taxonID	type	description	language	source
865687A5FF96FFF827974E2C25A0FB4D.taxon	description	Edgar von Harold (1877) described this species from a vague locality of “ Afric. austral. ” based on at least a male and a female specimen, giving a size range of 22 – 30 mm. Although Harold stated in his original description that the type specimens of C. harpagus were housed in ZMHB, the type series was found in the MNHN collections. This series consists of two males and one female, the larger male with a typical Harold type label (Figs. 1 – 2). Rather surprisingly, the two males pertain to the Asian Catharsius birmanensis Lansberge, 1874, while the female specimen is a West African Catharsius phidias (Olivier, 1789). In order to stabilise the taxonomy of this species by fixing the published name to a single specimen, the larger male with the following label data is here designated the lectotype:	en	Takano, Hitoshi (2021): Taxonomic notes concerning the genus Catharsius Hope, 1837 (Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae). Zootaxa 5052 (2): 280-286, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5052.2.7
865687A5FF96FFF827974E2C25A0FB4D.taxon	description	“ Afr. austr. / C. / Harpagus / Typ. Harold [cream-colored card with red border; handwritten] // Ex. Musaeo / E. Harold [cream-colored card with black border] // MUSEUM PARIS / ex coll. / OBERTHÜR / 1953 // LECTOTYPE / CATHARSIUS / harpagus / Harold / det. H Takano 2017 [white card with red border; partially handwritten] ”. Louis Péringuey (1901) synonymised C. harpagus under Catharsius laticeps Boheman, 1857 without giving any justification. Catharsius laticeps was described from a female specimen by Boheman and Péringuey incorrectly associated with it a male which belonged to a different species. The male specimen he described and figured as C. laticeps (Fig. 3) is unmistakably C. harpagus Harold and so, despite the incorrect assumption of this being the male of C. laticeps, he correctly synonymised C. harpagus under C. laticeps sensu Péringuey (nec Boheman). Maria Corinta Ferreira (1971) re-examined the very male specimen upon which Péringuey based his description and correctly stated that this is not a male of C. laticeps nor is C. harpagus sensu Ferreira (nec Harold) a synonym of C. laticeps. She proceeded to describe this specimen as Catharsius parafastidiosus. The holotype in SANC (Figs. 4 – 5) with the following label data was examined: “ no 3 / Copris laticeps / ♂ [cream-colored paper; handwritten in Péringuey’s hand] // HOLOTIPO ♂ / Catharsius parafas- / tidiosus n. sp. / M. C. Ferreira det., 1971 [partially handwritten in Ferreira’s hand] // HOLOTYPUS / ♂ [red card] // NATIONAL COLL. / OF INSECTS (SANC) / Pretoria, South Africa [black border] // TYPH 00479 [red card] ”. Both C. harpagus and C. parafastidiosus are here synonymised with C. birmanensis thus:	en	Takano, Hitoshi (2021): Taxonomic notes concerning the genus Catharsius Hope, 1837 (Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae). Zootaxa 5052 (2): 280-286, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5052.2.7
865687A5FF96FFFA2797482725EAFE11.taxon	description	On studying the ZMHB collections leading up to her review of the genus Catharsius, Ferreira (1960) examined a male standing under C. harpagus and re-described the species based on that specimen. In later publications, she described the female (1964 a) and included the description of both sexes in a work on the dung beetle fauna of Mozambique (1967).	en	Takano, Hitoshi (2021): Taxonomic notes concerning the genus Catharsius Hope, 1837 (Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae). Zootaxa 5052 (2): 280-286, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5052.2.7
865687A5FF96FFFA2797482725EAFE11.taxon	description	In their work on the Catharsius species described by Harold, Génier & Josso (2016) studied three specimens standing under C. harpagus in ZMHB of which two had been collected after the date of description and designated the remaining male as a lectotype. This specimen was collected in Delagoa Bay and had likely belonged in the collection of Carl Felsche. One of the labels ([D. O. Africa / 36] refer to Fig. 10 in Génier & Josso (2016 )) is handwritten in Felsche’s very distinctive hand. It is possible that this was the specimen studied by Ferreira in her 1960 publication, but nevertheless it cannot be a syntype and hence the lectotype designation is invalid. The above synonymy leaves this taxon undescribed and its description as a new species follows:	en	Takano, Hitoshi (2021): Taxonomic notes concerning the genus Catharsius Hope, 1837 (Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae). Zootaxa 5052 (2): 280-286, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5052.2.7
