Sunius praecisus, Assing & A, 2008

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 : 65-67

4.28. Sunius praecisus nov.sp. ( Figs. 55-63 , Map 13 )

T y p e m a t e r i a l: Holotype 3: "USSR Asia cent. Tadzhikistan, Pamir-Alai, Hissar-Mts. / Adshuk-Cleft near Warsob , 1200 m, 1.-3.VII.1990, leg. Schülke & Wrase / Holotypus 3 Sunius praecisus sp. n. det. V. Assing 2007" (cAss) . Paratypes: 2 exs.: same data as holotype (cSch) ; 3 exs.: " Tadzikistan: Hissar-Alai, Adjuk-Cleft nr. Warsob , Bachufer , 1.-3.VII.1990, leg. M. Schülke " (cSch) ; 2 exs.: "SU: Tads.: Pamir: Muksu-Gebiet , b. Kishlak Kandou / 2800 m, VII.1990, leg. Schmidt " (cSch) ; 1 ex.: " Tadshikistan, Romit-Schlucht b. Duschanbe, 18.VII.1984, leg. Wrase " (cAss) ; 5 exs.: "USSR-Tajikistan, Hissar Mt. Takob 3000 m, J. Boháč lgt. / 20.4.83" (cBoh, cAss) ; 8 exs.: "USSR-Tajikistan, Hissar Mt. Takob 3000 m, J. Boháč lgt. IV.83" (cBoh, cAss) ; 1 ex.: "USSR-Tadžikistan, 19.4.1978, Javroz (pr. Dušanbe) ( Hissar Mt. ), cca [sic] 1000 m, J. Strejček lgt." (cBoh) ; 3 exs.: "USSR-Tajikistan, Varzob val. 1600 m, J. Boháč lgt. IV.83" (cBoh) ; 1 ex.: "USSR-Tajikistan, Kara-tau Mt., pr. Nurek , 1600 m, Boháč lgt. / 23.IV.83" (cBoh) ; 2 exs.: " Javoch [?], 19.V.1964 " (cBoh) ; 2 exs.: " Hissar Alai, Romit , VII.1982, leg. Makarenko [label in Cyrillic, transliterated]" (cBoh) ; 2 exs.: Gorno Badakhshanskiy Autonomous Oblast, Rushanskiy mts. , near geologists´ camp, 2200 m, 21.V.1982, leg. Mikhailov [translated from Cyrillic], 2200 m, 21.V.1982 (cSch) ; 13: " Iran, Razavi Khorasan Prov., Sah Jahan Mts.: SW Mareshk: Gosh, 1500 m ( Koppe Dag ), N36°42'16", E059°34'58", 26.05.2006, lg. Frisch & Serri" (cAss) .

D e s c r i p t i o n: External morphology as in dark-coloured specimens of S. nigrinus .

3: sternite VIII of similar morphology as in S. nigrinus , also with finely margined and distinctly U-shaped posterior excision, pubescence unmodified; aedeagus of similar shape as in S. nigrinus , but apex of ventral process slightly more slender in lateral view; internal sac with 2-3 distinctly shorter sclerotised basal structures and with less curved and much less conspicuous subapical structures ( Figs 55-63 ).

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: As can be inferred from the similarity of external and male sexual characters, S. praecisus is closely related to S. nigrinus and its allies. A reliable separation from these species is possible only based on the morphology of the aedeagus, especially the shape of the internal structures.

E t y m o l o g y: The name (Latin, adjective: shortened) refers to the short spines in the internal sac of the aedeagus.

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d b i o n o m i c s: The known distribution is confined to Tajikistan and Iran ( Map 13 ). As far as can be inferred from the data specified on the labels, the types were collected in river valley and on stream banks at altitudes of 1000- 3000 m in April, May, and July.

Figures

Map 13: Distributions of Sunius nigrinus (EPPELSHEIM) (filled circles), and S. praecisus nov.sp. (open circles), based on examined records.

Figs 55-63: Sunius praecisus nov.sp.: (55-58) aedeagus in lateral view of males from Tajikistan (55-56, 58)) and Iran (57); (59) aedeagus in ventral view; (60-63) internal structures of aedeagus in lateral view of males from Tajikistan (60-61, 63) and Iran (62). Scale bars: 55-59: 0.2 mm; 60-63: 0.1 mm.