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A new species, Amara (Bradytulus) shalulishanica Hieke & Kavanaugh, sp. n. (type locality: Haizishan Yakou, 29.47366°N, 100.21921°E, 4623 m, Shalulishan, Zhuosang Township, Litang County, Sichuan Province, China) is described and diagnosed. Additional records are provided for 16 other Amara species, each of which represents one of five different geographical distribution types, which are discussed.
Coleoptera, Carabidae, Zabrini, Amara, new species, China, Sichuan, Yunnan
Over the ten-year period from 1998 to 2007, two of us (DHK and HBL) had the opportunity to collect extensively in western Yunnan Province, China, as part of a multidisciplinary, international project to inventory the biodiversity of the Gaoligongshan (Gaoligong Mountains). This project also provided the opportunity for us to collect in a few other areas while traveling between Beijing and the study area itself, including most notably one fast traverse in 2007 across several of the mountain ranges that represent the dissected southern edge of the Tibetan Plateau in western Sichuan and northeastern Yunnan Provinces. In total, more than 2, 000 specimens representing species of the carabid beetle genus Amara Bonelli were collected in the course of this work. Specimens collected in the Gaoligonshan region will form the basis of a separate treatment of the Zabrini of that region (in preparation), which will include a key to the species in that fauna and details of geographical and habitat distributions for each of the included species.
In this contribution, we report on Amara species records for specimens collected outside of the Gaoligong region, including those representing one species new to science. That new species is described and a discussion of diagnostic features facilitating discrimination of its adults from those of similar species is provided. One of us (FH) is currently engaged in a comprehenive re-evaluation of subgeneric limits and relationships among Amara species, so we refrain from providing a key to subgenera of Amara or to species likely related to our new species pending results of that analysis.
This contribution is based on the study of 279 Amara specimens, mainly from Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces. All of these specimens are deposited in the collections of CAS, IZCAS, or ZMHB.
Abbreviations for collections cited in this study follow
BMNH British Museum (Natural History), London, United Kingdom
CAS California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, U.S.A.
CBAL Collection of A. Baliani, in MCSNG
CCHA Collection of M. de Chaudoir, in MNHN
CFAC Collection of S. Facchini, Torino, Italy
CHEI Collection of W. Heinz, Schwanfeld, Germany
CJED Collection of A. Jedlička, in NMPC
CMEY Collection of P. Meyer, Darmstadt, Germany
CSCI Collection of R. Sciaky, Milan, Italy
CWRA Collection of D. Wrase, Berlin, Germany
DEI Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, Eberswalde, Germany
FRSDD Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India
IZCAS National Zoological Museum of China, Institute of Zoology, Beijing, China
MCSNG Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Genoa, Italy
MGFT Museum G. Frey, Tutzing, in NHMB
MNHN Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
NHMB Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel, Switzerland
NMPC National Museum (Natural History), Prague, Czech Republic
RMNH Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden, Netherlands
SNF Natur-Museum und Forschungs-Institut Senckenberg, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
ZIN Zoological Institute Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
ZMHB Museum für Naturkunde an der Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, Germany
ZSM Zoologische Sammlung des Bayerischen Staates, Munich, Germany
The only measurement recorded is that of body length, taken as a single measure along the midline from the anterior margin of the labrum to the apex of the longer elytron. Information presented on the overall geographical distributions of species is based on the Catalogue of Palaearctic species (
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DEF0D9F5-F136-4561-A0AC-ADE1ABBA9EB7
http://species-id.net/wiki/Amara_shalulishanica
Figs 1–2Holotype, a male, in IZCAS, labeled “CHINA, Sichuan, Litang County, Zhuosang Township, Shalulishan, Haizishan Yakou, 29.47366°N, 100.21921°E”/ “4623 m, 16 September 2007, Stop # 2007-041, D. H. Kavanaugh & H. B. Liang”/ “Holotype Amara shalulishanica Hieke and Kavanaugh” [red label]. Paratypes: Total 4 specimens, 1 male and 1 female in CAS, 1 female in IZCAS and 1 male in ZMHB, all with same label data as holotype, except third label reading “Paratype Amara shalulishanica Hieke and Kavanaugh” [yellow label]. Type locality: China, Sichuan Province, Litang County, Zhuosang Township, Shalulishan, Haizishan Yakou [29.47366°N, 100.21921°E].
