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

By

Casale, Achille
Marcia, Paolo

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2011

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

134

Pages

15-31

Subjects

adaptive radiation , Carabidae , Coleoptera , new species , Sardinia , Scaritinae , Typhloreicheia

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.134.1707

 

Abstract

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. Both caves are located in the part of the island where many highly specialised subterranean carabid beetles are localised. 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. 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.