Singilis (Singilis) soror soror

Anichtchenko, Alexander, 2017, Review of the genus Singilis Rambur, 1837 of North Africa and Iberian Peninsula (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Lebiini), Zootaxa 4231 (2), pp. 264-272 : 267-271

Singilis (Singilis) soror soror

Singilis soror Rambur, 1837: 27

Singilis maroccana Fairmaire, 1897: 344

Singilis soror ab. bimaculata Antoine, 1963: 552 Loc. type: Azilal. Singilis pardoi Mateu, 1954: 187 syn. n.

Singilis soror riffensis Mateu, 1954: 188 syn. n.

Material examined. SPAIN: Hispania , Reitter, Leder (4 ex., NMPC) ; Hisp. (1 ex., NMPC); Spanien (1 ex., NMPC) ; Algeciras , 6.1910 (1 ex., NMPC) ; Andal.[usia] (1 ex., NMPC); Gibraltar (2 ex., NMPC) ; Gibraltar, J. J. Walker (1 ex., NMPC) ; Tarifa , Hispan (1 ♂, NMPC) ; Algeciras , 4.06 (1 ♂, NMPC) ; Algeciras (1 ♂, ISNB) ; Hispania , Reitter, Leder (1 ♂, NHMW) ; Süd Spanien, Cartagena , Simon (1 ♂, NHMW) ; Cartagena , Simon (1 ♀, NHMW) ; Almeria , 1.1926 (1 ♂, MNCN) ; Algeciras (Cadiz), VI.1901, Escalera (1 ♂, 2 ♀, MNCN) ; Algeciras , Arias (1 ♂, 1 ♀, MNCN) ; Algeciras (1 ♂, 1 ♀, MNCN) ; Algeciras, G. Schramm (5 ♂, 1 ♀, MNCN). MOROCCO : Maroc: Azrou , 6–12.VII.1934, 1350 m, A. Ball (2 ex, ISNB) ; Benzu , Marruecos, 29.V.1929 (3 ex, ISNB) ; Tánger, 2.1914, C.Bolivar (1 ♀, MNCN) ; Tánger, XII.1912, C.Bolivar (4 ♂, 3 ♀, MNCN) ; Tanger, M. Escalera (91 ex, MNCN) ; Tetuan , 4.1910 (1 ♂, NMPC); “Tetuan, El Haug-Marruecos , 15.XI.1951, A. Pardo Alcaide (1 ♂, ISNB); Tanger, 12.93, Collect. Hauser (1 ♂, NHMW) ; “ Tanger ” (1 ♂, ISNB). “ Singilis pardoi mihi J. Mateu det.”, “ El Haraig (Beni-Bu-Yahia) , XII.1950, Melilla, Marruecos, Pardo Alcaide ” (Paratypes: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, ISNB) . Oudjda , Maroc (1 ♂, MNCN) . Isaguen , (1500 m), B. Seddat Marruecos, VI.1941, A. Pardo Alcaide ( Singilis soror riffensis Holotype, male; Paratypes: 2 ♂, 2 ♀, ISNB) ; Rif Mts. , 10 km W Ketama (=Issaguen) 1600 m, (Zedern/Laurus), N34°57'40" W04°40'51", 26.XII.2001, Ch. Bayer (10) (1 ♂, 1 ♀, DWWc); Beni Snassen, Mts . 15 km SE Berkane , (Q.ilex) 1200 m, N34°50' 23" W02°10'07" 30.XII.2001 Ch. Bayer (18) (1 ♀, DWWc); Beni Snassen, Mts . 15 km SE Berkane , (Q.ilex) 1350 m, N34°49' 57" W02°11'55" 30.XII.2001 Ch. Bayer (19) (1 ♀, DWWc); Tizi Taka, Beni Seddat, Rif , VI.1930, C. Bolivar (5 ♂, 2 ♀, MNCN); Imasinen , Beni Seddat, VI. 1930 Exp. C. Bolivar (1 ♂, 1 ♀, MNCN-84978, 84977); Tainza, Ketama, Rif , VI. 1930 Exp. C. Bolivar (1 ♀, MNCN-84979); Iguermalen, Targuist, Rif, VI. 1930 Exp. C. Bolivar (1 ♂, 1 ♀, MNCN-84975, 84976).

Comments. This species was described from San Roque near Algeciras ( Spain). In 1898 Fairmaire described the species Singilis maroccana (collection of Oberthür, MNHN) upon a single specimen from Morocco (“cap Spartel” near Tanger). As differential character from the related S. bicolor he indicated the piceous colour. Much later, in 1954 Mateu studied specimens with blackish legs, head, pronotum and abdomen, and described the species S. pardoi ( Fig. 8 ) from El Haraig ( Morocco). The hypothesis of a possible synonymy of S. pardoi with S. soror was first proposed by Antoine (1963: 552). The study of extensive material has led me to think that the differences claimed by Mateu (1954) are not consistent. The body colour cannot be useful to differentiate between populations ( Figs. 7–9 ), and there are no differences in surface sculpture, convexity of eyes, or shape of the aedeagus (Figs. 15, 16). I therefore consider S. pardoi a junior subjective synonym of S. soror soror .

FIGURES 13–14. Aedeagus. 13— S. bicolor ; 14— S. alternans .

The subspecies S. soror riffensis Mateu, 1954 was described after specimens from Isaguen ( Morocco) with the elytral dark pattern reduced to a transverse median band ( Figs. 4–5 ). In populations of S. soror from Rif Mountains such specimens with more or less yellow elytral apices can be often found together with the typical form ( Figs. 5– 6 ). Aedeagus is identical to nominative form (Fig. 17). I therefore consider S. soror riffensis a junior subjective synonym of S. soror soror .

Distribution. Spain, Morocco ( Fig. 12 ).

Figures

FIGURE 12. Distribution map of Singilis bicolor - group.

FIGURES 1 – 11. Habitus of Singilis bicolor - group. 1 — S. bicolor; 2 — S. alternans; 3 — S. soror melillensis (Taurirt); 4 — S. soror riffensis syn. n., Paratype (Isaguen); 5 – 6 — S. soror riffensis syn. n. (Ketama); 7 — S. soror s. str. (15 km SE Berkane); 8 — S. soror s. str. = S. pardoi syn. n., Paratype (El Haraig); 9 — S. soror s. str. (Oudjda); 10 — S. soror oranensis ssp. n. Holotype; 11 — S. soror oranensis Paratype.