Trechus (Abyssinotus) reebae ( Quéinnec & Ollivier, 2021 )

Schmidt, Joachim & Merene, Yeshitla, 2024, Trechus species from Mt. Choke of northern Ethiopia related to T. niloticus (Quéinnec & Ollivier) with notable male genital morphology (Carabidae: Trechini), Zootaxa 5492 (3), pp. 343-355 : 347

Trechus (Abyssinotus) reebae ( Quéinnec & Ollivier, 2021)

Fig 2A , 3A, F, I

Citations. Nilotrechus reebae Quéinnec & Ollivier : Quéinnec et al. (2021): 55.

Trechus (Abyssinotus) reebae (Quéinnec & Ollivier) : Merene et al. (2023): 49.

Type material. Not studied. Identification is based on the original description, including habitus and male genital figures ( Quéinnec et al. 2021) as well as on several additional specimens collected close to the type locality.

Additional material. 12 ♂♂, 14 ♀♀, Ethiopia, Amhara, Mt. Choke , western crater valley, alt. 3700–3800 m, 10°41’14”N 37°50’07”E, 24.II.2019, leg. D. Hauth, J. Schmidt, Yeshitla M., Yitbarek, W. ( NHMAA, CAF, CSCHM) . 22 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀, Mt. Choke , western crater valley, alt. 3500–3600 m, 10°41’00”N 37°50’35”E, 01. V .2022, leg. J. Schmidt, Yeshitla M. ( CSCHM). 11 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, N-slope Mt. Choke , N of Waber, alt. 3450–3600 m, 10°44’48”N 37°46’22”E, 07. V .2022, leg. J. Schmidt, Yeshitla M. ( CSCHM).

Description. See Quéinnec et al. (2021: 55–56). Proportion EL/AL = 2.01–2.12 (Ø = 2.05; n = 8).

Diagnosis. See key to species, below.

Distribution. Endemic to Mt. Choke in northern Ethiopia. Based on Quéinnec et al. (2021) and new sampling data, the species occurs on top of the western crater rim and on western slope of the crater valley, as well as on the north-facing mountain range north of the village Waber ( Fig. 4 ).

Habitat preferences. Quéinnec et al. (2021) collected most specimens of the type series under clay at the base of a small cliff. The additional specimens of T. reebae were collected under stones and sifted from the humus-rich soil under dense vegetation alongside small streams, and no specimens were found on open pastures and in dry bushland areas. For the vertical distribution altitudes of 3500 to 3900 m were noted (see also Quéinnec et al. 2021). Based on these data, the new species can be considered hygrophilic and cold-adapted.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Habitus photographs of Trechus (Abyssinotus) species; the white circles point to the insertions of the supraorbital setae, pronotal lateral setae, parascutellar seta, elytral discal setae, and setae of the umbilicate series. A, T. reebae (Quéinnec & Ollivier, 2021), specimen from western crater valley. B, T. yitbareki Schmidt, sp. n., paratype. C, T. kniphofia Schmidt, sp. n., paratype. D, T. igori Schmidt, sp. n., paratype.

FIGURE 3. Left protarsomeres (A–C), aedeagus in left lateral view (D–G) and dorsal view (H–K) of Trechus (Abyssinotus) species. A, D, I, T. reebae (Quéinnec & Ollivier, 2021), specimen from western crater valley. B, E, J, T. kniphofia Schmidt, sp. n., paratype. C, F, H, T. yitbareki Schmidt, sp. n., paratype. G, K, T. igori Schmidt, sp. n., paratype.

FIGURE 4. Topographic map of Mt. Choke (highest point marked by a white triangle), showing sampling localities of six Trechus (Abyssinotus) species of the niloticus group (white circles; the numbers refer to the different species). 1, T. apertus Schmidt, sp. n. 2, T. reebae (Quéinnec & Ollivier). 3, T. yitbareki Schmidt, sp. n. 4, T. kniphofia Schmidt, sp. n. 5, T. igori Schmidt, sp. n. 6, T. niloticus (Quéinnec & Ollivier). Sampling data of T. reebae and T. niloticus published by Quéinnec et al. (2021) are considered. Base map was downloaded from Topographic-map.com.