Sunius rastrifer ASSING 2001

Assing, V. & A, North, 2008, A revision of the Sunius species of the Western Palaearctic region and Middle Asia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 40 (1), pp. 5-135 : 51

4.17. Sunius rastrifer ASSING 2001 , revalidated (Map 10)

Sunius rastrifer ASSING 2001a: 200 f.

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 Turkey [see also ASSING 2001a, 2005c]: A n t a l y a: 12 exs., 40 km E Alanya, 36°29'N, 32°23'E, 1530-1600 m, pine litter and grass sifted, 23.XII.2006, leg. Assing (cAss).

C o m m e n t s: Sunius rastrifer was synonymised with S. dolabrifer – which is now a synonym of S. khnzoriani – by ASSING (2005c), because the distinguishing characters pointed out in the original description appeared to be linked by transitional conditions. Meanwhile, however, more material has become available, and a comparative study revealed that, in fact, S. rastrifer is a distinct species separated from S. khnzoriani by constant differences in the morphology of the aedeagus: in the former, the ventral process of the aedeagus lacks lateral processes and the internal rod-like structure of the aedeagus is of pale brown coloration, whereas in the latter, the ventral process of the aedeagus has small, but distinct lateral processes and the internal rod-like structure is more strongly sclerotised and of dark brown to blackish coloration.

D i a g n o s i s: seeASSING (2001a).

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d b i o n o m i c s: Sunius rastrifer is apparently rare and has become known only from eastern Antalya province, Turkey ( ASSING 2001a, 2005c). The previous records of S. dolabrifer from Sügözu and Sertavul Geçidi ( Turkey: Antalya) by ASSING (2005c) refer to this species (Map 10).

The material examined was collected at altitudes of approximately 1500-1600 m in March (1 record/ 1 specimen), April (1/1), May (1/1), June (1/1), and October (1/12).

Map 10: Distributions of Sunius khnzoriani (COIFFAIT) (filled circles), S. rastrifer ASSING (open circles), S. nurdaghensis ASSING (filled squares), and S. akianus ASSING (open square), based on examined records.