Colophon scholtzi sp. nov.: a newly described highly threatened stag beetle (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) from South Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17159/2254-8854/2024/a18313Keywords:
Apterous, Cape fold mountains, Cape High-mountain stag beetle, Fynbos BiomeAbstract
A highly threatened and range-restricted, mountain-relic stag beetle species in the genus Colophon Gray, 1832 (Coleoptera: Lucanidae), Colophon scholtzi Roets & Durie sp. nov. is described from a peak in the Riviersonderend Mountain range of South Africa. It is morphologically allied to species in the Colophon stokoei Barnard, 1929 species complex that are confined to the neighbouring Hottentots-Holland Mountain range. Colophon scholtzi seems highly range-restricted and rare as no living specimens have been observed on the single peak from where the only known fragments were collected, despite repeated surveys over the past 12 years.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Joshua Durie, Pryke James, Basson Reinier, Francois Roets
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