Adults of Amara shalulishanica sp. n. have all the features of other members of subgenus Bradytulus
No other species of subgenus Bradytulus is known from the Shalulishan (Shaluli Mountains) of Sichuan Province, China. Most species of this subgenus live in the Himalaya Mountains and/or Xizang Province (Tibet) (
Dorsal habitus as in Fig. 1a-b.Body length male 6.8–7.0 mm, female 6.6–7.0 mm. Color of body dark brown, antennae, palpi and legs reddish brown. Dorsal microscuplture comprised of isodiametric or nearly isodiametric sculpticells throughout, very faintly impressed on head in both sexes, more shallowly impressed on pronotum and elytra in males than in females; males with shinier dorsal luster than females.
Head smooth, broad, with distinct, hemispheric eyes.
Pronotum slightly transverse, with the greatest width slightly anterior to middle and posterior margin narrower than the base of elytra; lateral margins more rounded on anterior half, less arcuate or nearly straight in basal half; posterior margin slightly concave in middle; posterior angles distinct, slightly obtuse, narrowly rounded apically; anterior angles rounded, only slightly extended (about the diameter of the second antennomere) anteriorly beyond the front margin; inner basal foveae formed as short, deeply impressed longitudinal grooves; outer basal foveae absent; basal region with scattered, very fine punctures in and around inner basal foveae. Prosternum of male without a punctate fovea at middle; prosternal intercoxal process smoothly rounded apically, unmargined, asetose apically.
Pterothorax with metepisterna short, not longer than width across anterior margin.
Elytra with slightly curved sides and finely punctate striae; parascutellar striae short, located between striae 1 and 2 and extended from basal margin near base of stria 2 apicomedially toward stria 1; basal borders nearly straight, very slightly arched forward laterally; humeral teeth small but distinct and sharp; umbilicate setal series sparsely and unevenly spaced in the middle region; stria 7 without subapical setiferous pore punctures.
Hind wings short, reduced to a minute scale, hence adults flightless.
Legs with all femora bisetose; mesotibiae of males with a well-developed subapical medial tooth; metatibiae of males with a brush-like patch of setae ventrally in apical one-fourth.
Abdomen with venter only punctate laterally on the sternites 2 and 3. Male with one pair and female with two pairs of anal setiferous pore punctures at the apical margin of the last visible sternite.
Male genitalia with median lobe of aedeagus relatively broad, with apex rounded, apical lamella wider than long in dorsal view (Fig. 1c); right (longer) paramere without apical hook.
Female genitalia with gonostyli broadly oval (Fig. 1d), each with a short basolateral ensiform seta and an subapicoventral nematiform seta.
The species epithet, shalulishanica, is a Neolatin feminine adjective derived from the mountain range in which the type specimens were collected.
Known only from the type locality, where adults were found in a high alpine meadow at 4500 m elevation; probably endemic to the central Shalulishan SSW of Litang.
All five specimens of the type series were collected within the area shown in Fig. 2b, under stones on barren substrate interspersed with areas of sparse, low, dry tundra vegetation. Stones under which beetles were found, even in more barren areas, often had accumulations of fine-scale vegetative debris, probably deposited there by wind. Specimens of the new species were collected along with those of two other Amara species, Amara micans Tschitschérine and Amara litangensis Hieke, 1994, in the same habitat.
All but one specimen (the smallest female) of the type series are teneral. Consequently, the color characteristics provided in the description are based solely on that one fully pigmented female specimen. However, because that specimen represents the far end (6.6 mm) of the size range of the type series (all others range between 6.8 and 7.0 mm in length), the holotype male was selected from among those other specimens despite its teneral condition. One consequence of this selection is that detailed structure of the internal sac of the male aedeagus, which typically includes more darkly pigmented or more heavily sclerotized features, cannot be distinguished in the holotype.
Amara shalulishanica sp. n. a dorsal habitus of holotype male b same of a paratype female c apex of the median lobe of aedeagus of holotype, dorsal view d same, left lateral view e gonostylus of female paratype, ventral view. Scale lines for a and b = 1.0 mm, for c–e = 0.5 mm.
