Axelinus Kryzhanovskij, 1976

Axelinus: KRYZHANOVSKIJ (1974): 106 (nomen nudum).

Axelinus Kryzhanovskij, 1976 in KRYZHANOVSKIJ & REICHARDT (1976): 112, 215. Axelinus: MAZUR (1984): 83; MAZUR (1997): 249; MAZUR (2004): 90.

Type species: Axelinus ghilarovi Kryzhanovskij, 1976 in KRYZHANOVSKIJ & REICHARDT (1976), original designation.

Diagnosis. Body moderately convex; frontal stria largely interrupted; frontal disc as well as clypeus rugulose-lacunose; eyes inconspicuous from above. Dorsal surface almost entirely punctate; pronotal foveae absent; pronotal hypomeron with short setae; pre-apical foveae small; prosternal process narrow, carinal prosternal striae convergent, united in front. Outer margin of protibia with three large teeth topped with short denticle, followed by two minute round denticles; meso- and metatibia somewhat thickened and dilated.

Differential diagnosis. Superficially Axelinus is most similar to the genus Hypocacculus differing from it chiefly by the shape of protibia as well as rugulose-lacunose frontal and clypeal disc and the largely interrupted frontal stria. From Reichardtiolus it also differs by more widely interrupted frontal stria (only shortly interrupted in Reichardtiolus) and less thickened and dilated meso- and metatibiae. Shape of the protibia is also different between the two taxa (see Key to genera).

Biology. Biology of Axelinus is virtually unknown; the type series was discovered during digging in sandy habitats of Central Asia (KRYZHANOVSKIJ & REICHARDT 1976: 217) .

Distribution. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Species examined. Axelinus ghilarovi Kryzhanovskij, 1976 .

Discussion. Axelinus is characterized by only a few weak synapomorphies (e.g. shape of protibia and somewhat thickened meso- and metatibiae) that are most likely homoplasies. Its taxonomic validity should be tested in the future with special regard to the presumably related taxa, especially the species-rich genus Hypocacculus that is possibly polyphyletic, with respect to other, smaller genera like Axelinus .