Catharsius camillus Harold 1877

Catharsius camillus Harold, 1877 (Figs. 13–17) Catharsius vitulus Boheman, 1857: 223 Catharsius camillus Harold, 1877: 97 Type locality. Cap b. sp. (South Africa) As for C. pandion, the syntypic series consist of seven specimens (4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀). In order to provide a primary type with the most diagnostic characters a large male is selected from the syntypic series as lectotype (present designation). This specimen bears the following labels (Fig. 15): [Krebs!] handwriting on green card; [Camillus / Harold/ Cap b. sp.] handwriting on green card; [9352] white paper; [Type] red card; [SYNTYPUS / Catharsius / camillus Harold, 1877 / labelled by MNHUB 2014] red card; [LECTOTYPE ♂/ Catharsius / camillus / Harold, 1877 / dés. F. Génier, 2014] red card. Remark. The male lectotype has been dissected and the aedeagus extracted and figured (Fig. 16–17). Catharsius camillus is currently a junior subjective synonym of Catharsius vitulus Boheman, 1857. It should be pointed out that Harold’s original description state Port Natal (=Durban) as the type locality which conflict with the original specimen labels. Because C. camillus is synonymous with C. vitulus, we believe that the proper type locality would be most likely Cap. b. sp., in its former sense which included all of western South Africa. Although inaccurate it would more or less coincide with the southern distribution range of C. vitulus (A. Davis pers. comm.). All 6 paralectotypes bear a “Capland” printed label further supporting this interpretation.Published as part of Génier, François & Josso, Jean-François, 2016, Notes on Afrotropical Catharsius species described by Edgar von Harold (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae), pp. 333-342 in Zootaxa 4072 (3) on pages 335-338, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4072.3.3, http://zenodo.org/record/26181

Catharsius brutus Harold 1881

Catharsius brutus Harold, 1881 (Figs. 27–33) Catharsius brutus Harold, 1881: 263 Type locality. Sansibar (Tanzania) The unique specimen on which Harold based his description is a well-developed male, it is very teneral and missing both posterior legs. The holotype bear the following labels (Fig. 29): [Hildabrdt.] handwriting on green card; [60753] white card; [Type] red card; [Brutus / Harold/ Sansibar] handwriting on green card; [Catharsius brutus / HAR./ M.C. Ferreira det., 1960] part handwriting on white card; [HOLOTYPUS / Catharsius / brutus Harold, 1881 / labelled by MNHUB 2014] red card. Remark. This is the last species of Catharsius described by Harold. The original description is based on a specimen collected during the expedition of J.M. Hildebrandt in the “Districten von Taita und Ukamba auf einer Tour von Mombassa nach dem Kenia ”. The holotype label states “ Sansibar ” as the specimen locality which is south of the area described in the title of the publication. However, the title also state “vorzüglich” (especially) which seems to indicate that the expedition went to some other nearby area as well. The island of Zanzibar is approximately 200 km South of Mombassa. Catharsius brutus is cited from Kenya, Tanzania (Zanzibar) and Uganda. Recent collecting in Cabo Delgado Province (Mozambique) indicates that the species is present further south as well. Unconfirmed records indicate that the species occurs also in central Mozambique, Mt. Mulange (S. Malawi) and Chirinda Forest (E. Zimbabwe) (pers. comm. A. Davis). We are adding photographs of a well sclerotized aedeagus (Figs. 32–33) to accompany the distorted aedeagus of the holotype (Figs. 30–31).Published as part of Génier, François & Josso, Jean-François, 2016, Notes on Afrotropical Catharsius species described by Edgar von Harold (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae), pp. 333-342 in Zootaxa 4072 (3) on page 342, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4072.3.3, http://zenodo.org/record/26181

