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Issue: Vol. 4567 No. 2: 15 Mar. 2019
Type: Article
Published: 2019-03-15
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4567.2.10
Page range: 379–386
Abstract views: 95
PDF downloaded: 47

A new troglobitic Tychobythinus 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
Centro Speleologico Etneo, via Valdisavoia 3, 95123 Catania, Italy
Coleoptera Goniaceritae Bythinini Tychobythinus villasmundi sp. nov. Limestone cave Biospeleology Nature reserve

Abstract

A new troglobitic Pselaphinae, Tychobythinus villasmundi sp. nov., is described from Villasmundo Cave (Melilli, Syracuse province, Sicily). Major diagnostic features are illustrated based on both male and female specimens. The new species shows some adaptations to cave life, such as pale brown colour, setation consisting of long and flattened setae and suberect shorter setae, absence of wings, anophthalmy, and elongated legs and antennae. It can be easily separated from the related taxa by the different structure of the aedeagus. Tychobythinus villasmundi sp. nov. is known only from Villasmundo Cave, a limestone cave in the south-eastern Sicily.

 

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