Photographs of type locality for Amara shalulishanica sp. n.at Haizishan Yakou [29.47366°N, 100.21921°E], Shalulishan, Zhuosang Township, Litang County, Sichuan Province, China, at an elevation of 4623 m. a view looking northeast from the Yakou (Pass) b view of area where the type series was collected.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Amara_kingdoni
Total of 14 specimens from the following localities: “CHINA, Yunnan, Shangrila County, Jiangtang Township, Shikashan, Napahai Houshan Yakou, 3590 m, 27.93404°N, 099.61287°E, ”/“17 September 2007, Stop# 2007-042, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 11 males and 1 female (CAS, IZCAS, ZMHB); “CHINA, Yunnan, Shangrila County, Xiaozhongdian Township, Tianbaoshan, 27.58517°N, 099.87586°E, ”/ “3530 m, 18 September 2007, Stop# 2007-043, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 2 males (CAS, IZCAS).
Known only from China (Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang and Yunnan Provinces).
http://species-id.net/wiki/Amara_birmana
One male specimen (CAS) from the following locality: “CHINA, Yunnan, Lijiang County, Jiuhe Township, Laojunshan, 3510 m, 26.65079°N, 099.77449°E, ”/ “21 September 2007, Stop# 2007-048, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”.
Known from China (Yunnan Province), India (Assam and Sikkim) and Myanmar.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Amara_rupicola
Total of 13 specimens from the following localities: “CHINA, Sichuan, Kangding County, Xinduqiao Township, Liqi He, 3450 m, 30.02448°N, 101.52490°E, ”/ “14 September 2007, Stop# 2007-035, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 6 males and 4 females (CAS, IZCAS, ZMHB); “CHINA, Sichuan, Litang County, Gaocheng Township, Daxushan, Highway 318 at Km 3089, 4100 m, 30.03129°N, 100.33336°E, ”/ “16 September 2007, Stop# 2007-040, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 1 male and 2 females (CAS, IZCAS).
Known from China (Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang and Xizang Provinces), India (Jammu and Kashmir), Kazakhstan, Russia (from the Altai Mountains to Jakutia) and Turkmenistan(?).
http://species-id.net/wiki/Amara_mandarina
One male specimen (IZCAS) from the following locality: “CHINA, Sichuan, Kangding County, Xinduqiao Township, Gaoersishan, 1 km W of Yakou at Highway 318, 4245 m, 30.04988°N, 101.37485°E, ”/ “15 September 2007, Stop# 2007-036, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”.
Known only from China (Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces).
http://species-id.net/wiki/Amara_collivaga
Total of 6 specimens from the following locality: “CHINA, Sichuan, Kangding County, Lucheng Township, Zheduoshan at yakou on Highway 318, 4316 m, 30.07419°N, 101.80413°E, ”/ “14 September 2007, Stop# 2007-033, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 2 males and 4 females (CAS, IZCAS, ZMHB).
Known only from China (Sichuan Province).
http://species-id.net/wiki/Amara_chalciope
Total of 33 specimens from the following localities: “CHINA, Sichuan, Kangding County, Xinduqiao Township, Gaoersishan, 1 km W of yakou at Highway 318, 4245 m, 30.04988°N, 101.37485°E, ”/ “15 September 2007, Stop# 2007-036, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 3 males and 4 females; “CHINA, Sichuan, Luding County, Moxi Township, Hailuogou National Park, NE slope of Gongga Shan, 3035-3220 m, 29.57393°N, 101.99204°E to”/ “29.56721°N, 101.97979°E, 12 September 2007, Stop# 2007-031, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 5 males and 2 females (CAS, IZCAS); “CHINA, Sichuan, Yajiang County, Hekou Township, Daxushan, Jianziwan Yakou at Highway 318, 4400-4450 m, 30.01203°N, 100.85983°E, ”/ “15 September 2007, Stop# 2007-037, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 4 males and 5 females (CAS, IZCAS, ZMHB); “CHINA, Sichuan, Yajiang County, vicinity of Daoban work station 135 on road from Litang to Yajiang, 30.1399°N, 100.7068°E, ”/ “4130 m, under stones in ditch along road adjacent to Kobresia meadow, 3 August 2006 B. Bartholomew collector”, 2 males and 8 females (CAS, IZCAS, ZMHB).
Known from Bhutan and China (Fujian, Sichuan, Xizang and Yunnan Provinces).
http://species-id.net/wiki/Amara_dissimilis
Total of 54 specimens from the following localitities: “CHINA, Yunnan, Lijiang County, Jiuhe Township, Laojunshan, 3500 m, 26.64210°N, 099.76745°E, ”/ “20 September 2007, Stop# 2007-046A , D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 3 males and 3 females, (CAS, IZCAS); “CHINA, Yunnan, Shangrila County, Jiangtang Township, Shikashan, Napahai Houshan Yakou, 3590 m, 27.93404°N, 099.61287°E, ”/“17 September 2007, Stop# 2007-042, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 27 males and 16 females (CAS, IZCAS, ZMHB); “CHINA, Yunnan, Shangrila County, Xiaozhongdian Township, Tianbaoshan, 27.58517°N, 099.87586°E, ”/ “ 3530 m, 18 September 2007, Stop# 2007-043, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 1 male and 4 females (CAS, IZCAS).
