taxonID	type	description	language	source
C74FFC13303DFF9DFF685645D8F6FA40.taxon	description	(Figs 1 – 11)	en	Bilton, David T., Shepard, William D. (2022): Rhithrops capensis gen. et sp. nov., a new aquatic dryopid beetle from the Western Cape of South Africa (Coleoptera: Dryopoidea: Dryopidae). Zootaxa 5195 (6): 539-553, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5195.6.3
C74FFC13303DFF9DFF685645D8F6FA40.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Rhithrops capensis sp. nov., by monotypy.	en	Bilton, David T., Shepard, William D. (2022): Rhithrops capensis gen. et sp. nov., a new aquatic dryopid beetle from the Western Cape of South Africa (Coleoptera: Dryopoidea: Dryopidae). Zootaxa 5195 (6): 539-553, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5195.6.3
C74FFC13303DFF9DFF685645D8F6FA40.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Rhithrops is unique amongst aquatic dryopid genera in that the labrum is transversely upturned apically. In South Africa, Rhithrops can be separated from Ahaggaria and Dryops by the lack of long erect setae on the eyes and dorsum of the body. Rhithrops can be separated from Strina and Rapnus by the antennae having 10 antennomeres as opposed to nine in Strina and seven in Rapnus. Additionally, Rhithrops has shallow sublateral pronotal furrows rather than sublateral step-like carinae, with discrete gibbosities on the pronotum outside of the sublateral furrows. The dorsally serrate coxites of the ovipositor are only shared with Strina, another South African dryopid genus. Abdominal ventrite 5 lacking a plastron is a character state commonly seen in the genus Helichus Erichson, 1847.	en	Bilton, David T., Shepard, William D. (2022): Rhithrops capensis gen. et sp. nov., a new aquatic dryopid beetle from the Western Cape of South Africa (Coleoptera: Dryopoidea: Dryopidae). Zootaxa 5195 (6): 539-553, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5195.6.3
C74FFC13303EFF9BFF68544DDD82FA37.taxon	description	(Figs 1 – 9)	en	Bilton, David T., Shepard, William D. (2022): Rhithrops capensis gen. et sp. nov., a new aquatic dryopid beetle from the Western Cape of South Africa (Coleoptera: Dryopoidea: Dryopidae). Zootaxa 5195 (6): 539-553, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5195.6.3
C74FFC13303EFF9BFF68544DDD82FA37.taxon	materials_examined	Type locality. South Africa, Western Cape, Cederberg, Matjies Rivier, Matjiesrivier, 32 ° 31 ’ 07.42 ” S 19 ° 21 ’ 00.4 ” E, 725 m. (Fig. 9). Type material. Holotype (male): “ 22 / ix / 2011 South Africa WC // Cederberg, Matjies Rivier // Matjiesrivier 32 ° 31 ’ 07.42 ” S // 19 ° 21 ’ 00.4 ” E, 725 m. D T Bilton leg. ” (AMG). Paratypes (23): 5 ♂, 10 ♀ same data as holotype; 1 ♀ “ 21 / ix / 2010 South Africa WC // Cederberg, Matjies Rivier // Matjiesrivier 32 ° 31 ’ 07.42 ” S // 19 ° 21 ’ 00.4 ” E, 725 m. D T Bilton leg. ”; 2 ♂, 3 ♀ “ 22 / ix / 2011 South Africa WC // Cederberg, Matjies Rivier // Matjiesrivier 32 ° 31 ’ 07.42 ” S // 19 ° 21 ’ 00.4 ” E, 725 m. D T Bilton leg. ”; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ “ South Africa: W. Cape // Cederberg, Maalgat // Matjiesrivier // 28 - 29 XII 2004 820 m asl // 32 ° 29 ’ 40 ” S 19 ° 16 ’ 49 ” E // P. S. Cranston, leg. ” (AMG, CBP, DMSA, EMEC, NMW).	en	Bilton, David T., Shepard, William D. (2022): Rhithrops capensis gen. et sp. nov., a new aquatic dryopid beetle from the Western Cape of South Africa (Coleoptera: Dryopoidea: Dryopidae). Zootaxa 5195 (6): 539-553, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5195.6.3
