Trechus batuensis Magrini & Sciaky 2006

Trechus batuensis Magrini & Sciaky, 2006

Figs 93–94, 97–98, 101–102, 129–130

Trechus batuensis Magrini & Sciaky, 2006: 186; locus typicus: Prov. Bale, SW Goba, Monte Batu, Nordic Lake.

Trechus batuensis – Ortuño & Novoa 2011: 137.

Type material

Not studied. Identification of this species is based on its detailed original description including photos of habitus and genital characters, and on additional material from the type locality.

Material examined

ETHIOPIA: 19 ³³, 8 ♀♀, Oromia, Bale Mts, env. Wasama Camp, alt. 3900–4150 m, 23–25 Feb. 2013, 06°55′ N, 39°46′ E (CAF, CSCHM); 12 ³³, 10 ♀♀, Bale Mts, Sanetti Plateau, W of Tulu Dimtu, alt. 4000–4100 m, 26 Feb. 2013, 06°51–52′ N, 39°47′ E (CAF, CSCHM); 7 ³³, 7 ♀♀, Bale Mts, river S of Tulu Dimtu, alt. 3850–4150 m, 27 Feb. 2013, 06°48–49′ N, 39°47–48′ E (CAF, CSCHM); 4 ³³, 3 ♀♀, N-slope Bale Mts, Kaficha Valley, alt. 3960 m, 06°59′12″ N, 39°51′53″ E, 27 Feb. 2015 (CSCHM); 1 ³, Oromia, Goro, Batu Ridge, alt. 3960 m, 06°53′06″ N, 39°51′42″ E, 27 Feb. 2015 (CSCHM); 35 specimens (³³, ♀♀), Sanetti Plateau, Buye Mo Vall., alt. 4000–4050 m, 06°54′ N, 39°45′ E, 24 Feb. 2015 (CSCHM); 1 ³, Sanetti Camp, near road, alt. 3865 m, 06°47′42″ N, 39°47′03″ E, 28 Feb. 2015 (CSCHM); 1 ³, 2 ♀♀, Bale Mts, Tegona Valley above Goba, alt. 3550 m, 20 Feb. 2017, 06°54′42″ N, 39°53′35″ E (CAF, CSCHM); 1 ³, Bale Mts, SE Sanetti Plateau, near Mt Abalk-hasim, alt. 3760 m, 10 Dec. 2017, 06°45′10″ N, 39°49′36″ E (CSCHM); 6 ³³, 7 ♀♀, Bale Mts, Sanetti Plateau, Tulu Dimtu, alt. 4180–4380m, 11 Dec. 2017, 06°49′ N, 39°49′ E (CAF, CSCHM); 126 exx (³³, ♀♀), Bale Mts, SE Sanetti Plateau, SW of Tulu Dimtu, alt. 3820 m, 15 Dec. 2017, 06°46′43″ N, 39°46′47″ E (CAF, CSCHM, NHMUK, MNHN, ZMAA).

Identification

Within the Trechus fauna of the Bale Mts, this species is recognized based on the combination of the following characters: body length moderately small (3.5–4.3 mm); elytral microsculpture consisting of deeply engraved isodiametric meshes; pronotum suggestively discoidal with base markedly bent anteriorly towards laterobasal angle, latter obtuse, marked as small blunt tooth; two basal protarsomeres of male dilated; aedeagal median lobe moderately short with dorsal margin distinctly convex; endophallus situated in apical half of median lobe, shaped like a fish trap, in dorsal view evenly narrowed towards aedeagal median lobe apex.

Distribution

Endemic to the Bale Mts. The species seems widely distributed on the Sanetti Plateau and on its northern margin. It has been found at altitudes of 3550–4150 m.

Geographical variation

Specimens from a population found in the Tegona Valley on the northern slope of the Bale Mts differ markedly by broader oval elytra which are not depressed on disc (Fig. 102), while specimens from the other populations studied are characterized by slenderer oval elytra, which are distinctly depressed on disc (Fig. 101). Trechus batuensis specimens from the Tegona valley are thus more similar to the sympatric and syntopic species T. fisehai sp. nov., however, the former can be recognized by the larger and almost isodiametric sculpticells of elytral microsculpture, and by the shape of the sclerotized portion of the endophallus (Fig. 130), which is evenly narrowed towards apex if viewed from dorsad, but abruptly narrowed in middle portion in T. fisehai sp. nov. (Fig. 134). It seems possible that the T. batuensis population from the Tegona valley represent a geographical subspecies. However, additional material needs to be studied before taxonomic conclusions can be drawn.