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)

the Oxytelus-Anotylus clade. One undescribed species (Fig. 126), that must be placed in Oxytelopsis based on external defining characters for the genus, does not have this modification. This species is from Kenya (East Africa), whereas all the other species of former Oxytelopsis are from the Oriental region. It is known that for historical reasons the East African fauna bears considerable resemblance to that of the Oriental region, so the find of an Oxytelopsis-\ik& species in Kenya is not at all surprising. In its genital characteristics, the species from Kenya is a rather typical Anotylus (Fig. 14, 16); therefore its inclusion in Oxytelopsis makes no sense. It appears that the character states that traditionally define Oxytelopsis should not be used as generic characters. Certain Neotropical Anotylus species share features (and a genuine Oxytelopsis-Yike appearance) with the true Oriental Oxytelopsis, further emphasizing the thought that the defining characters are adaptive modifications, variously (depending on mode of life) expressed in lineages within Anotylus. The Oxytelus group A suite of similar character states are used for delimitation of genera in the Oxytelus group. The highly modified aedeagus and the very peculiar structures of the terminalia shared among the genera Hoplitodes, Anisopsis, Par oxytelopsis, Anisopsidius and Oxytelus suggested to specialists long ago that these taxa should be merged with Oxytelus. FAGEL, who focused on the study of the Oxytelus group in the Afrotropical region (where all these genera occur), published (FAGEL 1960) most of the important structural drawings that are necessary to draw this conclusion, yet he was content to describe even more genera rather than recognizing the similarities. Upon examination of the characters used for separation of the monobasic genera Hoplitodes (Fig. 129), Anisopsis and Anisopsidius, it becomes obvious that there is in fact a gradient including Oxytelus and Paroxytelopsis, with various adaptive characters (processes on various body parts, longitudinal carinae on the elytra, presence or absence of sensory setae on the antennae, modifications and spines on tibiae, carinae on mesosternal process), including perhaps the most extreme in the very specialized myrmecophile Hoplitodes. All these taxa, however, share the characteristics of the genitalia and male terminalia described under the Oxytelus group. There is no reason for the continued separation of these genera.