Zopherobatrus Yin & Li, 2015

Yin, Zi-Wei, 2020, New species of karst-dwelling Pselaphinae from southwestern China (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 60 (1), pp. 163-168 : 166-167

Genus Zopherobatrus Yin & Li, 2015

This monotypic genus is represented by a single eyeless species, Zopherobatrus tianmingyii Yin & Li, 2015 from Guizhou, southwestern China ( YIN & LI 2015). The complete loss of compound eyes, coupled with the extremely elongate appendages, and its occurrence in the dark zone of the cave suggest Z. tianmingyii is an obligate troglobiont. Here, a second species with strongly reduced (but still present) eyes is described from Chongqing. In light of the discovery of a second species, the generic diagnosis of Zopherobatrus needs to be modified as follows.

Revised diagnosis. General body form slender, with extremely elongate appendages. Head narrowed apically; median longitudinal carina on vertex faintly present; lacking frontal rostrum; with indistinct antennal tubercles; eyes strongly reduced to lacking. Pronotal disc moderately convex; median longitudinal sulcus present or absent, lateral longitudinal sulci usually present; lacking antebasal spines; lacking spines on lateral margins. Elytra strongly constricted at base, each elytron with two basal foveae; discal stria lacking to distinct; disc moderately to strongly convex. Tergite IV (first visible tergite) longest, with single marginal carina.