High-elevation Podanotum Torres & K. Johnson, a genus of Andean Eumaeini (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclinae) with descriptions of six new species occurring in different regions from Colombia to Bolivia

Faynel C.; Fåhraeus C.; Le Crom J.-F.; Busby R.C.; Siebel G.; Schomann A.M.; Gonzalez-Mercado J.H.; Lopez-Calderón L.; Moreno-Torres K.; Prieto C. · Zootaxa (2026) · DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5853.4.1

Resumen

New species of Podanotum torres & K. Johnson have been identified among recent material collected in Andean areas above 2000 m, from Colombia to Bolivia. Podanotum gelali Prieto, Faynel & le Crom, sp. nov is described from three males and one female from Colombia (Valle del Cauca). Podanotum wayquecha Faynel, Fåhraeus & Siebel, sp. nov. is described from seven males and four females from southern Peru (Cusco) and 19 males collected in northern Bolivia (la Paz). Podanotum mcinnis Faynel, Fåhraeus & Busby, sp. nov. is described from nine widely dispersed females ranging from Colombia to Bolivia, with the holotype originating from southern Peru (Cusco). Podanotum ysaias Faynel, Fåhraeus & lopez-Calderón, sp. nov. is described from five Peruvian specimens, two males and one female from Amazonas and two females from huánuco. Podanotum cosnipata Faynel, Fåhraeus & Gonzalez-Mercado, sp. nov. is described from a male and female discovered in southern Peru (Cusco). Podanotum quinnae Busby, Faynel & Fåhraeus, sp. nov. is described from four males and one female from Ecuador (Pichincha). All new species are compared to close or similar congeners. the male of Podanotum vanewrighti K. Johnson & Adams and the female of Podanotum aquaphilum Bálint & Attal are described for the first time, which provides additional clarity to the identity and distribution of these taxa. Morphological adaptations to harsh living conditions between 3000-4000 m are discussed and illustrated. Geographic isolation in mountainous areas allowed for rapid divergence at the species level. We provide the first comparison between straight-line distance and contour-following field distance between high-altitude localities to help explain the increased physical isolation and its impact on intraspecific genetic divergence. the work follows an integrative approach using morphology and DNA barcodes to determine species. DNA sequence analysis confirms the inclusion of all previously described species in Podanotum. Copyright

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco