Review of the Palaearctic genera of Saprininae (Coleoptera: Histeridae)

Abstract: Genera and subgenera of the subfamily Saprininae from the Palaearctic Region are reviewed. Thirty-three genera and subgenera are recognized as native to the Palaearctic Region. Historical background of the Saprininae subfamily, updated generic checklist of the subfamily and review of the adult external morphology is provided. New terminology regarding mouthparts and legs is introduced. Genera and subgenera of the Palaearctic Saprininae are diagnosed and the type species of each genus and subgenus are redescribed. Male genitalia of the type species of each genus and/or subgenus are illustrated. Genitalia of three type species of Palaearctic genera: Axelinus ghilarovi (Kryzhanovskij, 1976), Paravolvulus ovillum (Solskij, 1876), and Ammostyphrus cerberus Reichardt, 1924 are illustrated for the first time. Mouthparts and antennal club (with emphasis on its sensory structures) of most of the species are illustrated for the first time. Microsaprinus Kryzhanovskij, 1976, stat. nov., formerly a subgenus of Saprinus Erichson, 1834, is raised to generic rank, and four resulting new combinations are proposed: M. bonairii (Fairmaire, 1884) comb. nov., M. gomyi (Secq & Secq, 1995) comb. nov., M. pastoralis (Jacquelin-Duval, 1852) comb. nov. and M. therondianus (Dahlgren, 1973) comb. nov. A key to the genera of Saprininae is provided. Neotypes for Styphrus corpulentus Motschulsky, 1845 and Xenonychus tridens (Jacquelin-Duval, 1852) are designated. Reichardtiolus duriculus (Reitter, 1904) is for the first time recorded from Jordan, Microsaprinus therondianus (Dahlgren, 1972) from Iran, and Euspilotus (Neosaprinus) perrisi (Marseul, 1872) from Tajikistan.

Key words: Coleoptera, Histeridae, Saprininae, genus, subgenus, morphology, review, taxonomy, Palaearctic Region