C74FFC13303EFF9BFF68544DDD82FA37.taxon	description	Description: With all the above characters of the genus. Size: Holotype: BL 4.10 mm; EL 2.65 mm; EW 1.35 mm; PL 0.85 mm; PW 1.20 mm. Paratypes: Males BL 4.40 – 4.75 mm; EL 2.60 – 3.00 mm; EW 1.45 – 1.60 mm; PL 0.85 – 1.05 mm; PW 1.20 – 1.35 mm. Females BL 4.65 – 4.80 mm; EL 2.75 – 2.90 mm; EW 1.40 – 1.60 mm; PL 0.90 – 1.05 mm; PW 1.25 – 1.35 mm. Head: Epicranium densely and shallowly punctate, with short decumbent setae, epicranial suture absent; frontal area twice as wide as one compound eye, antennal ridges absent, frontoclypeal suture straight between antennal bases. Elytra: Conjointly twice as long as wide, parallel-sided, apices moderately protruding (Figs 1 & 6 D – E). Legs: Relatively long, elongate, with large, strongly-developed tarsi and claws (Fig. 8 A – C). Male: Last abdominal ventrite with broad, shallow apicomedial emargination (Fig. 7 E). Labium with modified, spathulate setae on anteroventral margin (Fig. 4 F). Anterior edge of sternite 8 with short median strut (Fig. 9 F); sternite 9 as in Fig. 9 C. Tergite 8 with numerous long setae close to posterior margin (Fig. 9 E). Aedeagus: Long and tubular (Figs 8 D – F & 9 A, B & D); basal piece: paramere ratio 0.6: 0.4. Basal piece hookshaped basally, open on left side. Median lobe long, narrow, acute apically. Parameres parallel-sided, apically a little longer than median lobe, apices rounded on outer side, clasping apex of median lobe (Fig. 8 F). Female: Few external differences to males. The sublateral furrows of the pronotum are deeper and more evident (Fig. 2 B). The last abdominal ventrite has a conical apex, somewhat raised centrally and lacks an apicomedian emargination (Fig. 7 F). The labium has fewer, shorter modified setae on the anteroventral margin (Fig. 4 E). Sternite 8 as in Fig. 10 C. Ovipositor: Elongate (Fig. 10 A – B) and strongly sclerotized; type 1 (sensu Kodada et al. 2016); apically sharp-tipped. Valvifers ventral, asymmetrical, long, thin, forming a V-shaped sclerite. Coxites asymmetrical, laterally compressed, blade-shaped, apex very acute, dorsal side serrate, with basally directed long narrow dorsal extension.	en	Bilton, David T., Shepard, William D. (2022): Rhithrops capensis gen. et sp. nov., a new aquatic dryopid beetle from the Western Cape of South Africa (Coleoptera: Dryopoidea: Dryopidae). Zootaxa 5195 (6): 539-553, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5195.6.3
C74FFC13303EFF9BFF68544DDD82FA37.taxon	distribution	Distribution and habitat. Known only from type locality, the Matjies River (Fig. 11), a tributary of the Olifants River in the Cederberg, Western Cape Province, South Africa.	en	Bilton, David T., Shepard, William D. (2022): Rhithrops capensis gen. et sp. nov., a new aquatic dryopid beetle from the Western Cape of South Africa (Coleoptera: Dryopoidea: Dryopidae). Zootaxa 5195 (6): 539-553, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5195.6.3
C74FFC13303EFF9BFF68544DDD82FA37.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The trivial name, capensis, refers to location of this species in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.	en	Bilton, David T., Shepard, William D. (2022): Rhithrops capensis gen. et sp. nov., a new aquatic dryopid beetle from the Western Cape of South Africa (Coleoptera: Dryopoidea: Dryopidae). Zootaxa 5195 (6): 539-553, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5195.6.3
