Elaphropus (Barytachys), Chaudoir, 1868

Bousquet, Yves, 2012, Catalogue of Geadephaga (Coleoptera, Adephaga) of America, north of Mexico, ZooKeys 245, pp. 1-1722 : 437-438

Subgenus Barytachys Chaudoir, 1868

Barytachys Chaudoir, 1868b: 213. Type species: Bembidium incurvum Say, 1830 designated by Jeannel (1941b: 434). Etymology. From the Greek barys (heavy) and the generic name Tachys [q.v.], probably alluding to the convex (and thus heavy compared to the other species of Tachys ) body of adults of these species of Tachys [masculine].

Diversity.

Western Hemisphere, with 37 species in North America (28 species), Middle America (ten species), and the West Indies (three species, two of them endemic).

Identification.

Hayward (1900: 201-212, as incurvus group) reviewed the North American species then known (15 species). Lindroth (1966: 414-424, as incurvus group) treated 12 species (one in the key only) found in North America. A taxonomic revision of the subgenus is needed.

Taxonomic Note.

Sciaky and Vigna Taglianti (2003) considered Elaphropus s.str. and Barytachys as two distinct genera, arguing that " Barytachys could possibly be considered a subgenus of Elaphropus , but from a biogeographical point of view, this classification seems highly implausible." However, there seem to be no significant character states to differentiate the two taxa. In their key, members of Elaphropus are characterized by their "body almost always depigmented, nearly uniform in colour, almost round and convex" and those of Barytachys by their "body generally blackish, sometimes with lighter markings, oval and relatively flat." Elaphropus is said to be represented only in the Eastern Hemisphere while Barytachys is represented in the Western Hemisphere. Based on the evidence presented I am not convince that these two taxa should be considered distinct. However, for the time being, Barytachys is retained as a valid subgenus pending further study.