Akephorus LeConte, 1852

Bousquet, Yves, 2012, Catalogue of Geadephaga (Coleoptera, Adephaga) of America, north of Mexico, ZooKeys 245, pp. 1-1722 : 293

Genus Akephorus LeConte, 1852

Akephorus LeConte, 1852a: 194. Type species: Akephorus marinus LeConte, 1852 by monotypy. Etymology. From the Greek ake (point) and phoro (to bear, carry), possibly alluding to the acute apical spur of the protibia of the adult (" tibiae anticae spinis terminalibus longissimis ") [masculine]. Note. Acephorus is an incorrect subsequent spelling for Akephorus , first used by LeConte (1853c: 396), not in prevailing usage.

Diversity.

Two species restricted to the seashore of the Pacific in North America.

Identification.

The two species can be differentiated using Lindroth’s (1961a) and Bousquet’s (1988a) keys to Dyschirius .

Taxonomic Note.

This taxon has been considered a subgenus of Dyschirius by Lindroth (1961a) and a distinct genus by Fedorenko (1996). The phylogenetic analysis of Fedorenko (1996) did not yield clear evidence as to the position of the group. Furthermore there are little structural characteristics for members of Akephorus . The presence of conspicuous microsculpture on the body is also found in a few Dyschirius groups, such as the exochus group, phenetically similar to the remaining Dyschirius . The body shape, however, is distinctive. With the current phylogenetic knowledge of the tribe, I see no harm in retaining this taxon as a distinct genus.