title: A chromosomal investigation of some European Leiodidae (Coleoptera), with particular focus on Spanish subterranean Leptodirini.
abstract: Karyotypes are shown for Leiodes calcarata (Erichson, 1845), Catops coracinus Kellner, 1846, Cantabrogeus luquei (Salgado, 1993), Espanoliella luquei Salgado & Fresneda, 2005, Fresnedaella lucius Salgado, Labrada & Luque, 2011, Notidocharis uhagoni (Sharp 1872), Quaestus (Quaesticulus) pasensis Salgado, Labrada & Luque, 2010, all of which are shown to have a diploid number of 20 autosomes plus Xy (♂) or XX (♀) sex chromosomes, as well as an as yet undescribed triploid species of the genus Cantabrogeus Salgado, 2000. These results are contrasted with published information, all on Leptodirini, which lists 10 species as having diploid numbers of 22 + Xy or XX. It is shown that the higher chromosome number (n = 11 + X or y) previously reported refers exclusively to the more derived Leptodirini ("infraflagellates") whereas the lower number (n = 10 + X or y) refers to the less derived surface-dwelling forms and the less derived Leptodirini ("supraflagellates").
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK ; School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK.
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Angus
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Carlos G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Luque
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Labrada
keywords: Cantabria; Cantabrogeus Salgado, 2000; Catops Paykull, 1798; Chromosomes; Espanoliella Georgiev, 1976; Fresnedaella Salgado Labrada & Luque, 2011; Leiodes Latreille, 1796; Leiodidae; Leptodirini; Notidocharis Jeannel, 1956; Quaestus Schaufuss, 1861; triploid