Two new Typhloreicheia species from Sardinia and their biogeographical significance (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Scaritinae)

Achille Casale,Paolo Marcia

doi:10.3897/zookeys.134.1707

Abstract

Typhloreicheia monacha sp. n. and Typhloreicheia ilianae sp. n. are described from two caves of Central-Eastern Sardinia (Nuoro province): the Bue Marino cave and the Nurra ‘e Pradu cave, respectively. Both caves are located in the part of the island where many highly specialised subterranean carabid beetles are localised. Typhloreicheia monacha is apparently related to two other species of the same area, i.e. Typhloreicheia onnisi Casale & Magrini, 2004 and Typhloreicheia elegans (Dodero, 1916); Typhloreicheia ilianae is closely related to Typhloreicheia henroti Jeannel, 1957, known from a cave near Dorgali. Relationships and diagnostic features among these taxa are discussed and illustrated, and a key for identification of the specialised subterranean Typhloreicheia species of Sardinia is provided. The hypothesis of adaptive radiation of Reicheiina species in Sardinia, recently proposed by the senior author of this contribution, is further elaborated in light of new data.

Highlights

The subtribe Reicheiina is a lineage of endogean and hypogean carabid beetles, currently classified in the tribe Clivinini of the subfamily Scaritinae of the family Carabidae (Vigna Taglianti 2005), including so far about 150 species (Balkenohl 2003, Lorenz 2005, Grebennikov et al 2009)
Typhloreicheia monacha sp. n. and T. ilianae sp. n. are described from two caves of Central-Eastern Sardinia (Nuoro province): the Bue Marino cave and the Nurra ‘e Pradu cave, respectively
T. monacha is apparently related to two other species of the same area, i.e. T. onnisi Casale & Magrini, 2004 and T. elegans (Dodero, 1916); T. ilianae is closely related to T. henroti Jeannel, 1957, known from a cave near Dorgali

Summary

Introduction

The subtribe Reicheiina is a lineage of endogean and hypogean carabid beetles, currently classified in the tribe Clivinini of the subfamily Scaritinae of the family Carabidae (Vigna Taglianti 2005), including so far (as genera “close to Reicheia”: Jeannel 1957) about 150 species (Balkenohl 2003, Lorenz 2005, Grebennikov et al 2009). External structural attributes of Reicheiina are markedly homogeneous: most of the species are small-sized carabids (1–4 mm) with reduced or absent eyes, moniliform antennae, fossorial prothoracic legs (typical of Scaritinae), the posterior angles of pronotum obliterated and rounded, short pronotal peduncle and the lack of a basal annular constriction on the pronotum. Work with Reicheiina beetles is hampered by the small sizes of its representatives and by the scarcity of material, some taxa being known from one or a few specimens. Morphological characters currently employed in defining various members of Reicheiina are those of external body shape and male genitalia, while immature stages, for example, are still completely unknown

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion