Two newTyphloreicheiaspecies from Sardinia and their biogeographical significance (Coleoptera,Carabidae,Scaritinae)

Typhloreicheia monachasp. n.andT. ilianaesp. n.are described from two caves of Central-Eastern Sardinia (Nuoro province): the Bue Marino cave and the Nurra ‘e Pradu cave, respectively. Both caves are located in the part of the island where many highly specialised subterranean carabid beetles are localised.T. monachais apparently related to two other species of the same area,i.e.T. onnisiCasale & Magrini,
2004 andT. elegans(Dodero, 1916);T. ilianaeis closely related toT. henrotiJeannel, 1957, known from a cave near Dorgali. Relationships and diagnostic features among these taxa are discussed and illustrated, and a key for identification of the specialised subterraneanTyphloreicheiaspecies of Sardinia is provided. The hypothesis of adaptive radiation ofReicheiinaspecies in Sardinia, recently proposed by the senior author of this contribution, is further elaborated in light of new data.