Sternopriscus barbarae
Ordo: Coleoptera
Familia: Dytiscidae
Genus: Sternopriscus
Name
Sternopriscus barbarae Hendrich & Watts, 2004
Type locality
Black River, 12 km SW Mawbanna, northwestern Tasmania.
Type material
Holotype: male, "Australia, NW-Tasmania 12 km SW Mawbanna, Black River Picnic Area, 31.1.1998 (Lok. 22/63) Lars Hendrich leg." (SAMA). - Paratypes: Tasmania: 1 male, same data as holotype (CLH); 1 male and 1 female, "Australia, NW-Tasmania, Bass Hwy, Welcome River near Dismal Swamp, 31.1.1998 (Lok. 19/60) Lars Hendrich leg./Coll." (CLH); 6 male and 12 female, "Harcus Riv. TAS 14 km S W Montagu, 22.1.00 C.H.S. Watts" (SAMA); 1 female, "Welcome Riv. TAS 15 km S W Montagu, 22.1.00 C.H.S. Watts" (SAMA); 1 female, "Cradle Valley TAS Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair N Pk, 19.1.00 C.H.S. Watts" (SAMA); 1 male, "3 km S Togari TAS, 22.1.00 C.H.S. Watts" (SAMA); 1 male and 1 female, "Black Riv TAS 9 km N W Mawbanna, 21.1.00 C.H.S. Watts" (SAMA); 1 male, "AUS.: W-Tasmania 20-30 km N Strahan 19.1.1997 Wewalka leg. (19)" (CGW); 4 exs., "6 k W Bronte Park TAS 30/1/00 C.H.S.Watts leg." (SAMA).
DNA Sequences
European Nucleotide Archive (ENA)
Description
Measurements: Holotype, male: TL = 2.40 mm, TL-H = 2.20 mm; width = 1.20 mm. Paratypes, males: TL = 2.28 - 2.40 mm, TL-H = 2.12 - 2.20 mm; width = 1.08 - 1.20 mm; females: TL = 2.20 - 2.35 mm, TL-H = 2.04 - 2,15 mm; width = 1.08 - 117 mm.
Colour: Head dark brown, front margin and small spot on disc testaceous; pronotum dark brown, area lateral to plicae and often diffuse central band testaceous; elytron dark brown, laterally with small indistinct lighter areas; ventral surface dark brown to black, appendages lighter, tips of palpi dark, central and apical segments of antenna slightly darker, apical portions of metatarsi darker.
Sculpture: Pronotal plicae well marked, area between them somewhat depressed, Strongly reticulate, many shallow punctures on elytra and pronotum with well marked seta, weaker on head. Pronotal process thin, sides subparallel, rugose-punctate, tip rounded, not reaching metasternum. Midline of metasternum ridged in front; metacoxal lines raised, relatively close, moderately diverging in front and rear quarters.
Male: Larger. Antennal segments 3 - 6 progressively enlarged, segments 7 - 9 progressively smaller, segment 10 longer than segment 9, apical segment about same width as segment 10 and about twice as long. Protarsus with basal three segments broad; protibia stout, small notch on inside near middle; profemur with small, broad, triangular, extension on front edge near base. Mesotarsus with basal three segments moderately expanded. Median lobe of aedeagus broad, thin, tip bifid; paramere relatively thin.
Female: Smaller. Appendages simple; protarsus with basal three segments moderately expanded; mesotarsus with basal segment moderately expanded.
Affinities
A member of the S. meadfootii complex. Small (TL = 2.2 - 2.4 mm), rather shiny, pronotum dark with usually well marked testaceous areas lateral to plicae, male antenna more enlarged than in S. meadfootii, less so than in S. montanus.
Habitat
A rheophilic species which occurs in small streams and among floating roots and gravel of larger, slow flowing rivers.
Etymology
Named after Barbara Lee, for her support on the field trip to Tasmania in 2000 during which specimens of this species were collected.
Distribution
Tasmania, Central Plateau and northwestern Tasmania.
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.
Online resources
