title: Serendipity at the Smithsonian: The 107-year journey of Rhipidocyrtus muiri Falin & Engel, new genus and species (Ripidiinae, Ripidiini), from jungle beast to valid taxon.
abstract: THE LONG AND TORTUOUS HISTORY OF AN ENIGMATIC AND RARE NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF RIPIDIINE WEDGE BEETLE (RIPIPHORIDAE: Ripidiinae: Ripidiini) from Borneo is discussed and the taxon described and figured as Rhipidocyrtus muiri Falin & Engel, gen. n. and sp. n. The holotype male, and only known specimen, was collected 107 years ago in Borneo but subsequent to this it was transferred among early researchers in the early 1900s. The specimen was dissected and many portions slide mounted, but these were disassociated from the pinned body for more than a generation. A happenstance encounter led to the rediscovery and reassociation of the body and slide-mounted abdomen and other sclerites in 2011, and to its eventual description herein. Ripidiine diversity is briefly discussed and comparisons made between Rhipidocyrtus and other members of the subfamily.
authors: Division of Entomology, Natural History Museum, 1501 Crestline Drive - Suite 140, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045-4401, USA.
authors: Zachary H
authors: ZH
authors: Falin
authors: Division of Entomology, Natural History Museum, 1501 Crestline Drive - Suite 140, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045-4401, USA ; Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA ; Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, New York 10024-5192, USA.
authors: Michael S
authors: MS
authors: Engel
keywords: Coleoptera; Ripiphoridae; Smithsonian Institution; Southeast Asia; morphology; taxonomy