Cephennium hamulatum ASSING spec. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: FA4D9AB5-DAA3-4DE7-8064-5B98210F93D0

(Figs 120–121)

Type material: Holotype ♂: “GR – Crete [14], S Kritsa, 35°08'44"N, 25°38'29"E, 420 m, soil washing, 27.XII.2017, V. Assing / Holotypus ♂ Cephennium hamulatum sp. n. det. V. Assing 2018” (cAss). Paratypes: 1 ♂, 7 ♀♀: same data as holotype (cAss); 1 ♂, 1 ♀: “GR – Crete [13], S Kritsa, 35°08'47"N, 25°38'24"E, 400 m, soil washing, 27.XII.2017, V. Assing ” (cAss); 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀: “ N35°08'45 E25°38'30, GR Lassithi (5), Kritsa s 390 m 11.3.2018, l. Brachat & Meybohm” (cMey).

Etymology: The specific epithet is an adjective derived from the Latin noun hamulus (small hook) and alludes to the minute lateral hook on one of the pairs of sclerotized internal spines of the aedeagus.

Description: Body length 0.83–0.90 mm; width of pronotum 0.32–0.35 mm; width of elytra 0.35–0.38 mm; length of antenna 0.33–0.35 mm. Other external characters as in C. sinuosum.

♂: aedeagus 0.28–0.29 mm long; ventral process bladeshaped and apically acute in ventral view; internal sac with three pairs of long sclerotized spines of distinctive shapes, the lateral spines (ventral view) with a small hook (Figs 120–121).

Comparative notes: Based on the similar external morphology and on the similar general structure of the aedeagus, C. hamulatum is undoubtedly closely allied to C. sinuosum, from which it differs by smaller size (no overlap; see measurements) and by the shape of the aedeagus and its internal structures.

Distribution and natural history: The type specimens were found in two geographically close localities to the south of Kritsa, East Crete. They were collected in dry rocky stream valleys with Quercus ilex at altitudes of 400 to 420 m, mostly by washing soil. Four specimens were sifted from leaf litter.