Xantholinus (Typhlolinus) reitteri COIFFAIT , 1966

Assing, Volker, 2017, Taxonomic and faunistic notes on some West Palaearctic and Middle Asian Xantholinini, with a revalidation and new synonymies (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 49 (1), pp. 235-252 : 245-246

Xantholinus (Typhlolinus) reitteri COIFFAIT, 1966 ( Figs 1-2 , 6-9 , Map 1 )

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Turkey: 1♀, Artvin, Yusufeli - Kiliçkaya , 1800 m, 30.V.2000, leg. Skoupý (cSko) ; 1♀, Ardahan, Yalnizçam env., 27.V.2000, leg. Skoupý (cSko). Georgia: 13, Zemo Svaneti, Mestia Ughviri Pass, 43°02'N, 42°50'E, 1900 m, 27.VII.2016, leg. Meybohm (cAss) ; 13, Svaneti , Mazeri, 43°06'N, 42°36'E, 1700 m, leg. Kocian (cAss) .

C o m m e n t: Xantholinus reitteri was revised, illustrated, and recorded from various localities, including Iran, by ASSING (2007). A re-examination of most of this material, as well as a study of the specimens listed above, revealed that the material from Iran belongs to X. motschulskyi BORDONI, 1999 and that this name is not a synonym of X. reitteri , as proposed earlier ( ASSING 2007). For additional comments see the following section.

The revised range of Xantholinus reitteri includes northeastern Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan ( Map 1 ), suggesting a Caucasian distribution. Consequently, the record from Kahramanmaraş (central southern Anatolia) by ANLAŞ (2014) requires confirmation.

Previous records from Iran ( ASSING 2007) are erroneous and refer to X. motschulskyi (see below).

The internal structures of the aedeagus of males from Turkey and Georgia are illustrated in Figs 1-2 and 6-9 .

Xantholinus (Typhlolinus) motschulskyi BORDONI, 1999 , revalidated ( Figs 3-4 , 10-13 , Map 1 )

Xantholinus chalusianus BORDONI, 2017: 109 ff.; nov.syn.

T y p e m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Lectotype 3: " Gilan ( Iran), Heinz leg. / Masuleh 1.VIII.67, südl. Talysch, 1000-1800 m / Lectotypus 3 Xantholinus motschulskyi Bordoni , desig. V. Assing 2006" (cAss) . Paralectotypes: 733, 2♀♀: same data as lectotype, but with additional label " Xantholinus fortepunctatus Motsch., Coll. H. Korge / Paralectotypus Xantholinus motschulskyi Bordoni , rev. V. Assing 2017 / Xantholinus motschulskyi Bordoni , det. V. Assing 2017" ( MNB) ; 13: " Gilan ( Iran), Heinz leg. / Dare-dasht , e. Rudbar, 1000 m, 4.VIII.1968 / Xantholinus fortepunctatus Motsch., Coll. H. Korge / Paralectotypus Xantholinus motschulskyi Bordoni , rev. V. Assing 2017 / Xantholinus motschulskyi Bordoni , det. V. Assing 2017" ( MNB) .

A d d i t i o n a l m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Iran:13, Mazandaran, Dasht e Naz Wildlife Refuge , 36.7°N, 53.2°E, 10 m, oak trap, X.2015, leg. Barimani (cAss) ; 13, Mazandaran, Elburz Mts., Ramsar Co., Eshkatechal , 36°51'N, 50°33'E, 1050 m, sifted, 6.VI.2008, leg. Pütz (cAss) ; 13, Mazandaran, Nahar Khoran , 450-1000 m, 14.VIII.1967, leg. Heinz ( MNB) ; 13, 1♀, Mazandaran, S Alamdeh, Kolehsar , 1000-1400 m, 15.VII.1975, leg. Heinz ( MNB) ; 233, Gilan, S Ramsar, Javaherdeh , 1700-2000 m, 16.VII.1975, leg. Heinz ( MNB) .

C o m m e n t: A lectotype was designated by ASSING (2007), who synonymized X. motschulskyi with X. reitteri . Two of the specimens listed as paralectotypes by ASSING (2007) do not have type status, as one of them was collected after 1973 and the other in Mazandaran. A re-examination of the internal structures of the aedeagus ( Figs 3-4 , 10- 13 ) of previously studied material revealed that X. motschulskyi represents a distinct species and that the previously proposed synonymy is erroneous. Though generally similar (distal cluster of long semi-transparent spines (see Figs 8-9, 12-13 ) and a diagonal median series of short nail-shaped spines, the aedeagus of X. motschulskyi differs from that of X. reitteri in that it has two pronounced lateral series of numerous long and strongly sclerotized spines in the proximal portion (much less numerous, shorter, and less strongly sclerotized in X. reitteri ) and a larger proximal "brush-like" cluster of semi-transparent spines ( Figs 3-4 , 10-11 ). While these differences are not easily seen in an intact aedeagus, they are clearly visible when the internal structures are dissected and squeezed.

The availability of the name X. motschulskyi has been under doubt. BORDONI (1999) proposed " Xantholinus (Helicophallus) [sic] motschulskyi " to replace Coiffait´s and Korge´s misinterpretation of X. fortepunctatus MOTSCHULSKY, 1860 , but failed to mention or illustrate any characters or designate a holotype. HERMAN (2001) states that X. motschulskyi can only be regarded as an available name if "we apply the characters published by Coiffait, 1972 and Korge, 1973 to the new name". However, since BORDONI (1999) provides bibliographical references to COIFFAIT (1972) and KORGE (1973), he meets the requirements of Article 13.1.2 of the Code ( ICZN 1999) and the name can be considered available.

In the recent description of Xantholinus chalusianus , which is based on a unique holotype from " Iran, Chalus", a locality situated in Mazandaran province, BORDONI (2017a) compares the species with X. martensi BORDONI, 1983 ( Iran) of the subgenus Idiolinus CASEY, 1906 and with X. penicillatus ASSING, 2007 (Southwest Turkey) of the subgenus Calolinus COIFFAIT, 1956 , but not with X. motschulskyi , which too has been recorded from Mazandaran province. As can be inferred from the photograph of the aedeagus ( BORDONI 2017a: figure 2), the holotype of X. chalusianus is undoubtedly conspecific with the type material of X. motschulskyi . Hence the synonymy proposed above.

The known distribution of X. motschulskyi is confined to the Elburz range (North Iran: Gilan and Mazandaran provinces) ( Map 1 ). All the previous records of X. reitteri from Iran ( ASSING 2007) refer to this species.

Figures

Map 1: Distributions of Xantholinus reitteri (circles) and X. motschulskyi, based on revised records.

Figs 1-5: Internal structures of aedeagus of Xantholinus reitteri (1-2; 1: Turkey, 2: Georgia), X. motschulskyi from Mazandaran (3-4) in squeeze preparation, and of X. corallinus, lectotype (5). Scale bars: 1-4: 1.0 mm; 5: 0.5 mm.

Figs 6-13: Xantholinus reitteri (6-9; 6, 8: Turkey, 7, 9: Georgia) and X. motschulskyi from Mazandaran (10-13): (6-7, 10-11) proximal internal structures of aedeagus in squeeze preparation; (8-9, 12-13) distal cluster of spines in squeeze preparation. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.