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Issue: Vol. 4779 No. 2: 19 May 2020
Type: Article
Published: 2020-05-19
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4779.2.8
Page range: 273–281
Abstract views: 130
PDF downloaded: 25

Tychobythinus inopinatus, a new troglobitic species from Sicily (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae)

Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, section Animal Biology, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy.
Centro Universitario per la Tutela e la Gestione degli Ambienti Naturali e degli Agroecosistemi, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 98, 95123 Catania, Italy.
Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Turin, Italy Centro Speleologico Etneo, via Valdisavoia 3, 95123 Catania, Italy
Coleoptera Goniaceritae Bythinini Tychobythinus inopinatus sp. nov. limestone cave biospeleology nature reserve

Abstract

A new troglobitic species of the subfamily Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), Tychobythinus inopinatus sp. nov., is described from Monello Cave (Syracuse, Syracuse Province, Sicily). Major diagnostic features are illustrated based on both male and female specimens. The new species shows some adaptations to cave life, i.e., pale brown colour; setation consisting of long and flattened setae and suberect shorter setae; absence of wings; and anophthalmy and elongate legs and antennae. It can be easily separated from the related taxa by the different shapes of the head, palpi, gular carina of the male, and aedeagus. Tychobythinus inopinatus sp. nov. is known only from Monello Cave, a limestone cave in the south-eastern Sicily.

 

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