<i>Trechus</i> from Ethiopia with Aedeagus Right Side Superior in Repose, an Unusual Character State in Trechine Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

The Miocene volcano Mt. Choke in northern Ethiopia is known for its very species-rich <i>Trechus</i> fauna. In addition, the enormous morphological diversity that is expressed within a single subgenus, <i>Abyssinotus</i>, which is endemic to northern Ethiopia, is unique withi...

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Main Authors: Joachim Schmidt, Yeshitla Merene, Yitbarek Woldehawariat, Arnaud Faille
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Insects
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/3/328
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author Joachim Schmidt
Yeshitla Merene
Yitbarek Woldehawariat
Arnaud Faille
author_facet Joachim Schmidt
Yeshitla Merene
Yitbarek Woldehawariat
Arnaud Faille
author_sort Joachim Schmidt
collection DOAJ
description The Miocene volcano Mt. Choke in northern Ethiopia is known for its very species-rich <i>Trechus</i> fauna. In addition, the enormous morphological diversity that is expressed within a single subgenus, <i>Abyssinotus</i>, which is endemic to northern Ethiopia, is unique within the global <i>Trechus</i> fauna. In this paper, we describe eight additional new species and three subspecies of the <i>Trechus</i> subgenus <i>Abyssinotus</i>, all of which are endemic to Mt. Choke. These species belong to two different lineages within <i>Abyssinotus</i>, each differing from other lineages of the subgenus by certain morphological character states described in this paper and alternatively named the <i>T. lobeliae</i> and the <i>T. basilewskianus</i> subgroups. Several species of these subgroups are characterised by an apomorphical inverse male genital, with the right side up in repose. The <i>T. lobeliae</i> subgroup comprises two species and is monomorphic with respect to this character. The <i>T. basilewskianus</i> subgroup comprises eight species, including six species with monomorphically inverse male genitalia and two species with male genitalia monomorphically in the ‘normal’ position. These are the first examples within Trechinae in which inverse male genitalia are a species- or even group-specific characteristic. A brief summary of the distribution of this trait within the Carabidae is provided. We also present a new identification key for the <i>Trechus</i> species known so far from Mt. Choke.
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spelling doaj-art-c3c7fd45762045d3bea75d472c6a65292025-08-20T02:42:34ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-03-0116332810.3390/insects16030328<i>Trechus</i> from Ethiopia with Aedeagus Right Side Superior in Repose, an Unusual Character State in Trechine Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)Joachim Schmidt0Yeshitla Merene1Yitbarek Woldehawariat2Arnaud Faille3General and Systematic Zoology, University of Rostock, 18055 Rostock, GermanyDepartment of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, EthiopiaDepartment of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, EthiopiaDepartment of Entomology, Stuttgart State Museum of Natural History, 70191 Stuttgart, GermanyThe Miocene volcano Mt. Choke in northern Ethiopia is known for its very species-rich <i>Trechus</i> fauna. In addition, the enormous morphological diversity that is expressed within a single subgenus, <i>Abyssinotus</i>, which is endemic to northern Ethiopia, is unique within the global <i>Trechus</i> fauna. In this paper, we describe eight additional new species and three subspecies of the <i>Trechus</i> subgenus <i>Abyssinotus</i>, all of which are endemic to Mt. Choke. These species belong to two different lineages within <i>Abyssinotus</i>, each differing from other lineages of the subgenus by certain morphological character states described in this paper and alternatively named the <i>T. lobeliae</i> and the <i>T. basilewskianus</i> subgroups. Several species of these subgroups are characterised by an apomorphical inverse male genital, with the right side up in repose. The <i>T. lobeliae</i> subgroup comprises two species and is monomorphic with respect to this character. The <i>T. basilewskianus</i> subgroup comprises eight species, including six species with monomorphically inverse male genitalia and two species with male genitalia monomorphically in the ‘normal’ position. These are the first examples within Trechinae in which inverse male genitalia are a species- or even group-specific characteristic. A brief summary of the distribution of this trait within the Carabidae is provided. We also present a new identification key for the <i>Trechus</i> species known so far from Mt. Choke.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/3/328<i>Abyssinotus</i>Afroalpineinverse male genitalianew speciessystematicsTrechini
spellingShingle Joachim Schmidt
Yeshitla Merene
Yitbarek Woldehawariat
Arnaud Faille
<i>Trechus</i> from Ethiopia with Aedeagus Right Side Superior in Repose, an Unusual Character State in Trechine Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
Insects
<i>Abyssinotus</i>
Afroalpine
inverse male genitalia
new species
systematics
Trechini
title <i>Trechus</i> from Ethiopia with Aedeagus Right Side Superior in Repose, an Unusual Character State in Trechine Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
title_full <i>Trechus</i> from Ethiopia with Aedeagus Right Side Superior in Repose, an Unusual Character State in Trechine Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
title_fullStr <i>Trechus</i> from Ethiopia with Aedeagus Right Side Superior in Repose, an Unusual Character State in Trechine Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
title_full_unstemmed <i>Trechus</i> from Ethiopia with Aedeagus Right Side Superior in Repose, an Unusual Character State in Trechine Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
title_short <i>Trechus</i> from Ethiopia with Aedeagus Right Side Superior in Repose, an Unusual Character State in Trechine Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
title_sort i trechus i from ethiopia with aedeagus right side superior in repose an unusual character state in trechine beetles coleoptera carabidae
topic <i>Abyssinotus</i>
Afroalpine
inverse male genitalia
new species
systematics
Trechini
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/3/328
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