Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 98. (Budapest 2006)

Makranczy, Gy.: Systematics and phylogenetic relationships of the genera in the Carpelimus group (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae)

placed with a minimum of nomenclatural acts. This can only be achieved by the species group approach. The Anotylus problem Issues with the classification of the Anotylus and Oxytelus lineages Although not strictly the subject of the paper, these groups have to be dealt with to some extent, because (1) some characters of this group occur within the Carpelimus group as well and (2) it is the most questionably resolved part of the phylogeny of Oxytelinae. These lineages have not only a large number of species, but a great degree of specialization. The latter usually (but not exclusively) appears in species associated with ants and those living in leaf litter. The appearance of the leaf-litter inhabiting species is characterized by their sculpture (and resulting detritus accumulation) on their bodies. Some species are corticolous (= live under bark). The taxa involved are numerous and poorly known. An estimated 80% of the species from the Neotropical region (one of the main diversity centers of the Anotylus group) are still undescribed, and many species-groups lack any specific names. However, in order to establish specific identities, the variability of characters has to be examined broadly, which is almost impossible to do within a reasonable amount of time and is clearly out of the scope of this work. So the approach used for this chapter is to search for characters that can identify larger assemblages of taxa and firmly establish genera, so that any future discoveries can be assigned to them. The majority of the species belong to either of two large lineages: the Oxytelus group and the Anotylus group. Within these lineages there are a great number of genus-group taxa, only a few of which are maintained today as valid genera. But even for these there are problems with the characters supporting them. A réévaluation of the generic characters is necessary to assure the unequivocal placement of the known species into genera and to create a stable nomenclature. While the tribe itself is well supported by a number of characters, most genera are weakly defined. The Oxytelus group consists of Hoplitodes (Fig. 129), Anisopsis, Paroxytelopsis, Anisopsidius and Oxytelus. The Anotylus group has Oxytelopsis, Rimba, Anotylus and Apoçellus. These two major clades are traditionally well characterized by the presence (Oxytelus group) or absence (Anotylus group) of the basolateral ridge on tergite II, and the different types of scutellar impressions: diamond-shaped for the Oxytelus group and crest-shaped for the Anotylus group (except Apocellus). Besides these, the genitalia and terminalia have modifications that are valuable for characterizing these lineages: a median lamellar formation on