Sardulus spelaeus Patrizi, 1955

Penati, Fabio, 2009, An updated catalogue of the Histeridae (Coleoptera) of Sardinia, with faunistic, zoogeographical, ecological and conservation remarks *, Zootaxa 2318, pp. 197-280 : 228

26. Sardulus spelaeus Patrizi

Literature data. “ Sardinia ” ( Mazur 1984; Audisio et al. 1995; Mazur 1997, 2004; Yélamos & Lackner 2004). Nuoro prov.: Baunei, Grotta [= cave] di Istirzili n. 50 Sa/NU, 507 m, 25.IV.2006, CO, 4 ex ( Casale et al. 2006); idem, 28.V.2006, M/O, 4 ex ( Casale et al. 2006). Dorgali, Grotta [= cave] di Toddeitto n. 89 Sa/NU, 166 m, 25.VII.1955, SP, holotypus, allotypus, 3 paratypes and one pupa ( Patrizi 1955); idem ( Patrizi 1956; Barajon 1966; Cerruti 1968; Puddu & Pirodda 1974; Vienna 1980; Cassola 1982; Vomero 1982; Pisano et al. 2003); idem, 1990’s, FG, ex. pl. and one larva ( Casale et al. 2006); idem, Monte Coazza, Grotta [= cave] Pisanu n. 215 Sa/NU, 225 m, 20.III.2001, PM, 11 ex ( Magrini & Vomero 2003); idem, 14.III.2003, PM, 1 ex (CFP); idem, 25.IV.2003, ADg, 2 ex (1 MSNG, 1 CFP).

Unpublished records. Nuoro prov. : Dorgali , Monte Coazza , Grotta [= cave] Pisanu, 200 m, 1.III.2004, in a pitfall trap, PM , 2 ex (CCMe); idem, 6.XII.2005, PM , 1 ex (CCMe); idem [= Grotta Gurennoro ], 5.XII.2005, ADg, 2 ex ( CFP); idem, Grotta [= cave] di Toddeitto, VI .1955, SP, 2 ex (CGMü); idem, sd, SP, 3 ex (2 MSNT, 1 CPV) .

Chorotype. Sardinian endemic.

Italian distribution. Sardinia.

Ecology. The type specimens were collected by [translated from the Italian original] “ breaking up rotten wood ” of “ a few pieces of completely decayed and water-logged juniper” found “in the rear part of the last room [of Grotta di Toddeitto cave], quite humid and with a few drippings ” ( Patrizi 1955). Specimens from Grotta Pisanu were [translated from the original Italian] “ collected by sieving clayey, damp soil lying on the bottom [of the cave]” ( Magrini & Vomero 2003).

Notes. It is interesting to add that the two specimens kept in the G. Müller collection (CGMü) were collected by Patrizi in June 1955, i.e. before he collected the type series (25 th of July 1955). Despite this and despite carrying a label with the word “tipo” [= type], they cannot be considered types, as Patrizi (1955) gave a precise account of how many and which specimens made up the type series. He probably sent 5 specimens to Müller (the two in the Müller collection plus three kept in the general collection of the Trieste museum, one of which was recently added to the P. Vienna collection) asking him to confirm their belonging to a new genus and species. Having received such confirmation, he then described Sardulus spelaeus based on a second series of specimens collected later, “forgetting” those sent to (and kept by) G. Müller.