taxonID	type	description	language	source
03BF87CC1503FF969AF71031FD713CAF.taxon	description	(Figs. 1 – 2) Description. Adult. Male winged, with large and elongated lateral lobes of the pronotum. Head and antennae blackish, pronotum and scutellum testaceous (probably yellow or red in life), elytra dark brown, legs brown. Body length: about 9.3 mm; elytra: 6.0 mm. Head large, transverse, as wide as pronotum, slightly restricted and rounded behind the eyes, finely punctate and pubescent, partially covered by pronotum. Eyes sub-elliptical and strongly protruded, convex, inserted in upper and lateral part of head. Mandibles falciform. Maxillary palpi 4 - segmented, palpomeres unequal in length with last palpomere strongly elongate and slightly securiform. Labial palps 3 - segmented with last palpomere securiform. Antennae inserted in frons and away from eyes, reaching back to half of elytra, 11 - segmented, filiform, all antennomeres wrinkled and covered with sparce setae; scape elongate, club-shaped; antennomere II (pedicel) short, approximately 1.5 times shorter than scape, thinner than scape and slightly thinner than the others; antennomere III slightly longer than second; antennomeres IV-VIII robust, slightly longer than antennomere III; antennomeres IX-X shorter than previous ones; antennomere XI filiform, oblong, with rounded apex. Pronotum almost as long as wide, surface undulating and thickened in the central disc, with semi-erect long setae and with small rugosity; margins and sides flat, anterior margin strongly rounded, posterior margin slightly rounded especially near the corners, sides with a kind of two lobes with a large groove in the middle of these. Scutellum triangular-shaped with pointed apex. Elytra wider than pronotum, elongate and reaching the last abdominal segments, parallel-sided, with slightly wrinkled microsculpture and some semi-erect setae, apex strongly rounded. Posterior wings almost completely covered by elytra. Metasternum sub-quadrate with undulating posterior margin; abdominal segments robust, transverse and pubescent; last tergite broad and rounded; last ventrite elongate, triangular-shaped and deeply divided forming two halves, with apex rounded. Legs slender and pubescent; coxae short and robust; trochanters robust with rounded apex; femora enlarged and almost straight; tibiae cylindrical, pro- and mesotibiae slightly shorter than pro- and mesofemora, metatibiae as long as metafemora, with an apical spur. Tarsal formula 5 - 5 - 5; first tarsomere very elongate; second tarsomere shorter than first; third tarsomere shorter and sturdier than tarsomere II; fourth tarsomere deeply bilobed at sides; fifth tarsomere elongate, slender and curved; proclaws with a small obtuse basal tooth, meso- and metaclaws simple without basal tooth. Female unknown.	en	Fanti, Fabrizio, Pankowski, Maximilian G. (2021): Two new species of soldier beetles (Coleoptera, Cantharidae), the first from the tribe Silini in Dominican amber. Zootaxa 4996 (1): 163-170, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4996.1.7
03BF87CC1503FF969AF71031FD713CAF.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Species named after Dr. Thomas A. Hegna for his many contributions to paleontology and his selfless dedication to helping students succeed.	en	Fanti, Fabrizio, Pankowski, Maximilian G. (2021): Two new species of soldier beetles (Coleoptera, Cantharidae), the first from the tribe Silini in Dominican amber. Zootaxa 4996 (1): 163-170, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4996.1.7
03BF87CC1503FF969AF71031FD713CAF.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. Male, adult specimen in a Dominican amber piece: Catalog number MCZ: Ent: PALE- 43616, in the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) at Harvard University. Type locality. The Cordillera Septentrional mountain range in the Dominican Republic, from the “ Los Brachos ” mine in the mining area known as “ La Cumbre. ” Type horizon. Late Early / Middle Miocene; 15 – 20 million years ago (mya), probably close to 16 mya. La Toca Formation. Syninclusions. Detritus and plant remains, a few air bubbles, an unidentified insect and an insect leg. Systematic placement. The last maxillary palpomere securiform, the pronotum with lateral lobes / apophyses, the abdomen with only eight visible urites, the elongated elytra, and meso- and metatarsal claws simple and without basal tooth, place this new species in the subfamily Silinae and the genus Silis (Brancucci 1980; Ramsdale 2002; Constantin 2009, 2017). Its large size and the lateral margin of its pronotum without a minute glandular tuberosity also place Silis hegnai sp. nov. in the nominotypical subgenus Silis (Constantin 2009).	