Domene (Lathromene), Koch

Reboleira, A. S. P. S., Gonçalves, F. & Oromí, P., 2011, On the Iberian endemic subgenus Lathromene Koch (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae Paederinae): description of the first hypogean Domene Fauvel, 1872 from Portugal, Zootaxa 2780 (1), pp. 48-56 : 54

The subgenus Lathromene Koch

With the discovery of Domene lusitanica n. sp. the number of species of Lathromene rises to nine, all with subterranean lifestyles and corresponding morpho-physiological adaptations ( Coiffait 1982; Feldmand & Hernando 2005; Outerelo et al. 2000; Salgado & Outerelo 1991). All these species are found in the northwest part of the Iberian Peninsula and are easily recognized by the development of the aedeagus ventral blade (see key for details). Two morpho-ecological adaptive main tendencies are observed within the subterranean species, and as it would be expected the hypogean species are generally bigger and the endogean smaller ( Table 1). The boundary between subterranean and surface dwelling is sometimes difficult to define ( Culver & Pipan 2009), this is the main reason why some species found under buried stones have formerly been considered as epigean species. The clear troglobiomorphism present in all Lathromene species (e.g., reduced eyes, body elongation) and their restricted distributions lead us to consider them as a subterranean, Iberian endemic subgenus of Domene .