Thanatophilus porrectus (A.P. Semenov, 1891 )

Shapovalov, Andrey M., 2025, Notes on distribution of Thanatophilus porrectus (A. P. Semenov, 1891) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Silphinae), Ecologica Montenegrina 82, pp. 137-142 : 138-142

Thanatophilus porrectus (A.P. Semenov, 1891)

( Figs. 1–2 )

Silpha (Thanatophilus) porrecta A.P. Semenov, 1891: 301 (original description, type locality: “ Turkestan chinens.: ad fluv. Pachpu … nec non apud urbem Polu ” [ China, Xinjiang]).

Thanatophilus armeniacus Reitter, 1912: 104 (original description, type locality: “Kagysman in Russisch- Armenien ” [ Turkey, Kars Prov., Kagizman]); synonymized by Schawaller (1981: 8).

Thanatophilus sillemi Portevin, 1935 , 281 (original description, type locality: “Tehrong valley a 4125 m d’altitude, pres d’un glacier” [ Pakistan]); synonymized by Schawaller (1981: 8).

Thanatophilus porrectus : Schawaller, 1981: 8 (key, diagnosis, synonymy, iconography, distribution: “USSR: Primorskij krai, Tetchuche” [probably erroneous record] … Tian Shan, ohne Datum, 1 Expl. leg. Musart [probably the data connected with locality Musart in Xinjiang Prov. of China] … Taschkent [ Uzbekistan, Tashkent] … W- Pamir, Sank-Dara [ Tajikistan, W Pamir Mts., Khorug env., Rushan Mt. Range, Sangou-Dara River] … Alai- Tal [ Kyrgyzstan, Osh Reg., Alai Valley] … Chinesisch- Turkestan: Polu [ China, Xinjiang Prov.]; Růžička & Schneider 1996: 78 (distribution: China, Xinjiang Prov., 50 km SW Bayanbulak, 80 km SW Bayanbulak; Qinghai Prov., 20 km W Kumbum); Nikolajev & Kozminykh 2002: 46 (key, diagnosis, iconography, distribution: Kyrgyzstan, Inylchek Riv; Terskei Alatau, Ottuk Riv.; Tajikistan, Panj Karatau, Astana Mt.; China, Xinjiang Prov., “Ichkibash (tributary of the Kucha River)”; Růžička & Schneider 2002: 220 (distribution: Afghanistan, Badakhshan Prov., Hindukush Mts., 4500 m, without more precise location; Pakistan, North West Frontier Prov., Sharan, Kagan valley); Nishikawa 2011: 39 (distribution: Pakistan, Karakorum, Gore, ca. 35°44'32"N 76°26'20"E, Baltoro Glacier); Růžička et al. 2011: 243 (Jammu and Kashmir, W Sumda Chenmo, Drogulika mountain pasture, ca. 34°08′N 077°06′E); Ghahari, Hava, 2015: 1507 ( Iran, Khorasan province, Taybad, 34°48′N 60°40′E); Růžička 2015: 233 (catalogue, distribution; Europe: Armenia; Asia: Afghanistan, Far East of Russia, Kashmir, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, China (Qinghai, Xinjiang), Tajikistan, Uzbekistan).

Material examined. Russia. 1 ♂: Daghestan Rep., east of Greater Caucasus, Khunzakh Plateau, Khunzakh village , near Tobot Waterfall , 42°33'10''N 46°43'4''E, 22.04.2021, A. Shapovalov leg., h= 1650 m . Kazakhstan. 1 ♀: Turkestan Reg., Sairam-Ugam National Park, Western Tien Shan, Karzhantau Mt. Range , left tributary of Saryaigyr Riv., 42°07'02''N 70°18'45''E, 22.06.2023, A. Shapovalov leg. h = 2465m . Kyrgyzstan. 1 ♀: Osh Prov., Nookat Distr., Kashkasu env., Kichik-Alai River valley between Kichik-Alai & Alai Mountain Ranges, 17.05.2016, 39°54'45"N 72°45'21"E, A. Shapovalov leg. h = 2563 m .

Diagnosis. The species clearly differs from other congeners by combination of the following characters: body and appendages black, abdomen with reddish-brown visible segment 7 (tergite 7 – “pygidium” and ventrite 7) in both sexes and tergite 8 in male, abdominal segment 6 (tergite 6 and ventrite 6) reddish-brown along posterior margin; body often shiny, but in the specimen from Eastern Caucasus elytra barely shiny ( Fig. 1 ), sometimes elytra with faint bluish tinge ( Fig. 2 ); head dorsally with semierect yellowish- or rufous-brown pubescence; pronotum with uniform dark-brown recumbent setation, not concealing cuticle; elytra bear small humeral teeth or lacking them; all three elytral costae sharp and raised, outer costa significantly extends preapical tubercle; spaces between costae without tubercles, punctures subquadrate, separated by approximately their diameters or slightly more their diameters; sutural angle of elytra in males obliquely truncated at the back, in females lobed and shortly extended. Body length 9–11 mm.

Distribution. The most of localities are known from mountainous regions of Central Asia within mountain systems Tien-Shan, Pamir-Alai, Hindukush, Karakoram, Kunlun and Tibetan Plateau; to the west area of the species reaches Western Asia in the north of the Iranian Plateau, Caucasus and Armenian Plateau (see map, Fig. 3 ). It is recorded from Eastern Turkey, Southern Russia (recorded for the first time), northern Iran, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan (recorded for the first time), northwestern China (Xinjiang and Qinghai Provinces). All records from Armenia ( Schawaller 1981; Růžička 2015 and others) seems to be based on Reitter`s record from “Kagysman in Russisch- Armenien ” ( Reitter 1912, as Th. armeniacus ) and actually refer to the present-time territory of Kars Province of Turkey. Thus, there are no reliable records for Armenia yet. All earlier records from Russia (Far East, Primorsky Krai) are doubtful (see notes).

Ecology. This apparently cryophilic species inhabits open mountainous landscapes, often found near cold mountain rivers or snow patches ( Figs. 4–5 ). Most of findings bearing altitude data are located from about 2400 m to 4100 m, the locality in Hindukush Mountains is at the highest altitude of 4500 m, in Dagestan the species was found at an altitude of 1650 m, and in Northern Iran it was recorded at an altitude of 786 m. Activity of imago is recorded from April to September.

Notes. According to Nikolajev & Kozminykh (2002: 48): “Observation of this species [ Th. porrectus ] in Primorsky Krai is extremely unlikely and requires verification, especially since these are old collection materials without a collection date (see Schawaller 1981 …)”. Taking into account the mainly central Asian montanous distrsibution area of Th. porrectus , the above-mentioned opinion (Nikolajev & Kozminykh 2002) seems justified. All previous records from Russia seem to be based on the record of Schawaller (1981) for Primorsky Krai and have never been confirmed by other materials or by findings from nearby territories of Eastern Asia. So, these records are probably erroneous and at least need confirmation.

Acknowledgements

The author sincerely thank for the opportunity to carry out entomological research at the territory of the Sairam-Ugam State National Natural Park to Director Sagadat O. Nurzhigitov and the Head of Science Department Galymzhan Zh. Zhenisbekuly ; for the opportunity to use photographic equipment to Sergey V. Kolov ( Institute of Zoology RK, Almaty, Kazakhstan); for reviewers Vladislav O. Kozminykh (Perm State Humanitarian-Pedagogical University, Perm, Russia) and Georgy V. Nikolajev (Institute of Zoology RK, Almaty, Kazakhstan) for comments on the text of the manuscript .

This work is supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Scientific Program “Development of an information system for the wild animals of the Western Tien Shan for conservation and sustainable use” (BR24993060).

References

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Figures

Figure 3. Map of distribution Thanatophilus porrectus (A.P. Semenov, 1891). 1, Kagizman, Turkey (the type locality of Thanatophilus armeniacus Reitter, 1912); 2, Khunzakh, Russia; 3, Taybad, Iran; 4, Saryaigyr River, Kazakhstan; 5, Tashkent, Uzbekistan; 6, Astana Mt., Tajikistan; 7, Hindukush, Afghanistan; 8, Sangou-Dara River, Tajikistan; 9, Kashkasu env., Kyrgyzstan; 10, Alai Valley, Kyrgyzstan; 11, Ottuk River, Kyrgyzstan; 12, Inylchek River, Kyrgyzstan; 13, Musart, China; 14, 50-80 km SW Bayanbulak, China; 15, Sharan, Pakistan; 16, Pakhpu (= Pachpu), China (the type locality of the species); 17, Gore, Pakistan; 18, Tehrong valley, Pakistan (the type locality of Thanatophilus sillemi Portevin, 1935); 19, Drogulika, Kashmir; 20, 20 km W Kumbum, China; X – probably erroneous locality in Primorsky Krai of Russia.

Figures 1–2. Thanatophilus porrectus (A.P. Semenov, 1891), habitus. 1, male, Khunzakh, Russia; 2, female, tributary of Saryaigyr River, Kazakhstan.

Figures 4–5. Localities of Thanatophilus porrectus (A.P. Semenov, 1891). 4, Khunzakh, Russia; 5, tributary of Saryaigyr River, Kazakhstan.