en	Fanti, Fabrizio, Pankowski, Maximilian G. (2021): Two new species of soldier beetles (Coleoptera, Cantharidae), the first from the tribe Silini in Dominican amber. Zootaxa 4996 (1): 163-170, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4996.1.7
03BF87CC1503FF969AF71031FD713CAF.taxon	diagnosis	Differential diagnosis. Silis flavofemorata Wittmer, 1991 from the Dominican Republic is morphologically similar — albeit only vaguely — to Silis hegnai sp. nov. The new species shows a kind of broad concavity between the two lateral lobes that is not present in Silis flavofemorata (Wittmer 1991 a). Furthermore, S. flavofemorata is smaller in size: 6 – 7 mm (Wittmer 1991 a). The only other Silis found in Miocene deposits is Silis chiapasensis Wittmer, 1963 from Mexican (Chiapas) amber (Wittmer 1963). S. chiapasensis differs from Silis hegnai sp. nov. by the former species’ more transverse pronotum and the presence of a spine on each side, as well as for its considerably smaller body size than Silis hegnai sp. nov.	en	Fanti, Fabrizio, Pankowski, Maximilian G. (2021): Two new species of soldier beetles (Coleoptera, Cantharidae), the first from the tribe Silini in Dominican amber. Zootaxa 4996 (1): 163-170, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4996.1.7
03BF87CC1503FF969AF71031FD713CAF.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The amber piece is extremely transparent, measures 20.7 x 15.6 x 6.2 mm and weighs 1.08 grams. The inclusion is complete and perfectly visible.	en	Fanti, Fabrizio, Pankowski, Maximilian G. (2021): Two new species of soldier beetles (Coleoptera, Cantharidae), the first from the tribe Silini in Dominican amber. Zootaxa 4996 (1): 163-170, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4996.1.7
03BF87CC1501FF909AF716D8FC1A3B7E.taxon	description	(Figs. 3 – 4) Description. Adult. Male winged, with elongated lateral lobes and spines of pronotum. Head, elytra and antennae brown-dark brown; pronotum and legs brown. Body length: about 6.4 mm; elytra: 5.0 mm. Head large, transverse, narrower than pronotum, narrow and rounded behind the eyes, almost smooth and finely pubescent, partially covered by pronotum. Eyes roundish and strongly protruded, convex, inserted in the upper and lateral part of the head occupying the major part of the sides. Mandibles falciform, slender. Maxillary palpi 4 - segmented, palpomeres unequal in length with the last palpomere strongly securiform. Labial palps 3 - segmented. Antennae inserted in the frons and away from the eyes, long, almost reaching the elytral apex, 11 - segmented, filiform, all antennomeres wrinkled and covered with sparce setae; scape elongate, club-shaped; antennomere II (pedicel) short, approximately 1.2 times shorter than scape, robust; antennomere III very slightly shorter than second; antennomeres IV-IX filiform, longer than antennomere III and approximately as long as scape; antennomere XI filiform, oblong, with rounded apex. Pronotum transverse, surface almost flat, with long, erect setae and with small rugosity; anterior margin strongly rounded, posterior margin almost straight, sides with two lobes, anterior lobe elongate and arcuate and thinner apically with the tip rounded, posterior lobe very broad, spine inserted under the posterior lobe and curved and very long and thin apically, groove between the two lobes narrow and rounded. Scutellum triangular-shaped with truncated or slightly rounded apex. Elytra almost as wide as pronotum, elongate, leaving the last abdominal segment uncovered, parallel-sided, with slightly wrinkled microsculpture and semi-erect setae, apex strongly rounded. Posterior wings almost completely covered by elytra. Metasternum sub-quadrate with posterior margin almost straight; abdominal segments robust, transverse and pubescent; last tergite broad with a central groove; last ventrite elongate, triangular-shaped and deeply divided forming two halves, with apex rounded. Legs long, slender and pubescent; coxae short and robust; trochanters elongate with rounded apex; femora enlarged and almost straight; tibiae cylindrical, protibiae shorter than profemora, mesotibiae as long as mesofemora, metatibiae slightly longer than metafemora. Tarsal formula 5 - 5 - 5; first tarsomere robust, elongate; second tarsomere shorter than first; third tarsomere triangular-shaped; fourth tarsomere deeply bilobed at the sides; fifth tarsomere elongate, slender and curved; claws simple without basal tooth. Female unknown.	