Known only from China (Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang and Yunnan Provinces).
http://species-id.net/wiki/Amara_sinuaticollis
Total of 4 specimens from the following localities: “CHINA, Beijing, Huairou County, Shayu Township, Yugou Village, Xiangshui He, 218 m, 40.41614°N, 116.44386°E, ”/ “26 October 2002, Stop # DHK-2002-052, D.H. Kavanaugh, P. E. Marek, & H.-B. Liang collectors”, 1 male and 1 female (CAS, IZCAS); “CHINA, Yunnan Province, Dali Prefecture, Yongping County, Qutong Township, 1600m, 25.42665°N, 99.52924°E, 25 June 2000, Stop #2000-005, D. H. Kavanaugh & Liang H.-B. collectors”, 1 male and 1 female (CAS, IZCAS).
Known from China (Fujian, Gansu, Hebei, Shaanxi, Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces), Japan, Korea and Russia (Khabarovsky Krai and Primorsky Krai).
http://species-id.net/wiki/Amara_pingshiangi
One male specimen (CAS) from the following locality: “CHINA, Yunnan, Kunming City, Guandu District, Heilongtan, Kunming Institute of Botany Botanical Garden, 1945 m”/ 25.14035°N, 102.74107°E, 16-17 September 2002, Stop # DHK-2002-019, D.H. Kavanaugh & P.E. Marek collectors” [first record for Yunnan Province].
Known only from China (Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangsu and Sichuan Provinces).
http://species-id.net/wiki/Amara_micans
Total of 11 specimens from the following localities: “CHINA, Sichuan, Litang County, Disan Township, Shalulishan, Haizishan Yakou, 29.47366°N, 100.21921°E, ”/ “4623 m, 16 September 2007, Stop# 2007-041, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 7 males and 3 females (CAS, IZCAS, ZMHB); “CHINA, Sichuan, Yajiang County, Hekou Township, Daxushan, Jianziwan Yakou at Highway 318, 4400-4450 m, 30.01203°N, 100.85983°E, ”/ “15 September 2007, Stop# 2007-037, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 1 female (CAS).
Known from China (Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang and Yunnan Provinces), India (Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh), Nepal and Pakistan.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Amara_daxueshanensis
Total of 47 specimens from the following localities: “CHINA, Yunnan, Lijiang County, Jiuhe Township, Laojunshan, 3500 m, 26.64210°N, 099.76745°E, ”/ “20 September 2007, Stop# 2007-046A , D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 1 female (CAS); “CHINA, Yunnan, Shangrila County, Jiangtang Township, Shikashan, Napahai Houshan Yakou, 3590 m, 27.93404°N, 099.61287°E, ”/“17 September 2007, Stop# 2007-042, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 3 males and 2 females (CAS, IZCAS); “CHINA, Yunnan, Shangrila County, Xiaozhongdian Township, Tianbaoshan, 27.58517°N, 099.87586°E, ”/ “3530 m, 18 September 2007, Stop# 2007-043, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 19 males and 22 females (CAS, IZCAS, ZMHB).
Known only from China (Yunnan Province).
http://species-id.net/wiki/Amara_dequensis
One male specimen (IZCAS) from the following locality: “CHINA, Sichuan, Batang County, pass between Ciwu and Zhong Xinrong on road from Derong to Batang, 30.1399°N, 100.7068°E, ”/ “4130 m, under stones in oak scrub slope adjacent to Kobresia meadow, 29 July 2006 B. Bartholomew collector”.
Known only from China (Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces).
http://species-id.net/wiki/Amara_litangensis
Total of 18 specimens from the following locality: “CHINA, Sichuan, Litang County, Disan Township, Shalulishan, Haizishan Yakou, 29.47366°N, 100.21921°E, ”/ “4623 m, 16 September 2007, Stop# 2007-041, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 5 males and 13 females (CAS, IZCAS, ZMHB).
