Endogean and cavernicolous Coleoptera of the Balkans. XVIII. Strong radiation in caves of the Central Dinarides: seven new species of Thaumastocephalus Poggi et al., 2001 (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae)

Abstract

Seven new species of the cavernicolous and anophthalmous genus Thaumastocephalus Poggi, Nonveiller, Colla, Pavićević & T. Rađa, 2001 are described: T. bilandzijae sp. n., T. kirini sp. n., T. marsici sp. n., T. rujnicensis sp. n., T. slavkoi sp. n. and T. troglavi sp. n. from Croatia and T. dahnae sp. n. from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Aedeagi of all species are illustrated. A key to all species is provided. The records of all specimens of the genus treated here are given, and their distributions are discussed and shown on maps. The distribution of all genera of cavernicolous Pselaphinae in the Dinarides is discussed.

In the twilight zone—The head morphology of Bergrothia saulcyi (Pselaphinae, Staphylinidae, Coleoptera), a beetle with adaptations to endogean life but living in leaf litter

“…Taxonomic studies of Pselaphinae and the exploration of the diversity of the group are thriving, with an impressive number of new extant and extinct species from different world regions described in the last years (e.g., Hlav ač et al, 2019;Huang et al, 2018;Nakl adal & Hlav ač, 2018;Park & Chandler, 2017;Parker, 2016;Yin et al, 2019).…”

“…A derived character state of B. saulcyi is the greatly reduced condition of the compound eyes. This is likely an autapomorphy of the genus, even though reduction of light sense organs occurs frequently in Pselaphinae, especially in cave-dwelling species and inquilines (e.g., Asenjo et al, 2017;Hlav ač et al, 2019;Jałoszy nski et al, 2020).…”

“…Comprising over 10,000 described species (Yin et al, 2019) and showing astounding morphological diversity, pselaphines have conquered a plethora of terrestrial habitats. They are most abundant in the upper soil layers (Chandler, 2001;Park, 1942Park, , 1947, but many groups have adapted to highly specialized conditions of deep soil (e.g., all Mayetiini and Imirini, some Bythinoplectini, Trichonychini, Trogastrini, Bythinini and Amauropini; Besuchet, 1980;Coiffait, 1955Coiffait, , 1958Jeannel, 1948), caves (e.g., all Thaumastocephalini, many Batrisitae, and some Metopiasini, Goniaceritae and Tyrini; Asenjo et al, 2017;Carlton, 2012;Hlav ač et al, 2019;Yin, 2020), or the similarly unique and demanding environment of ant colonies (all Clavigeritae, and many species in most tribes; e.g., Jałoszy nski et al, 2020;Luo et al, 2021). Among Pselaphinae, there are also highly interesting, relatively small lineages that include beetles morphologically rather uniform, and yet showing apparently various degrees or stages of adaptation to life in deeper soil layers and caves.…”

“…Species of Amauropini inhabit upper soil layers (i.e., leaf litter), deep soil (i.e., the mineral layers), from which they can be collected by soil washing techniques (Hlav ač et al, 2019), and also caves (e.g., Hlav ač et al, 1999Hlav ač et al, , 2008Nonveiller & Pavicevic, 2002). Despite this ecological diversity, all Amauropini show a similar morphology (examples are shown in Figure 1), with a slender body often with distinctly reduced pigmentation, elongate appendages with long sensory setae, absent or strongly reduced eyes usually with variously shaped adjacent ocular spines, and reduced wings.…”

Endogean and cavernicolous Coleoptera of the Balkans. XXII. Two new species of Paramaurops Jeannel, 1948 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae) from Croatia

“…Only 12 species of Pselaphinae are recorded from the Central Dinarides, compared to 27 species from the Northern and 37 species from the Southern Dinarides (Hlaváč pers. database, see also Hlaváč et al, 2017;Hlaváč et al, 2019). As the Mt Matokit finding place of P. apfelbecki is very near the type locality of P. alenkirini n.…”