title: Synopsis of the genus Pharaonus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae), with descriptions of new taxa.
abstract: An overview of the genus Pharaonus Blanchard, 1851 is presented. Pharaonus farsensis new species and P. adelphus new species are described from Iran, P. lederi turcmenius Ohaus, 1941 is recognized as new synonym of P. lederi (Reitter, 1888), and the subgenus Tamerlanius new subgenus is proposed for the two central-Asian species. New distribution records and systematic notes are presented: P. caucasicus (Reitter, 1888) is removed from the fauna of Iran and P. varicoloreus (Burmeister, 1844) from that of Israel; P. fasciculatus (Burmeister, 1844) is reported for the first time from Israel, P. semenowi (Reitter, 1888) from Tajikistan. All known species are illustrated and a key to species is presented.
authors.affiliation: Muséum des Sciences Naturelles et de Préhistoire, 5 bis, boulevard de la Courtille, 28000 Chartres, France.; Email: denis.keith@ville-chartres.fr.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keith
authors.affiliation: 493, Route de la Fontaine, Le Grand Pré, Villa 12, 01280 Prévessin, France.; Email: g.sabatinelli@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sabatinelli
authors.affiliation: Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia, S. Croce, 1230 - 30135 Venezia, Italy.; Email: marco.uliana@fmcvenezia.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uliana
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D007492:Iran; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size