Three new species and a new genus of subterranean Zuphiini from the Pilbara region of north-western Australia (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Harpalinae)

Abstract

Three new carabid species of the zuphiine genera Parazuphium Jeannel, subgenus Austrozuphium Baehr, and Typhlozuphium gen. nov. are described from the Pilbara in north-western Australia: Parazuphium pilbarae sp. nov. Typhlozuphium humicolum sp. nov. and T. longipenne sp. nov. The new species were detected in the course of a survey for subterranean insects in mining areas and were collected by ‘trog scrape’. All three species are depigmented and possess very elongate antennae, character states that subterranean or cavicolous carabid species tend to develop) Parazuphium pilbarae has small eyes and is probably related to Parazuphium (Austrozuphium) flavescens Baehr from the Kimberleys. Both Typhlozuphium species are blind and are further characterised by very long legs, elongate, posteriad barely widened head, and very elongate, parallel-sided elytra which lack the sinuate apex that is characteristic for species of the subgenus Austrozuphium.