Sphingoquedius Bernhauer, 1941

Reyes-Hernández, José L., Hansen, Aslak Kappel, Shaw, Josh Jenkins & Solodovnikov, Alexey, 2024, Phylogeny-based taxonomic revision and niche modelling of the rove beetle genus Loncovilius Germain, 1903 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (Zool. J. Linn. Soc.) 202 (1), pp. 1-42 : 38-39

Genus Sphingoquedius Bernhauer, 1941 stat. nov.

( Fig. 15C)

Sphingoquedius Bernhauer 1941: 27 (original description; species included: strandi ); Klimaszewski et al. (1996): 151 ( Sphingoquedius ; endemic to New Zealand); Solodovnikov and Schomann 2009: 34 (included in phylogenetic analysis); Jenkins Shaw and Solodovnikov (2016): 22 (absent on Lord Howe Island); Solodovnikov and Brunke (2016): 43 (new combination); Solodovnikov and Jenkins Shaw (2017): 318 (notes on relationship); Jenkins Shaw et al. 2017: 714 (included in phylogenetic analysis); Jenkins Shaw et al. 2020a: 45 (notes on relationship); Jenkins Shaw et al. 2020b: 2 (description of new fossil species).

Type species: Sphingoquedius strandi Bernhauer, 1941 .

Included species: Sphingoquedius brevis ( Sáiz 1971) comb. nov., S. discoideus ( Fairmaire and Germain, 1862) comb. nov., S. meto Jenkins Shaw et al., 2020b , S. nanus ( Sáiz, 1971) comb. nov., S. novaezeelandiae (Duvivier, 1883) , S. strandi Bernhauer, 1941 .

Diagnosis: The diagnosis of Sphingoquedius is likely to change pending phylogenomic results; however, these species can be tentatively placed in Sphingoquedius based on the large eyes and presence of patches of pale radiating setae on abdominal tergites III and IV. American Sphingoquedius are easily distinguished from Loncovilius by empodial setae as long as the tarsal claws; ventral side of meso- and metatarsi in males and females without pale adhesive setae; presence of protergal glands; presence of patches of pale radiating setae on abdominal tergites; sternite III with basal transverse carina converges abruptly at an acute angle with rounded tip (projection sides invaginated).

Distribution: After the taxonomic changes implemented here, Sphingoquedius occurs in New Zealand and southern South America. A single fossil species ( Sphingoquedius meto ) is known from the earliest Miocene of New Zealand ( Jenkins Shaw et al. 2020b).

Remarks: The new combinations implemented here [ Sphingoquedius nanus ( Sáiz, 1971) ; Sphingoquedius brevis ( Sáiz, 1971) ; Sphingoquedius discoideus ( Fairmaire and Germain, 1862) ] are supported by the phylogenetic analysis where species of Sphingoquedius are united based on two unique synapomorphies: empodial setae longer or at least as long as tarsal claws (character 62, state 1; empodial setae missing in S. strandi ); abdomen with tergites III and IV bearing patches of pale radiating setae (character 93, state 2; also see: Jenkins Shaw et al. 2020b: fig. 2.3); and a single homoplasious synapomorphy: postmandibular ridge located close to eye margin (character 16, state 1).

Numerous described and undescribed species from New Zealand and Australia may also belong to Sphingoquedius and will be dealt with separately pending further study. Even though the generic placement of the new combinations implemented here may change further, their placement in Sphingoquedius is supported by the phylogenetic analysis and can at least be regarded as a step in the right direction.