Revision of the Austrelatus papuensis group with descriptions of 42 new species from New Guinea (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Copelatinae)

Abstract

The Austrelatus papuensis group is the second species group of the New Guinean representatives of the recently described genus Austrelatus Shaverdo et al., 2023. The group is mainly defined by distinct scale- and/or spinula-like surface structures of the dorsal sclerite of the median lobe. The species group already contains four described species and 42 new species and one subspecies treated here: Austrelatus aiyurensis sp. nov., A. asteios sp. nov., A. bewaniensis sp. nov., A. bosaviensis sp. nov., A. bundunensis sp. nov., A. centralensis sp. nov., A. craterensis sp. nov., A. decoris sp. nov., A. dekai sp. nov., A. epicharis sp. nov., A. flavocapitatus sp. nov., A. fuscus sp. nov., A. herzogensis sp. nov., A. inconstans sp. nov., A. iriatoi sp. nov., A. kalibumi sp. nov., A. kebarensis sp. nov., A. kokodensis sp. nov., A. leptos sp. nov., A. loloki sp. nov., A. lopintolensis sp. nov., A. madangensis sp. nov., A. maindai sp. nov., A. mamberamo sp. nov., A. mianminensis sp. nov., A. miltokarenos sp. nov., A. noiadi sp. nov., A. normanbyensis sp. nov., A. ohu sp. nov., A. posmani sp. nov., A. procerus sp. nov., A. pseudogestroi sp. nov., A. pseudomianminensis sp. nov., A. robustus sp. nov., A. sararti sp. nov., A. sumokedi sp. nov., A. wanangensis sp. nov., A. wasiorensis sp. nov., A. wasurensis sp. nov., A. weigeli sp. nov., A. yamurensis sp. nov., A. yeretuar sp. nov., A. xanthocephalus nabirensis ssp. nov. A checklist and identification key to New Guinean species of the group are provided and important diagnostic characters are illustrated. Data on the species distributions and habiat preferences are given.