Description

"Water beetle rediscovered in New Caledonia after more than 130 years. After its discovery (before 1883), it has not been found again in New Caledonia for more than 130 years. The original collecting site, the Marais de l’Anse Vata (in the southern part of Nouméa), does not exist anymore, and P. oberthuri was thus thought to be extinct in New Caledonia (HENDRICH & VONDEL 2010). This species occurs also in Australia, where it is obviously
very rare as well." (B.J. van VONDEL, et al. 2021).

Distribution

New Caledonia : Southern part of the South Province and in Australia, where it is obviously
very rare.

Habitat

On dolines (sinkholes).

Reference:

van VONDEL, C PÖLLABAUER, JF PARPET, N. MARY, N. CHARPIN & M.A. JÄCH (2021)… - Koleopterologische Rundschau Abstract Phalilus oberthuri (GUIGNOT, 1935)(Coleoptera: Haliplidae)

van Vondel, Bernhard J. (2019). Features of the metacoxal air-storage space as additional characters for reconstructing the phylogeny of Haliplidae (Coleoptera). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, 162(1), 13–32. doi:10.1163/22119434-20192081

van Vondel, Bernhard. (2010). Haliplidae (Coleoptera). In: Jäch & Balke (eds.): Water beetles of New Caledonia. Monographs on Coleoptera. 3. 237-242.