Catharsius harpagus Harold 1877

Catharsius harpagus Harold, 1877 (Figs. 8–12) Catharsius harpagus Harold, 1877: 97 Type locality. Delagoa Bay (Mozambique) Three specimens are in the collection. A male and a female are from recent collecting (1963) and have been seen by M.C. Ferreira. The remaining specimen is a syntype. Harold’s description is clear in stating a length range of “ 22–30 mill.” in the original description excluding the possibility of a unique specimen studied. Harold also stated “Specimina typica in Museo Berolinensi asservantur” for the type deposition. It is possible that the remaining specimens studied by Harold are deposited in different collection(s). Fortunately, the syntype studied is a well-developed male. This specimens is designated as lectotype (present designation) and bears the following labels (Fig. 10): [Delagoa/ Bay] white paper; [72066] white paper; [Type] red card; [D. O. Africa/ 36] red handwriting on white paper; [O.-Afrika/ Delagoa boy/ Felsche] handwriting on blue paper; [SYNTYPUS / Catharsius / harpagus Harold, 1877 / labelled by MNHUB 2014] red card; [LECTOTYPE ♂/ Catharsius / harpagus / Harold, 1877 / dés. F. Génier, 2014] red card. Remark. The male lectotype has been dissected and the aedeagus extracted (Figs. 11–12). This species is currently valid with no synonyms. No change in the taxonomic status of this species is required.Published as part of Génier, François & Josso, Jean-François, 2016, Notes on Afrotropical Catharsius species described by Edgar von Harold (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae), pp. 333-342 in Zootaxa 4072 (3) on page 335, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4072.3.3, http://zenodo.org/record/26181

Catharsius dux Harold 1878

Catharsius dux Harold, 1878 (Figs. 18–26) Catharsius dux Harold, 1878: 101 Type locality. Regn. Lunda (Angola) In the very brief description given by Harold there is a length range which indicates that more than one specimen was studied. The range is “ 38–40 mill.” and most likely fits the size of the two female syntypes. Furthermore, Harold states that the sex described is female. Both specimens are labelled as “Lunda, Pogge”. The largest female specimen is selected as lectotype (present designation) and bear the following labels (Fig. 20): [Pogge!] handwriting on green card; [dux / Harold/ Regn. Lunda] handwriting on green card; [60062] white card; [Type] red card; [1285] green card; [SYNTYPUS / Catharsius / dux Harold, 1878 / labelled by MNHUB 2014] red card; [LECTOTYPE ♀/ Catharsius / dux / Harold, 1878 / dés. F. Génier, 2014] red card. Remark. The type locality was previously cited in error as “ Guiné ” by Ferreira, (1960). This type locality most likely came from a misinterpretation of “im inneren Guinea ” as cited in Harold’s original description. At the end of the 19 th century “ Guinea ” was a very vague term for the “Gulf of Guinea ”. Harold’s (1879) gave a detailed account of A.V. Homeyer and P. Pogge’s journey into “ Angola und im Luanda-Reiche” or former pre-colonial confederation of the Lunda Kingdom (Moretto, 2014). The original syntype labels state “Regn. Lunda” as the locality where Pogge collected the specimens. Harold gives the collecting sites for Pogge on a line approximately along the 10 th parallel from 17 to 22 ° of longitude. Most of this itinerary is located within Angola and for a short distance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Therefore, the exact type locality lies somewhere in the Malanje, North or South Lunda provinces of Angola. The current cited distribution range of this species is from Guinea in West Africa to Mozambique and Namibia in Southern Africa. Such wide distribution is rare among Afrotropical dung beetle species. For now, we can confirm the presence of this species from Cameroon (Northwest Region), Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola and Zambia (examined specimens and pers. comm. P. Moretto). We consider records outside this range dubious and probably based on mislabeled or misidentified specimens. All other countries cited by Ferreira are most likely misidentifications of Catharsius gorilla Thomson. Quedenfeldt (1884) described the male of C. dux from a series of specimens collected in Malange (=Malanje), Angola. In order to remain as conservative as possible and conform to the current accepted species concept we retain this interpretation which does not challenge the valid status of C. duciformis. Although not regulated by ICZN, we “link” a male specimen with specific diagnostic characters to the female lectotype of this species (see Dechambre, 2002). This is especially important for nomenclatural stability as the female specimens of this species are undistinguishable from females of Catharsius duciformis Ferreira, 1959. To our knowledge, C. dux and C. duciformis have never been collected from the same locality. Furthermore, the parapatric distribution pattern of C. dux and C. duciformis is also problematic for species recognition. This alloreferent, a well-developed male specimen (fig. 22–26), is from northwest Zambia and bears the following label data (Fig. 24): [ZAMBIE NW Prov./ 10 Km N Mwinilunga/ 06-XII- 2012 / S 11 ° 34 ’ E 24 ° 24 ’ / leg. Josso Juhel Minetti]; [ALLOREFERENT ♂/ Catharsius / dux / Harold, 1878 / dés.: F. Génier & J.-F. Josso, 2015]. The alloreferent male is deposited together with the lectotype female (ZMHB).Published as part of Génier, François & Josso, Jean-François, 2016, Notes on Afrotropical Catharsius species described by Edgar von Harold (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae), pp. 333-342 in Zootaxa 4072 (3) on page 338, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4072.3.3, http://zenodo.org/record/26181

