debris and partly shaded by Pandanus trees with a bottom of gravel and coarse sand, partly covered with a thick layer of dark organic silt.
Etymology
A widespread species in northern coastal Australia (aquilonaris: Latin, the northern one).
Distribution
Northern and northeastern coastal Australia, North Gulf, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia.
Images
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References
- Hendrich, L.; Watts, C.H.S. 2004: Taxonomic revision of the Australian genus Sternopriscus Sharp, 1882 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae, Hydroporinae). Koleopterologische Rundschau, 74: 75–142.
