Ochthebius (s.str.) halophilus sp. nov.

Type locality. Çoğul salt pond, 39°58'30''N 34°03'50''E, ca. 637 m a.s.l., ca. 4.5 km north-east of Delice, Kırıkkale Province, Central Anatolia, Turkey (Fig. 1 a).

Material examined. Holotype male (NMW): “ TR: Kırıkkale – Delice Çoğul salt pond 34°03'50''E / 39°58'30''N 637 m, 4.IX.2011 leg. T. Söylemez“. Paratypes: 1 male, 1 female (NMW), same locality and date as the holotype; 110 specimens (CEE: 90 exs., NMW: 22 exs.): same locality as the holotype, but 14.VI.2012.

Differential diagnosis. 1.70–1.95 mm long. Dark brown to black. Habitus as in Figs. 2a–b. This species is clearly a member of the Ochthebius notabilis species group (sensu Jäch 1992): labrum long and deeply excised, anterior pronotal corners with distinct spine (in female distinctly longer than in male), pubescent area of inflexed part of elytra (epipleura and pseudepipleura) short (reaching only posterior margin of metaventrite), dorsal margin of tibiae with fringe of long and very thin setae (in some specimens rubbed off!).

Externally, the new species can be distinguished from most species of the O. notabilis group by the pronotal foveae and elytral punctures being never distinctly impressed. Ochthebius halophilus is somewhat similar to Arabian specimens of O. zugmayeri Kniž, which differ mainly in the presence of a distinctly visible elytral gutter. Even in the female of the new species there is no distinctly explanate gutter, while in females of O. zugmayeri the elytral margin is widely explanate, especially in the middle.

Specimens of Ochthebius salinator from the eastern Mediterranean (Israel) differ from the new species in the paler yellowish-brown elytra and, especially in the female, in the presence of a distinctly explanate elytral margin.

The aedeagus (Fig. 3 a) of Ochthebius halophilus is very unusual. It can be distinguished from all other known species of the genus by being exceptionally long and thin. The distal lobe is slender and sinuous (curvature to some extent variable).

FIGURE, a)

Sexual dimorphism. Anterior pronotal spine more strongly produced in female. Elytra of female very slightly produced laterad near middle. Elytral tips of female with sutural spine followed by small semicircular excision (which is rarely effaced).

Variability. The pronotal foveae are somewhat variable. In most specimens they are shallowly impressed and microreticulate, in some specimens they are almost or totally effaced and glabrous. The semicircular excision of the female elytral tip varies in size, and sometimes it is absent.

Discussion. Five species of Ochthebius were so far recorded from hypersaline inland waters in Turkey: O. inelegans, O. madli (O. andraei group), O. lacustatta (O. atriceps group), O. lanuginosus, and O. schneideri (O. punctatus group).

The new species is the first Turkish member of the O. notabilis group, which is, however, most closely related with the O. andraei group. Distinction between these two groups is somewhat ambiguous in some species, e.g. in Ochthebius corrugatus Rosenhauer, which has on one hand a short labrum and no anterior pronotal spine, but on the other hand its pubescence of the inflexed part of the elytra reaches only the posterior margin of metaventrite, and in some specimens the tibiae are provided with very long setae.

Habitat note. The type specimens were collected in a large salt water pond (salinity 20 %, pH 7.64, temperature 22° C)—see Fig. 1 a.

Etymology. Halophilus (Latin), adjective: salt-loving. The name refers to the fact, that this species is obviously halobiontic.

Distribution. So far known only from the type locality.