A REVISION OF THE NEOTROPICAL GENUS ONTHERUS ERICHSON (COLEOPTERA, SCARABAEIDAE, SCARABAEIDAE)

The species of the genus Ontherus, endemic to Latin America, are revis ed. A key in English and Spanish for the identification of adults of t he 58 recognized species is provided. Three subgenera are recognized ( Caelontherus nov., Planontherus nov. and Ontherus s.str.). The followi ng 29 species are described as new: O. hadros, O. magnus, O. gilli, O. ashei, O. politus, O. sanctaemartae, O. tenuistriatus, O. obliquus, O . howdeni, O. diabolicus, O. pilatus, O. sextuberculatus, O. lunicolli s, O. monilistriatus, O. pseudodidymus, O. rectus, O. pubens, O. ulcop ygus, O. cambeforti, O. raptor, O. planus, O. edentulus, O. rectanguli dens, O. lobifrons, O. androgynus, O. amplector, O. atlantidis, O. ins olitus, O. stridulator. The following new synonymies are proposed (the first specific name being valid): O. kirschii Harold = O. elongatus W aterhouse; O. alexis (Blanchard) = O. didymus Erichson = O. glaucinus Erichson = O. nevinsoni Waterhouse; O. incisus (Kirsch) = O. thoracicu s Waterhouse; O. azteca Harold = O. villosus Luederwaldt = O. strius H owden and Young; O. cephalotes Harold = O. quadrituberculatus Luederwa ldt. The variety O. zikani var. carinicollis Luederwaldt is now recogn ized as a valid species. Species are arranged into groups according to their phylogenetic relationship, with a brief diagnosis given for eac h of the 11 groups of species. The following information is given for each species, when appropriate: detailed literature review, synonymy, description or redescription, illustration of important morphological characters, data of material studied, and geographic distribution.