Rhodanthidium ordonezi (Dusmet, 1815) is recognized here as a valid species endemic to central and southern Morocco. It has previously been regarded as a subspecies of R. sticticum (Fabricius). The two taxa are in allopatry throughout most of their respective ranges, but probably cooccur in the Middle Atlas Mountains. They are clearly distinguished by their coloration and some aspects of their color patterns. Structural differences are minor, but a multivariate discriminant function analysis of 11 morphometric traits has showed that these are sufficient to assign of all specimens correctly. |