865687A5FF94FFFD27974EEF2527FD69.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype, ♂ (BMNH): “ MOZAMBIQUE, 2 m, Transect 4, / Maputo Special Reserve, / (Hygrophilous Grassland, 100 m / from Sand Forest Ecotone) / 26 ° 29 ’ 8.3 ” S, 32 ° 45 ’ 8.9 ” E / 5. XII. 2016. Human Dung Pitfall / Aristophanous, M., Cristóvão, J., / Laszlo, G., Miles, W. leg. / BMNH (E) 2016 – 262 / Trip Ref: MZ – 001 (ANHRT 22) // NHMUK 010367768 [QR code] ”. Paratypes (16 ♂♂ 20 ♀♀): MOZAMBIQUE: MAPUTO: Maputo Special Reserve, 2 m (26 ° 29 ’ S, 32 ° 45 ’ E), 4 – 5. vi. 2017, M. Aristophanous, G. László, W. Miles & A. Vetina (1 ♂ 3 ♀♀ BMNH); Maputo Special Reserve, Transect 4, 2 m (26 ° 29 ’ S, 32 ° 45 ’ E), 5. xii. 2016, M. Aristophanous, J. Cristóvão, G. László & W. Miles (5 ♂♂ 6 ♀♀ BMNH); Maputo Special Reserve, Transect 5, 2 m (26 ° 29 ’ S, 32 ° 45 ’ E), 5. xii. 2016, M. Aristophanous, J. Cristóvão, G. László & W. Miles (2 ♂♂ 5 ♀♀ BMNH); Maputo Special Reserve, Transect 6, 2 m (26 ° 29 ’ S, 32 ° 45 ’ E), 5. xii. 2016, M. Aristophanous, J. Cristóvão, G. László & W. Miles (6 ♂♂ 4 ♀♀ BMNH); Maputo Special Reserve, West Gate, 22 m (26 ° 30 ’ S, 32 ° 43 ’ E), 21 – 30. xi. 2016, M. Aristophanous, J. Cristóvão, G. László & W. Miles (2 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀ BMNH).	en	Takano, Hitoshi (2021): Taxonomic notes concerning the genus Catharsius Hope, 1837 (Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae). Zootaxa 5052 (2): 280-286, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5052.2.7
865687A5FF94FFFD27974EEF2527FD69.taxon	description	Description. Male holotype (Figs. 6 – 7). Size: Length 25 mm, width 17 mm. Colour: Black with a reddish undertone; pubescence light brown. Head: Anterior clypeal edge evenly arcuate with continuous clypeal margin. Clypeal surface rugose anteriorly, becoming more granulose posteriorly; genal edge rounded and acutely angled, surface with granules disappearing and becoming glabrous internally. Clypeogenal suture well-defined to base of cephalic horn. Cephalic horn long and straight, wide in basal third, edges of basal portion converging slightly; apicolateral angles rounded and obtuse. Cephalic suture laterally well-defined from base to apex. Pronotum: Anterior margin continuous, obliquely orientated anteriorly on each side of eyes. Lateral edges broadly arcuate. Pronotal disc with short but sharply pointed horns anteriorly, gently diverging and curved upwards, placed evenly between midline and lateral margin; apices of horns in line with edge of clypeogenal suture. Pronotal disc with continuous margin posteriorly; surface of disc covered in fine granules except for a glabrous oviform region on each side of midline; lateral declivity with fovea; surface completely granulate. Surface of anterior declivity glabrous; in frontal view, glabrous area extends from horns to anterior margin. Elytra: Carinate basally; elytral striae welldefined, with weak punctures encroaching slightly on intervals; surface of interstriae glabrous except for 2 mm portion basally of fine alutaceous microsculpture; carina on ninth interval very short. Pygidium: Transverse, fully margined, glabrous centrally, becoming more alutaceous towards edges; fine oviform punctures throughout. Legs: Protibia tridentate; spur curved gently apically; three longitudinal striae ventrally. Metatibial spur long, truncate apically. Aedeagus: Parameres almost as long as phallobase, laterally arcuate, with shallow concavity anteriorly (Fig. 8). Female paratype (Fig. 9). Head: Anterior clypeal edge evenly arcuate with continuous clypeal margin. Clypeal surface transversely rugose anteriorly, becoming more granulose posteriorly; genal edge rounded and acutely angled, surface with granules disappearing and becoming glabrous internally. Clypeogenal suture welldefined to base of clypeal carina. Clypeal carina raised, broadly triangular in frontal view and weakly tridentate, central point slightly bifurcate. Pronotum: Anterior margin continuous, obliquely oriented anteriorly on each side of eyes. Lateral edges broadly arcuate. Pronotal disc with short carina anteriorly, arcuate and medially emarginate; carina no longer than distance between eyes. Surface of disc completely granulose except for a small glabrous region on either side of midline; glabrous area rounded internally, tapering to a point laterally. Lateral declivity with fovea; surface completely granulate. Surface of anterior declivity completely granulate. Elytra: Carinate basally; elytral striae well-defined, with weak punctures encroaching slightly on intervals; surface of interstriae glabrous except for 2 mm portion anteriorly of fine alutaceous microsculpture; carina on ninth interval very