Reconciling morphological and molecular data in a highly convergent group: the Pyrenean radiation of hypogean Trechini (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Abstract

We provide the first molecular phylogeny based on a thorough taxonomic sampling of all Pyrenean species of the tribe Trechini occurring in the subterranean environment sensu lato (soil and cave), with a complete taxonomic inventory of all valid species. Based on this analysis and a careful morphological study, a new classification is proposed. All species of the genera Aphaenops Bonvouloir, 1862 and Geotrechus Jeannel, 1919 are included in a single genus, Aphaenops, which is split into eleven subgenera: subgenus Aphaenops sensu stricto (= Geaphaenops syn. n.), with type species Aphoenops leschenaulti Bonvouloir, 1862; subgenus Argonotrechus subgen. n., with type species Anophthalmus orpheus Dieck, 1869; subgenus Aurigerotrechus subgen. n., with type species Trechus (Anophthalmus) vulcanus Abeille de Perrin, 1904; subgenus Ceretotrechus subgen. n., with type species Geotrechus ubachi Español, 1965; subgenus Dupreaphaenops subgen. n., with type species Aphaenops vasconicus Jeannel, 1913; subgenus Geotrechidius sensu novo, with type species Anophthalmus gallicus Delarouzée, 1857; subgenus Geotrechus stat. n., with type species Anophthalmus discontignyi Fairmaire, 1863; subgenus Hydraphaenops sensu novo (= Pubaphaenops, Cerbaphaenops syn. n. and Simaphaenops syn. n.), with type species Anophtalmus ehlersi Abeille de Perrin, 1872; subgenus Nafarroaphaenops subgen. n., with type species Aphaenops (Hydraphaenops) giraudi Ochs, 1938; subgenus Pyreneotrechus subgen. n., with type species Geotrechus (Geotrechidius) aldensis Jeannel, 1955; subgenus Riberaphaenops subgen. n., with type species Geotrechus holcartensis Genest, 1977. Two of the subgenera are monospecific and were erected to place two morphologically and genetically divergent species, Aphaenops (Argonotrechus) orpheus and Aphaenops (Pyreneotrechus) aldensis. The former subgenera Cerbaphaenops and Simaphaenops are included in the large monophyletic subgenus Hydraphaenops, the paraphyletic subgenus Geaphaenops is included in the subgenus Aphaenops and the synonymy of Arachnaphaenops, Cephalaphaenops and Pubaphaenops with Aphaenops is confirmed. A full list of species, including 68 new combinations at the generic or subgeneric level, is presented.