Saprosites raoulensis

Saprosites raoulensis is a species of dung beetle[2] endemic to the Kermadec Islands in New Zealand.[3] The holotype specimen of this species was discovered during a scientific expedition to the Kermadecs by W. L. Wallace in 1908.[4][5] It was found under rotten logs on Raoul Island.[4]

Saprosites raoulensis
Saprosites raoulensis (Broun, 1910) holotype specimen held at Auckland Museum licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Suborder:
Polyphaga
Infraorder:
Scarabaeiformia
Superfamily:
Scarabaeoidea
Family:
Scarabaeidae
Subfamily:
Aphodiinae
Tribe:
Eupariini
Genus:
Saprosites
Species:
S. raoulensis
Binomial name
Saprosites raoulensis
(Broun, 1910)
Synonyms[1]
  • Aphodius raoulensis (Broun, 1910)

Taxonomy

New Zealand entomologist Thomas Broun first described this beetle as Aphodius raoulensis in 1910 after receiving the specimen for determination from its collector W. L. Wallace.[4][6] This type specimen is currently held at the Auckland Museum. The species was placed in the genus Saprosites by Aola M. Richards in 1959 and the holotype specimen was redescribed by Richards as Broun's description differed from the type specimen in several ways.[1]

The specific name is derived from the name of the island the species was collected from, Raoul Island, and -ensis a Latin derived adjective suffix meaning "originated in".[7]

Description

Saprosites raoulensis is 5.5 mm in length and 2.5 mm in width. The beetle is pitch black in colour with the front border of the prothorax being a dull brick red. Its legs are a reddish brown.[1]

Distribution and habitat
Raoul Island

This beetle is apparently rare[4] and specimens have only been recorded as being from Raoul Island.[1]

Predation

Broun hypothesized that the significant number of rats on Raoul Island at the time of collection of the type specimen were likely to negatively impact various beetle populations.[4]

References
  1. Richards, Aola M. (1959). "Revision of the Genus Saprosites Redtenbacher, 1858 (Coleoptera: Aphodiinae) in New Zealand". Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 87: 48–49. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  2. "Saprosites raoulensis". NZnaturewatch. New Zealand Bio-Recording Network Trust. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  3. Gordon (ed.), Dennis P. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity (PDF). New Zealand: Canterbury University. p. 420. ISBN 978-1-87725793-3. Retrieved 23 December 2015.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  4. Broun, T. (1910). "On the Coleoptera of the Kermadec Islands". Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. 42 (42): 295. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  5. "The Kermadec Islands" (2853). Otago Witness. Otago Witness. 18 November 1908. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  6. "Kermadec Insects" (13973). Timaru Herald. Timaru Herald. 6 August 1909. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  7. "-ensis". The Free Dictionary. Farlex. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
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