Elevation of Pilisaprinus to full generic status with notes on the evolution of termitoxeny in the Saprininae (Coleoptera: Histeridae)
Lackner Tomáš
Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 53(2): 623-632, 2013
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Abstract: Pilisaprinus Kanaar, 1996, a monospecific Afrotropical termitoxenous subgenus of
the genus Saprinus Erichson, 1834 is recognized as a valid genus based on the
results of recent phylogenetic analysis. Pilisaprinus is redefined using a
combination of plesiomorphic and apomorphic morphological characters, and its
type species, Saprinus (Pilisaprinus) verschureni Thérond, 1959 is
re-described, with male genitalia, mouthparts and sensory organs illustrated and
complemented with SEM micrographs. Notes on the evolution of termitoxeny in the
Saprininae subfamily are provided.
Key words: Pilisaprinus stat. nov., Coleoptera, Histeridae, Saprininae, taxonomy, termitoxeny, Afrotropical Region