Trechus chillalicus Jeannel, 1936

Schmidt, Joachim & Faille, Arnaud, 2018, Revision of Trechus Clairville, 1806 of the Bale Mountains and adjacent volcanos, Ethiopia (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechini), European Journal of Taxonomy 446, pp. 1-82 : 75

Trechus chillalicus Jeannel, 1936

Trechus (s. str.) chillalicus Jeannel, 1936: 210 ; locus typicus: Mt Chillalo, alt. approx. 4000 m.

Cothresia robini Basilewsky, 1974: 156 , syn. nov.; locus typicus: Arussi Province, Arussi Mts, just above Mt Titchio, ca 18 km E of Dighallu, alt. 3500–3700 m, 7°46′ N, 39°21′ E. Remark: in his original description Basilewsky (1974) accidentally noted wrong longitude data (37°21′ E) for the type locality.

Trechus robini [nec Trechus robinii Laboulbène, 1849 ] – Geginat 2008: 124.

Trechus chillalicus – Ortuño & Novoa 2011: 137.

Type material

Not studied. Identification of the distinctive species T. chillalicus is based on its detailed description including figures of habitus and genital characters, and on additional material collected at the type locality. Cothresia robini was revised by Geginat (2008: 125) with presentation of a photo of the male genitalia.

Material examined

ETHIOPIA: 2 ³³, 2 ♀♀, Oromia, Mt Chillalo, alt. 3800 m, Dec. 2006, 07°54′ N, 39°13′ E (= type locality) ( CAF, CSCHM).

Identification

Externally very similar to its allopatric sister species, T. baleensis , from the Bale Mts, but elytra with humerus more evenly rounded, striae 1–4 much more finely impressed and intervals flat, and aedeagal median lobe in lateral view with ventral margin slightly but distinctly convex ( Geginat 2008: 125, fig. 5C). Within the Trechus fauna of Mt Chillalo this species is easy to recognize due to its large size and the markedly robust aedeagal median lobe.

Remarks on synonymy

Basilewsky (1974) described his species within the genus Cothresia Jeannel, 1964 , and thus did not compare it with the numerous Trechus species already described by Jeannel (1936) from the same volcanic system. Comparison of male genital characters of specimens from the type locality of T. chillalicus with the holotype of Cothresia robini based on the aedeagus photo presented by Geginat (2008) clearly shows that both taxa refer to the same species.

Distribution

Endemic to Mt Chillalo and the larger and immediately easterly adjacent Mt Badda. The species was found at altitudes of approximately 3500–3800 m.