Abstract
The Anthroherpon cylindricollis complex, traditionally (Jeannel, 1924; Jeannel, 1930) divided into three subspecies, Anthroherpon cylindricollis cylindricollis Apfelbeck, 1889, Anthroherpon cylindricollis scaphium Reitter, 1908, and Anthroherpon cylindricollis thoracicum Apfelbeck, 1907, has long presented challenges in terms of taxonomy and subspecies delimitation. In this study, the taxonomic status of these taxa is re‒evaluated primarily on the basis of detailed morphological examination, with supplementary consideration of available molecular data. The analyses reveal only subtle and continuous differences among the three forms, which do not allow reliable separation at the subspecies level. Molecular evidence is consistent with low levels of genetic divergence among the examined populations. A redescription of Anthroherpon cylindricollis, incorporating all previously recognized subspecies and four known populations, is therefore provided. Two subspecies are synonymized herein, and the observed variation is interpreted as geographically structured intraspecific variability.
References
- Apfelbeck, V. (1889) Nove bube (zareznici, koleopteri) u pećinama južne Bosne. Glasnik Zemaljskog Muzeja u Bosni i Hercegovini, 1, 61‒65.
- Apfelbeck, V. (1894) Neue Grotten-Silphiden aus Südbosnien. Wissenschaftliche Mitteilungen aus Bosnien und der Herzegowina, 2, 511‒514.
- Apfelbeck, V. (1907) Paeninsulae balcanicae coleoptera speluncaria nova. Glasnik Zemaljskog Muzeja u Bosni i Hercegovini, 19 (3), 401‒404.
- Fresneda, J., Giachino, P.M., Salgado, J.M., Faille, A., Bourdeau, C., Cieslak, A. & Ribera†, I. (2024) A phylogenetic classification of Leptodirini (Coleoptera, Leiodidae, Cholevinae). Memorie della Società Entomologica Italiana, 101 (1), 3‒936. https://doi.org/10.4081/memoriesei.2024.3
- Giachino, P.M. & Guéorguiev, V.B. (1993) Note sul genere Antroherpon Reitter (Coleoptera Cholevidae Leptodirinae). Natura bresciana, Annali del Museo civico di Storia naturale di Brescia, 28 (1992), 287‒329.
- Giachino, P.M. & Vailati, D. (2005) Nuovi dati sul genere Anthroherpon Reitter, 1889 (Coleoptera Cholevidae Leptodirinae). Bollettino del Museo civico di Storia Naturali di Venezia, 29, 149‒163.
- Guéorguiev, V.B. (1990) Recherches sur les Bathysciinae (Coleoptera: Catopidae) de Yougoslavie. I. Antroherponini. Acta Entomologica Musei nationalis Pragae, 42, 237‒273.
- Hlaváč, P., Perreau, M. & Čeplík, D. (2017) The subterranean beetles of the Balkan peninsula. Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Prague, 267 pp.
- Jeannel, R. (1910) Essai d'une nouvelle classification des Silphides cavernicoles. Archives de Zoologie expérimentale et générale, 45 (1), 1‒48.
- Jeannel, R. (1911) Biospeologica XIX. Révision des Bathysciinae (Coléoptères, silphides). Morphologie, distribution géographique, systématique. Archives de Zoologie Expérimentale et Générale, Series 5, 7 (47), 1–641. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.63151
- Jeannel, R. (1914) Silphidae 1: Subfam. Bathysciinae. Pars 60. In: Schenkling, S. (Ed.), Coleopterorum Catalogus. W. Junk, Berlin, pp. 1‒62.
- Jeannel, R. (1924) Biospéologica L. Monographie des Bathysciinae (Col. Catopidae). Archives de Zoologie Expérimentale et Générale, 63 (1), 1–436.
- Jeannel, R. (1930) Révision des genres Blattochaeta et Antroherpon (Bathysciinae). l'Abeille, 34, 123‒148.
- Perreau, M. (2000) Catalogue des Coléoptères Leiodidae Cholevinae et Platypsyllinae. Mémoires de la Société Entomologique de France, 4, 1–460.
- Perreau, M. (2015) Leiodidae. In: Löbl, I. & Löbl, D. (Eds.), Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera. Hydrophiloidea—Staphylinoidea. Revised and Updated Edition. Brill, Leiden, Boston, pp. 180–290.
- Pretner, E. (1968) Catalogus Faunae Jugoslaviae volume III./6. Coleoptera: Catopidae: Bathysciinae. Academia scientiarum et artium Slovenica, Ljubljana, 59 pp.
- Reitter, E. (1908) Siebzehn Coleopteren‒Neuheiten aus der palaearktischen Fauna. Wiener entomologische Zeitung, 27 (1), 17‒24.