- Title
- Using four different methods to reach a taxonomic conclusion in dung beetles (Scarabaeinae)
- Creator
- Deschodt, Christian Michel
- Subject
- Dung beetles -- Classification
- Subject
- Scarabaeidae -- Classification
- Date Issued
- 2019
- Date
- 2019
- Type
- text
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Masters
- Type
- MSc
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67845
- Identifier
- vital:29156
- Description
- Four different techniques to make taxonomic decisions concerning different species in Scarabaeinae are being investigated. Firstly, I made measurements of the body dimensions which are plotted on a two dimensional graph. This method is successfully used to erect one new species, Copris crassus Deschodt and Davis, 2015, and to establish the synonymy of Copris bihamatus Balthasar, 1965 with Copris fidius (Olivier, 1789). Thereafter the classical or traditional comparative method is used to propose seven new species Scarabaeolus soutpansbergensis (Deschodt and Davis 2015), Scarabaeolus megaparvulus (Davis and Deschodt 2015), Scarabaeolus niemandi (Deschodt and Davis 2015), Scarabaeolus carniphilus (Davis and Deschodt 2015), Scarabaeolus ermienae (Deschodt and Davis 2015), Scarabaeolus planipennis (Davis and Deschodt 2015) and Scarabaeolus afronitidus (Davis and Deschodt 2015) and formally synonymise Scarabaeolus vansoni (Ferreira, 1958) with Scarabaeolus lucidulus (Boheman, 1860) and Scarabaeolus xavieri (Ferreira, 1968) with Scarabaeolus andreaei (zur Strassen, 1963). Morphometric measurements of external structures of a group of flightless relict beetles in the tribe Canthonini are used to compile a nexus file which is analysed with computer software. The interpretation of these results is used here to support the erection of a new genus Drogo Deschodt, Davis & Scholtz 2016, Lastly I analysed the DNA sequences of specimens from different species belonging to a species complex in the genus Epirinus Reiche, 1841 occurring over a wide geographic range. These sequences are used together with external morphological characters to propose the synonymy of Epirinus hluhluwensis Medina & Scholtz 2005 and Epirinus ngomae Medina & Scholtz 2005 with Epirinus davisi Scholtz & Howden 1987.
- Format
- 84 pages
- Format
- Publisher
- Rhodes University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Deschodt, Christian Michel
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