Homocopris Burmeister, 1846 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): Lectotype Designation for Copris torulosus Eschscholtz, 1822, and Correction on the Geographic Distribution of the Two Chilean Species

Authors

José Mondaca, Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG)Follow
Fernando Z. Vaz-de-Mello, Universidade Federal de Mato GrossoFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

8-2-2024

Citation

Insecta Mundi (August 2, 2024) 1068

Review editor: David Plotkin

ZooBank registration: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2E05482A-282E-4206-8FE5-D3C59C5F149A

Comments

Copyright 2024, the authors. Open access

License: CC BY-NC 3.0

Abstract

Homocopris Burmeister, 1846 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is a small genus of South American dung beetles composed of four species distributed in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. Recently, a neotype was designated for Copris torulosus Eschscholtz, 1822 (currently H. torulosus) based on the assumption that the original type series had been lost. However, this designation is invalid for failing to comply with articles 75.2, 75.3, 75.3.1, and 75.3.4. of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Furthermore, even if it had been nomenclaturally valid, the neotype now loses its type status because we found a syntype in the material of the Johann Friedrich Eschscholtz collection, preserved in the collection of Zoological Museum, Moscow Lomonosov State University, Moscow, Russia. We present evidence supporting the recognition of this specimen as a syntype and newly designate it as the lectotype. Photographs of the lectotype and its labels are provided. Additionally, the geographic distributions of H. punctatissimus (Curtis, 1844) and H. torulosus (Eschscholtz, 1822) in Chile are corrected.