en	Fanti, Fabrizio, Pankowski, Maximilian G. (2021): Two new species of soldier beetles (Coleoptera, Cantharidae), the first from the tribe Silini in Dominican amber. Zootaxa 4996 (1): 163-170, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4996.1.7
03BF87CC1501FF909AF716D8FC1A3B7E.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Species named after Dr. Gregory R. Curler for his numerous contributions to entomology and his great generosity in sharing his knowledge with students.	en	Fanti, Fabrizio, Pankowski, Maximilian G. (2021): Two new species of soldier beetles (Coleoptera, Cantharidae), the first from the tribe Silini in Dominican amber. Zootaxa 4996 (1): 163-170, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4996.1.7
03BF87CC1501FF909AF716D8FC1A3B7E.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. Male, adult specimen in a Dominican amber piece: Catalog number MCZ: Ent: PALE- 43617, in the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) at Harvard University. Type locality. The Cordillera Septentrional mountain range in the Dominican Republic, from the “ Montearachi ” mine in the “ Los Cacaos ” mining area. Type horizon. Late Early / Middle Miocene; 15 – 20 million years ago (mya), probably close to 16 mya. La Toca Formation. Syninclusions. Detritus and plant remains, air bubbles, a spider, some unidentified dipterans and a coleopteran. Systematic placement. The securiform last maxillary palpomere, the pronotum with lateral lobes / apophyses, the abdomen with only eight visible urites, the elongated elytra, and meso- and metatarsal claws simple and without basal tooth place this new species in the subfamily Silinae and the genus Silis (Brancucci 1980; Ramsdale 2002; Constantin 2009, 2017). The lateral margin of the pronotum without minute glandular tuberosity also places Silis curleri sp. nov. in the nominotypical subgenus Silis (Constantin 2009).	en	Fanti, Fabrizio, Pankowski, Maximilian G. (2021): Two new species of soldier beetles (Coleoptera, Cantharidae), the first from the tribe Silini in Dominican amber. Zootaxa 4996 (1): 163-170, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4996.1.7
03BF87CC1501FF909AF716D8FC1A3B7E.taxon	diagnosis	Differential diagnosis. A living species present in Haiti, Silis debililimbata Wittmer, 1991, appears extremely similar to Silis curleri sp. nov., both for its similar body size and the shape of its pronotum (Wittmer 1991 a). Silis curleri sp. nov., however, has a slightly longer and thinner anterior lobe, and a slightly shorter, stockier and more curved posterior spine, as well as a broader concavity at the posterior margin near the spine. The only Silis found so far in Miocene deposits is Silis chiapasensis Wittmer, 1963 from Mexican (Chiapas) amber (Wittmer 1963). It differs from the new species by its more transverse pronotum and the different shape of its lobes and spines, as well as its smaller body size.	en	Fanti, Fabrizio, Pankowski, Maximilian G. (2021): Two new species of soldier beetles (Coleoptera, Cantharidae), the first from the tribe Silini in Dominican amber. Zootaxa 4996 (1): 163-170, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4996.1.7
03BF87CC1501FF909AF716D8FC1A3B7E.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The amber piece is transparent, measures 46.4 x 29.2 x 13.8 mm and weighs 10.558 grams. The inclusion is easily visible, and only the beetle’s right antenna is missing.	en	Fanti, Fabrizio, Pankowski, Maximilian G. (2021): Two new species of soldier beetles (Coleoptera, Cantharidae), the first from the tribe Silini in Dominican amber. Zootaxa 4996 (1): 163-170, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4996.1.7
