Exocelina ransikiensis sp. nov. from the Bird’s Head of New Guinea (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Copelatinae)

Abstract

Exocelina ransikiensis sp. nov. is described from the eastern part of the Bird’s Head Peninsula, New Guinea (West Papua Province, Indonesia). It is the eighth Exocelina Broun, 1886 species known from the peninsula, and clearly differs from the other species, all of which belong to the E. ekari-group, by its smaller size and shape of the male antennae and genitalia. Based on our study of the morphological characters and molecular phylogenetic analysis, we propose a separate species group for it. Important diagnostic characters (dorsal habitus and coloration, as well as the shape of the male antennae, protarsomeres 4–5, median lobe, and parameres) of the new species are illustrated.