Catharsius pandion Harold 1877

Catharsius pandion Harold, 1877 (Figs. 1–7) Catharsius pandion Harold, 1877: 97 Catharsius mossambicanus Ferreira, 1960: 56 new synonymy Type locality. Natal (South Africa) Seven syntypes (4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀) are present in the collection of the Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt- Universität. Catharsius pandion belongs to a complex of closely related species and in order to provide a primary type with the most diagnostic characters a large male is selected from the syntypic series as lectotype (present designation). This species bears the following labels (Fig. 5): [Natal] blue card; [Type] red card; [Hist.-Coll. (Coleoptera)/Nr. 9358 / Catharsius / Pandion Harold / Pr. Natal Pöppig/ Zool. Mus. Berlin] blue card; [SYNTYPUS / Catharsius / pandion Harold, 1877 / labelled by MNHUB 2014] red card; [LECTOTYPE ♂/ Catharsius / pandion / Harold, 1877 / dés. F. Génier, 2014] red card. The remaining 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ have the same data and are designated as paralectotypes. Remark. The male lectotype has been dissected and the aedeagus extracted (Figs. 6–7). Following the examination of Harold’s type specimens, we suspected that the species Catharsius mossambicanus Ferreira, 1960 would be a junior subjective synonym of C. pandion. We tried to locate the holotype of C. mossambicanus for comparison but it was not in the Museu de História Natural (formerly Museu Dr. Alvaro de Castro) in Maputo (Mozambique) where the original description states it was deposited. Ferreira’s description is based on two male specimens. It was possible to locate a paratype, which was deposited in the National Museum in Bloemfontein. Subsequently, in material sent from the Ditsong Museum, another specimen also labeled as a paratype was found. This second specimen is a well-developed male whose label data match that of the holotype as stated in the original description. Evidence now suggests that the second specimen labelled as a paratype and deposited in the Ditsong Museum is actually the holotype. This second specimen, was dissected and matches perfectly the lectotype of Catharsius pandion. The other specimen, the actual paratype, is small and very teneral. The male holotype illustration provided by Ferreira also matches well developed males of C. pandion. We therefore establish the following synonymy: Catharsius pandion Harold, 1877 = Catharsius mossambicanus Ferreira, 1960, new synonymy. Interestingly, this synonymy is leaving undescribed the species C. pandion sensu Ferreira (nec Harold). This taxon will be described along with a second species of the pandion complex in a forthcoming publication.Published as part of Génier, François & Josso, Jean-François, 2016, Notes on Afrotropical Catharsius species described by Edgar von Harold (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae), pp. 333-342 in Zootaxa 4072 (3) on pages 334-335, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4072.3.3, http://zenodo.org/record/26181

Notes on Afrotropical Catharsius species described by Edgar von Harold (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae)

Génier, François, Josso, Jean-François (2016): Notes on Afrotropical Catharsius species described by Edgar von Harold (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae). Zootaxa 4072 (3): 333-342, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4072.3.

Valeur de conservation des forêts tropicales : La distance aux routes et villages importe plus que la gestion en Afrique centrale

peer reviewedaudience: researcher, professional, student, popularization, otherTropical forests in Central Africa host unique biodiversity threatened by human degradation of habitats and defaunation. Forests allocated to conservation, production and community management are expected to have different conservation values. Here, we aimed to identify the determinants of the conservation value of tropical forests in southeastern Cameroon, by disentangling the effects of forest allocations, proximity to human settlements, and local habitat. We inventoried two taxonomical groups: mammal species with camera traps (3464 independent detection events) and dung beetle species with pitfall traps (4475 individuals). We used an integrated analytical approach, examining both species richness and composition. For both mammals and dung beetles, species richness decreased from the protected area to the community forests, and the logging concession showed intermediate richness. Species richness of both groups was negatively correlated to the proximity to human settlements and disturbance, with a decreasing gradient of body mass and the loss of the most threatened species. The replacement (i.e., spatial turnover) of both mammal and dung beetle species among forest allocations suggest an integration of conservation initiatives to a large number of different sites, with a priority on protected and remote areas of high biodiversity. These results confirm the high conservation value of protected areas and their essential role in conservation strategies, ecologically connected with well-managed production forests with variable conservation value mainly depending on accessibility. Community forests located close to villages are much more degraded but not totally defaunated and still provide bushmeat to local populations. © 2019 Elsevier LtdF.R.S.-FNRS. Grant numbers 5125916F and 5110318F; AFRITIMB project; P3FAC projec