Review of the genus Fontidessus Miller & Spangler, 2008 (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Hydroporinae, Bidessini) with description of four new species.

Kelly B Miller,Elizabeth T Montano

doi:10.3897/zookeys.426.7217

Abstract

The genus Fontidessus Miller & Spangler, 2008 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae: Bidessini) is reviewed. The genus now includes seven species with three previously described, and four new species described here: F. microphthalmus Miller & Montano, sp. n.; F. bettae Miller & Montano, sp. n.; F. christineae Miller & Montano, sp. n., and F. aquarupe Miller & Montano, sp. n. Each species is diagnosed and described, including the previously known species, based on new specimens and new information. Habitus, male genitalia and other diagnostic features are illustrated for each species. A key to the seven species is provided. Fontidessus species are unique to hygropetric habitats in the Guiana Shield craton of northern South American.

Highlights

Fontidessus Miller & Spangler was introduced to include three new species of diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) from northern South America (Miller and Spangler 2008)
Members of the genus are characteristic of habitats where thin films of water flow over the surfaces of bare rock
Northern South America has a relatively rich fauna of hygropetric beetles including numerous diving beetles (Miller and Garcia 2011; Miller and Spangler 2008) and other water beetles (Miller 2009; Short and Garcia 2010; Spangler and Steiner 2005; Valladares and Short 2011). Most of this known diversity is from the western margin of the Guiana Shield

Summary

Introduction

Fontidessus Miller & Spangler was introduced to include three new species of diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) from northern South America (Miller and Spangler 2008). Northern South America has a relatively rich fauna of hygropetric beetles including numerous diving beetles (Miller and Garcia 2011; Miller and Spangler 2008) and other water beetles (Miller 2009; Short and Garcia 2010; Spangler and Steiner 2005; Valladares and Short 2011). Most of this known diversity is from the western margin of the Guiana Shield. Because of substantial new information, the entire genus is reviewed here with descriptions of four new species and clarifications of and corrections to the knowledge of distribution, morphology and variation of the three known species

Materials and methods

Discussion