Taxonomic revision of the mid-Cretaceous genus Sanaungulus Fanti, Damgaard et Ellenberger, 2018 (Coleoptera, Cantharidae) from northern Myanmar based on a morphology-based phylogeny

Abstract

The mid-Cretaceous genus Sanaungulus from northern Myanmar is revised based on a morphology-based phylogeny of the Burmite Cantharinae by both Maximum Parsimony and Maximum Likelihood analyses. The monophyly of Sanaungulus is supported and recovered sister to Burmomiles. The generic diagnosis is redefined based on the synapomorphies, of which the characteristic antennal shape is highlighted. The aedeagus of this genus is illustrated for the first time, which is trilobite, composed of a pair of asymmetric and plate-like lateral lobes and a slender median lobe. Five new species are described under the names of S. emarginaticollis sp. nov., S. multiramus sp. nov., S. laticoxa sp. nov., S. imparitibius sp. nov. and S. ruficollis sp. nov. Two species are removed from this genus, including S. ruicheni and S. strungei due to their different antennal characters, of which the former would be placed in incertae sedis of the Burmite Cantharinae because of the inconsistent phylogenetic analyses and the latter be in an unknown genus described in another forthcoming publication. Now ten species are truly included in this genus, and a key to the species is provided. These results will provide more evidence to clarify the phylogenetic position of the Burmite cantharids in the Cantharidae.