Faunistica e zoogeografia dei Meloidae (Coleoptera) della Somalia
1990; eScholarship Publishing, University of California; Volume: 14; Linguagem: Inglês
10.21426/b614110400
ISSN1594-7629
Autores Tópico(s)Synthesis and Reactions of Organic Compounds
ResumoBIOGEOGHAPHIA — vol. XIV — 1988 (Pubblicato il 51 dicembre 1990) The Biageography of Somalia Faunistica e zoogeografia dei Meloidae (Coleoptera) della Somalia(qq‘) MARCO A. BOLOGNA Dz'pcm‘z'mem‘0 di Scieizze Alizlaierztalz, U72z'vem'tz2 de L’Aquz'Za SUMMARY The Meloidae fauna (Coleoptera) of the Somalian region (Democratic Republic of Somalia, Territory of Ifars and Issas, Ethiopian Ogaden, and Sokotra archipelago in the Republic of Yemen) is analyzed. Three natural regions (Southern, Central and Northern Somalia) are singled out on the basis of some geographical, climatic and vegetational characteristics. A brief historical review of the principal expedi- tions carried out in this country in the last 120 years is given, and information about the most important Meloidae collections is provided. Firstly the zoogeographical analysis is based on the examen of the Somalian genera, their distribution and affinities, compared with other genera of African and Euroasiatic regions. The distribution of the species is examined and classified with the method of the chrological categories, supported by many examples and figures. The 95.19% of chorotypes are Afrotropical, 3.85% Palaearctic, and only 0.96% Palaeotropic. Among the Afrotropical ones, some detailed chorotypes are discussed: the Panafrotropical (7.69%), the Sahelo-Sudanian (11.53%), the Somalo-Zambesian (6.73%) and the North Est African (69.24%); this last group includes the numerous Somalo-Masai, the Ethiopian-Somalian species, and the majority of endernisms. On the basis of their phylogenetic affinities three other endemic species are in- cluded in the Palaearctic chrotypes, with the unique Arabian species, marginally represented in this fauna. Among the Palaeotropic chorotypes only one Afro-Indian species is known. Consequently, the fauna is essentially Afrotropical, characterized by a high number of North East African species, and also by few, but very significant eremian or suberemian Palaearctic elements. The phylogenetical affinities of the very numerous endemic species emphasize the relationships with Afro- tropical elements or, in the cases of the Palaearctic ones, with Saharian, Iranian or Mediterranean ele- ments. The different distribution of chorotypes in the three natural regions is shown. Some hypothesis about the origin of Meloidae fauna are discussed. Among the Palaeotropical genera, probably only few are ancient Gondwanian elements; on the contrary many of these genera are primarily both Afrotropical or Oriental. A post Oligocenic origin of Somalian region supported the hypothesis of a Miocenic colonization by these genera from Africa or Asia. Some other genera are strictly Afrotropical, and only Stezziselma Borchmann is apparently endemic to the Somalian region. The high degree of ende- misrns (29.80q/o), particularly in the genera Lydomalp/my Fairrnaire and Hyclem Latreille, is probably due to the Pliocenic of Pleistocenic climatic and environmental changes. The faunistical affinities (in common or vicariants elements) with the South Arabia, is connected to the recent opening of the Bab al Mandab strait or to the Quaternay glacial eustathisrns; the Pleistocenic pluvial periods probably permit the diffu- sion of the Palaearctic elements from Arabia. The 104 Somalian species actually known and belonging to 18 genera, are listed in the faunistic catalogue. For each species the localities cited in the literature, the material examined, and the distribu- tion are listed; some taxonomical observations, based on typical material, with Lectotypes designation, synonymies, and the diagnosis of morphological unknow characters and figures, are indicated. Four new (*) Ricerche eseguite con fondi C.N.R. (Gru'ppo «Filogenesi e zoogeografia della fauna palearticagg), MP1. 40% («Componenti extrapaleartiche della fauna italiana e mediterraneagg) ed M.P.I. 60% («Siste- matica filogenetica dei Coleotteri Meloidaegg). 293
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