Known only from China (Sichuan Province).
http://species-id.net/wiki/Amara_stricticeps
Total of 58 specimens from the following localities: “CHINA, Sichuan, Kangding County, Lucheng Township, Zheduoshan at yakou on Highway 318, 4316 m, 30.07419°N, 101.80413°E, ”/ “14 September 2007, Stop# 2007-033, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 1 male (CAS); “CHINA, Sichuan, Kangding County, Xinduqiao Township, Gaoersishan, 1 km W of yakou at Highway 318, 4245 m, 30.04988°N, 101.37485°E, ”/ “15 September 2007, Stop# 2007-036, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 23 males and 16 females (CAS, IZCAS, ZMHB); “CHINA, Sichuan, Litang County, Gaocheng Township, Daxushan, Highway 318 at Km 3089, 4100 m, 30.03129°N, 100.33336°E, ”/ “16 September 2007, Stop# 2007-040, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 3 males and 1 female (CAS, IZCAS); “CHINA, Sichuan, Yajiang County, Hekou Township, Daxushan, Jianziwan Yakou at Highway 318, 4400-4450 m, 30.01203°N, 100.85983°E, ”/ “15 September 2007, Stop# 2007-037, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 10 males and 3 females (CAS, IZCAS, ZMHB).
Known only from China (Sichuan Province).
http://species-id.net/wiki/Amara_kangdingensis
Total of 13 specimens from the following localities: “CHINA, Sichuan, Kangding County, Lucheng Township, Zheduoshan at yakou on Highway 318, 4316 m, 30.07419°N, 101.80413°E, ”/ “14 September 2007, Stop# 2007-033, D.H. Kavanaugh & H.B. Liang collectors”, 2 males and 3 females (CAS, IZCAS, ZMHB).
Known only from China (Sichuan Province).
http://species-id.net/wiki/Amara_macronota
Two female specimens (CAS, IZCAS) from the following locality: “CHINA, Beijing, Wuling Mountains, Miyun County, Xinchangzi Township, Xiakou Village, small branch of Andamu He, 415 m, ”/ “40.65278°N, 117.34069°E, 27 October 2002 Stop # DHK-2002-056, D.H. Kavanaugh, P. E. Marek, & H.-B. Liang collectors”.
Known from China (Gansu, Shaanxi, Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces), Japan, Korea and Russia (Primorsky Krai and Khabarovsky Krai).
The diverse carabid beetle fauna of China and adjacent areas remains relatively poorly sampled and many new species are discovered in and described from the region each year. The geographical distributions of virtually all species in the fauna are still poorly known, and this is certainly true for the Chinese Amara species. Despite this incomplete knowledge of the fauna, however, the Amara species recorded from Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces can be grouped, at least tentatively, into five different distributional types. The species on which we have reported here are listed below according to their apparent distributional type.
1. Widespread eastern and central Palaearctic species. These include species occurring in Russia (from the Altai to the Amur region, from Yakutia to the Mongolian border), Mongolia, and northern China (rarely as far south as the Himalaya): Amara rupicola.
2. Macropterous eastern Palaearctic species. These include species occurring in central Japan, the Ussuri region of the Russian Far East, Korea, eastern Mongolia, and China (excluding the west but often including Taiwan): Amara sinuaticollis and Amara macronota.
3. Macropterous species widespread in China. These include species occurring in several Chinese provinces, and in many cases also in regions of the neighboring Himalayan countries of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar: Amara kingdoni, Amara mandarina, Amara chalciope, Amara dissimilis, Amara pingshiangi, and Amara micans.
4. Macropterous Himalayan species. These include species occurring at least in the central and eastern parts of this region, and often also in Yunnan, less commonly also in southern Sichuan: Amara birmana.
5. Apterous endemic Chinese species. These include species occurring only in small areas, mainly in isolated mountain ranges that occupy only part of one province or border areas linking adjacent parts of two provinces: Amara collivaga, Amara shalulishanica sp. n., Amara daxueshanensis, Amara dequensis, Amara litangensis, Amara stricticeps, and Amara kangdingensis.
As additional sampling throughout the region continues, particularly in remote areas not yet explored, the ranges of known and additional, still undiscovered species will become better known. The appropriateness of recognizing these different distributional types for characterizing the geographical ranges of different Amara species, as well as other species of the regional fauna, will be tested by these future findings.
Fieldwork for this project was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30570213 and 31172047) to the Institute of Zoology (Beijing), and from the U. S. National Science Foundation (Grant No. DEB–0103795) to the California Academy of Sciences.