Namakwanus minutus Deschodt & Davis 2018, new species

Namakwanus minutus Deschodt & Davis, new species

(Figs. 1E, 2E–F, 3–4)

Type material. Holotype male: Nubib Mountain, Namibia S24.885184° E16.065035°, 14.iii.2017 1184m, Deschodt, Jacobs & Davis (TMSA). Two female paratypes with same data as holotype (UPSA).

Description: Holotype male: Medium sized beetle. Measurements with head inflexed, 4.93 mm (length) × 3.86 mm (width) × 2.75 mm (height).

Head. Clypeus bidentate, with two well-developed upturned teeth, clypeal margin between teeth curved. One very small tooth on lower clypeal margin between dorsal teeth. Clypeogenal suture fairly distinct and straight. Clypeal surface clearly punctate.

Pronotum. Convex, surface shagreened, small and oval punctures covering the pronotal surface, punctures separated by about one to one and a half the length of their own diameter.

Elytra. Convex, surface shagreened. Striae very shallow but visible, faintly punctate. Irregular and very faint punctures associated with short setae on interstriae.

Sterna. Prosternum with large and very close punctures. Meso- and metasternum fused, mesometasternal suture straight. Surface of mesosternum shagreened with faint, medium-sized shallow punctures. Surface of metasternum shagreened with a few faint punctures.

Protibia. Inside margin more or less straight with no denticles. Tibial apex blunt with a small spatulate spur. Tarsi attached under spur close to inner corner of tibia. Setae on inner margins of tarsi short. Apical outer margin of protibiae with three teeth. Distal third of outer margin somewhat serrated, middle third smooth.

Mesotibia. Fairly straight, with smooth margins and five rows of short tan setae. Apically with two short spurs. Tarsi with short tan setae, ending with two claws.

Metatibia. Fairly straight, with smooth margins and five rows of short tan setae. Tarsi with short tan setae, ending with two claws.

Pygidium. Surface shagreened with large shallow punctures.

Female. As for all Namakwanus species the female clypeus is slightly smaller than the male.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to its small size.

Diagnosis. Namakwanus minutus new species is the smallest known Namakwanus species. Thus, it can easily be separated from these species as the other constituent species of Namakwanus are more or less the same larger size.

Distributions, ecology, conservation status, and potential threats. This species may be restricted to the isolated Nubib Mountains in Namibia. As hyrax colonies remain protected in the area of collection within the Namibrand Nature Reserve, N. minutus new species is probably not facing any current threats. However, it should be assessed as Data Deficient (DD) as the EOO is unknown. Its distribution area could be as small as 1100 km 2 (area of the Nubib Mountains).