Key to the genera of the soil dwelling Staphylinidae

The most important keys to the genera of Leptotyphlinae in more general are those from PACE (1996) for Italy and COIFFAIT (1972) for the Palearctic. With the introduction of the new genus Romanotyphlus and the aberrant Cyrtotyphlus carpathica, an updated key is needed. I choose for an as practical as possible key that does not represent the phylogeny.

1. One or more sternites deeply and transversely excavate at the base, the excavations with dense pubescence..................................................................................................................... 2

- Sternites without transversal excavations at the base ............................................................... ....................................................................tribes Leptotyphlini, Metrotyphlini and Neotyphlini

2. Sternites II to V excavate at the base, antennae 11-segmented.............................................. 3

- Only sternite V deeply excavate at the base, maxillary palps with second article dilated, much bigger than third....................................................................................................................... 5

3. Maxillary palps with second and third articles dilated, third article bigger than the second. Sternites II to V deeply excavated at the base. Median lobe of the aedeagus simple and well developed with no emerging copulatory pieces and well developed parameres. Known from Italy (including Sardinia) and France (only Corsica) ......................... Cephalotyphlus Coiffait

- Maxillary palps with second article dilated, much bigger than third....................................... 4

4. Aedeagus: parameres with four setae, ventral process well developed, copulatory pieces complex, ventral lamina short or long always positioned together with the copulatory pieces. Species known from Spain, Portugal and north Africa..................... Paratyphlus Blackwelder

- Aedeagus: parameres with one seta, ventral process well developed, copulatory pieces complex, ventral lamina very long positioned clearly separated from the copulatory pieces. Only known from Romania ............................................................. Romanotyphlus gen. nov.

5. Parameres broad, covering most of the apical half of the aedeagus. Antennae 10 or 11- segmented. Currently known from France (Alpes-Maritimes), Italy and Balkan (Montenegro, Slovenia, Romania and Greece)............................................................... Cyrtotyphlus Dodero

- Parameres much smaller than the apical half of the aedeagus................................................. 6

6. Antennae with ten segments. Known from Italy, southern France (including Corsica), eastern Spain, Algeria and Tunisia ............................................................. Entomoculia Croissandeau

- Antennae with eleven segments............................................................................................... 7

7. Tarsi with three segments. Known from Italy, Greece and Turkey ......... Allotyphlus Coiffait

- Tarsi with two segments .......................................................................................................... 8

8. Ligula developed, median lobe of the aedeagus tubiform, only one copulatory piece. Only one species from Italy ............................................................................. Neocyrtotyphlus Pace

- Ligula absent, median lobe of the aedeagus not or only slightly tubiform, numerous copulatory pieces........................................................................................................ Mesotyphlus Coiffait