short. Pygidium: Transverse, fully margined, glabrous centrally, becoming more alutaceous towards edges; fine oviform punctures throughout. Legs: Protibia tridentate; spur curved gently apically; three longitudinal striae ventrally. Metatibial spur long, truncate apically. Variation. Length: male 20 – 25 mm, female 21 – 26 mm. In smaller males the anterior declivity is completely granulose; the pronotal horns are reduced to tubercles and the cephalic horn is reduced to a broad equilateral triangle in frontal view.	en	Takano, Hitoshi (2021): Taxonomic notes concerning the genus Catharsius Hope, 1837 (Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae). Zootaxa 5052 (2): 280-286, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5052.2.7
865687A5FF94FFFD27974EEF2527FD69.taxon	etymology	Derivatio nominis. This species is named after the coleopterist Edgar von Harold (1830 – 1886), who described Catharsius harpagus, the species with which subsequent authors have confused this new species.	en	Takano, Hitoshi (2021): Taxonomic notes concerning the genus Catharsius Hope, 1837 (Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae). Zootaxa 5052 (2): 280-286, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5052.2.7
865687A5FF94FFFD27974EEF2527FD69.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. This species, although very distinctive, might be confused with the smaller C. tricornutus (De Geer, 1778) with which it is found sympatrically. In the males of the latter, the more conical pronotal horns are longer, placed nearer the midline and diverge strongly. In the females, the clypeal carina of C. tricornutus is strongly bifurcate medially giving it a quadridentate appearance in frontal view, and the pronotal carina is straight, weakly produced and shorter than the clypeal carina.	en	Takano, Hitoshi (2021): Taxonomic notes concerning the genus Catharsius Hope, 1837 (Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae). Zootaxa 5052 (2): 280-286, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5052.2.7
865687A5FF94FFFD27974EEF2527FD69.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Mozambique and South Africa (e. g., Van Rensburg et al. 1999).	en	Takano, Hitoshi (2021): Taxonomic notes concerning the genus Catharsius Hope, 1837 (Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae). Zootaxa 5052 (2): 280-286, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5052.2.7
865687A5FF93FFFD27974C7620EBFAA9.taxon	description	This taxon was placed in the genus Catharsius by Gillet (1911) and listed as such in Ferreira’s works on the genus (1960, 1972), but on examination of the holotype (by original monotypy) housed in MTD (and not BMNH as stated by Ferreira), it has become apparent that this species belongs in the genus Metacatharsiu s Paulian, 1939. Catharsius species can easily be separated from those of Metacatharsius by the presence of three striae on the ventral surface of the protibia; the striae are completely absent in Metacatharsius. Based on the above, the following new combination is established:	en	Takano, Hitoshi (2021): Taxonomic notes concerning the genus Catharsius Hope, 1837 (Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae). Zootaxa 5052 (2): 280-286, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5052.2.7
865687A5FF93FFFC27974AB72375FED9.taxon	description	The reference to the whereabouts of Shipp’s collection in Horn et al. (1990) is likely to refer specifically to his personal collection which was sold at Steven’s Auctioneers to Percy May Bright and henceforth to Tring. It is well known that the majority of the Tring Lepidoptera collection was bequeathed by Lord Walter Rothschild to BMNH but large parts of the Coleoptera collection were sold off and the Coprophaga was purchased by Felsche (see under Tring Museum in Horn et al. (1990: 397 )). This is supported by a number of letters from the turn of the 20 th Century in the BMNH archives from Felsche to Karl Jordan, a curator at Tring, discussing prices of beetles such as Heliocopris, Catharsius and Phanaeus. It is through these sales that Shipp’s types have ended up in Felsche’s collection and not in BMNH. Subsequent and recent references to Shipp’s types being deposited in the BMNH collections, such as the unverified reference to the presence of the types of Heliocopris donaldsoni Shipp, 1895 and Heliocopris coriaceus Shipp, 1897 in BMNH by Pokorný et al. (2009), are likely as a result of an assumption made through the Horn et al. (1990) reference.	en	Takano, Hitoshi (2021): Taxonomic notes concerning the genus Catharsius Hope, 1837 (Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae). Zootaxa 5052 (2): 280-286, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5052.2.7
