Two new species of Centroptilum Eaton, 1869 from North Africa (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae)

Abstract

Based on recently collected larvae from Algeria and Morocco, the species delimitation within the genus Centroptilum Eaton, 1869 in that region is validated. Two new species are described and illustrated, one from north-eastern Algeria, and one from North Morocco, using an integrated approach with morphological and molecular evidence. A table summarising the morphological differences between the new species and Centroptilum luteolum (Müller, 1776) from Central Europe is provided. Further, molecular evidence for additional undescribed species of Centroptilum in other regions of the West Palearctic is provided and discussed.

Diversity, distribution, and conservation of the Trichoptera and their habitats in north‐eastern Algeria

“…Furthermore, the area is rich in micro‐endemics such as the Edough ribbed newt, Pleurodeles poireti (Gervais, 1835), the Algerian ribbed newt, Pleurodeles nebulosus (Guichenot, 1850), and the Endangered minnow Pseudophoxinus punicus (Pellegrin, 1920) (García et al, 2010; Samraoui et al, 2012). Similarly, a suite of micro‐endemic stoneflies (Yasri‐Cheboubi, Vinçon & Lounaci, 2013; Yasri‐Cheboubi, Vinçon & Lounaci, 2016) and mayflies (Samraoui et al, 2021; Kaltenbach et al, 2022) are present in the area. