Abstract
The water scavenger beetle genus Chasmogenus Sharp, 1882 is reviewed in northeastern South America using an integrative approach that combines adult morphology and molecular data from the gene cytochrome c oxidase I (COI). Eighteen new species are described: Chasmogenus acuminatussp. nov. (Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname), C. ampliussp. nov. (Venezuela), C. berbicensissp. nov. (Guyana), C. brownsbergensissp. nov. (Suriname), C. castaneussp. nov. (Venezuela), C. clavijoisp. nov. (Venezuela), C. cuspifersp. nov. (Venezuela), C. flavomarginatussp. nov. (Venezuela), C. gatosp. nov. (Venezuela), C. guianensissp. nov. (Suriname, Guyana), C. ignotussp. nov. (Brazil), C. ligulatussp. nov. (Suriname), C. lineatussp. nov. (Venezuela), C. pandussp. nov. (Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname), C. schmitssp. nov. (Suriname), C. sinnamarensissp. nov. (French Guiana), C. tafelbergensissp. nov. (Suriname), and C. undulatussp. nov. (Guyana). We found genetic support for an additional new species in Guyana which is currently only known from females that we refer to as Chasmogenus sp. C. We examined the holotypes of the four species previously known from the region, and found that C. occidentalis García syn. nov. and C. yukparum García syn. nov. are conspecific with C. bariorum García, 2000 and are synonymized with that species, which is here redescribed. We redescribe C. australis García and expand the range of this species to include northern Brazil, Guyana, and French Guiana. All species are aquatic, with most being associated with forested streams and forest pools. Of the 21 species, more than half (11) are only known from a single locality indicating the genus may have many more micro-endemic species yet to be discovered in the region. Characters of the male genitalia are essential for confirming the identity of some species, consequently it is not always possible to make positive identifications of unassociated female specimens based on morphology alone. Habitus images are provided as well as a revised key to the genus for northeastern South America.
Highlights
The water scavenger beetle genus Chasmogenus Sharp (Hydrophilidae: Acidocerinae) is a widespread lineage that occurs in all regions except the Nearctic
Recent studies by García (2000; Venezuela) and Clarkson and Ferreira-Jr (2014; southeastern Brazil) have begun to elucidate the diversity of this genus in South America; it still remains largely unknown on the continent
Amplification was successful for all species except for C. castaneus and C. tafelbergensis
Summary
The water scavenger beetle genus Chasmogenus Sharp (Hydrophilidae: Acidocerinae) is a widespread lineage that occurs in all regions except the Nearctic. Recent studies by García (2000; Venezuela) and Clarkson and Ferreira-Jr (2014; southeastern Brazil) have begun to elucidate the diversity of this genus in South America; it still remains largely unknown on the continent. This is partly due to the low degree of morphological variation between species, making identification and even routine morphospecies sorting a substantial challenge. We take an integrative approach utilizing both adult morphology and molecular data from the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) to review the genus for northeastern South America
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