ON SPLITTING OF THE GENUS NOTOCUPES (COLEOPTERA: ARCHOSTEMATA): NEW DATA ON MORPHOLOGY AND TAXONOMY

Abstract

Notocupes is a speciose genus of Mesozoic Archostemata, currently including 69 species. Due to its distinct morphological heterogeneity and polyphyly it is advised to split Notocupes into four genera based on full body imprints: Notocupes Ponomarenko, 1964, Rhabdocupes Ponomarenko, 1966, Conexicoxa Lin, 1986, stat. resurr. and Brachilatus Strelnikova et Yan, gen. n. The genus Zygadenia Handlirsch, 1906 is proposed for isolated elytra, morphologically similar to those of four aforementioned genera. Notocupes patulus is transferred to Odontomma Ren et al., 2006 as O. patula (Ponomarenko, 1985), comb. n. Individual characters, such as body cuticular tuberculation are discussed in detail as a promising diagnostic feature to separate genera and possibly also species. The expanded diagnoses for five genera and keys to species of these genera are given. New combinations are proposed for thirty-seven species.