Clausirion comptum Click here for a larger view

Diagnosis.--Key characters: Ommatidial size coarse (Fig. 39b); prosternal process greatly expanded apically (Fig. 27); mesal antennal spines present (Figs. 8b, 9b); pronotum with impunctate regions; femoral carinae absent; procoxal cavities closed laterally (Fig. 24); femoral apices rounded (Fig. 26); posterior procoxal cavities closed (Fig. 27); mesocoxal cavities closed laterally (Fig. 6); lateral projections into mesocoxae absent (Fig. 20); tibial carinae present (Fig. 22); metepisternum exposed completely below keel (Fig. 33); femora clavate (Fig. 37b); elytral spines strong laterally, absent suturally; each elytron with two pale spots surrounding a dark spot; elytra with sparse, stiff hairs; pronotum widened at middle and about as wide as long. Length: 9-11 mm.

Distribution and Diversity.--Brazil, French Guyana. Monotypic.

Discussion.--The implied weight phylogenetic analysis placed Clausirion as a very basal elaphidiine with a sister-group relationship to Anopliomorpha. These taxa are probably not too closely related; but this needs to be substantiated with further character analysis and taxon representation.

This is a distinctive genus with the maculations described above, closed procoxal cavities posteriorly, and sparse and stiff erect hairs on the elytra.