A rich fauna of subterranean short-range endemic Anillini (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae) from semi-arid regions of Western Australia

Abstract

Globally, the great majority of Anillini species are endogean, adapted to live in the interstices of soil and leaf litter, while the extremely low vagility of these minute ground beetles gives rise to numerous shortrange endemic species. Until recently the Australian Anillini fauna was known only from leaf litter in rain forests and eucalypt forests in the wetter, forested regions of eastern and south eastern Australia, as well as Lord Howe and Norfolk islands. The first hypogean Anillini in Australia (17 species in six genera) were described in 2016 from mineral exploration drill holes in iron-ore bearing rocks of the Pilbara region in Western Australia, representing the first finding of the tribe deep underground in a semi-arid climate region. A further eight new genera and 20 new species are described herein, mostly from the Pilbara region as well as the semi-arid Kimberley and Goldfields regions; all were collected in mineral exploration drill holes. The following new genera are described: Erwinanillusgen. nov., Gregorydytesgen. nov., Pilbaraphanusgen. nov., Neoillaphanusgen. nov., Kimberleytyphlusgen. nov., Gilesdytesgen. nov., Pilbaradytesgen. nov., and Bylibaraphanusgen. nov. The following new species are described: Erwinanillus baehrisp. nov.; Gracilanillus hirsutussp. nov., G. pannawonicanussp. nov.; Gregorydytes ophthalmianussp. nov.; Pilbaraphanus chichesterianussp. nov., P. bilybarianussp. nov.; Magnanillus firetalianussp. nov., M. sabaesp. nov., M. salomonissp. nov., M. regalissp. nov., M. serenitatissp. nov.; Neoillaphanus callawanussp. nov.; Kimberleytyphlus carrboydianussp. nov.; Austranillus jinayrianussp. nov.; Gilesdytes pardooanussp. nov., G. ethelianussp. nov.; Pilbaradytes abydosianussp. nov., P. webberianussp. nov.; Bylibaraphanus cundalinianussp. nov.; and Angustanillus armatussp. nov. Identification keys are provided for all Australian anilline genera, and Western Australian species. All the described species are known from a single locality and qualify as short-range endemics. The Anillini are recognised as a significant and diverse element making up part of Western Australia’s remarkable subterranean fauna, and whose conservation may potentially be impacted by mining developments.