Revision of the Australian ground-beetle genus Tasmanitachoides Erwin (Insecta : Coleoptera : Carabidae : Bembidiinae), with special regard to the tropical species

Abstract

The Australian Tachyine genus Tasmanitachoides Erwin is revised, and the following new species are described: T. angulicollis, sp. nov., T. maior, sp nov., T. minor, sp. nov., T. bicolor, sp. nov. and T. rufescens, sp. nov. Lectotypes and paralectotypes are designated for T. leai (Sloane) and T. obliquiceps (Sloane), and T. wilsoni (Sloane) and T. obliquiceps (Sloane), not mentioned by earlier revisors of the genus, are included in Tasmanitachoides. From a short evaluation of the phylogenetic status of the species, it appears that the generalised groups of species are still living in south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania, whereas most species of the more derivative species group have spread over tropical northern Australia, and are still in a period of rapid evolution.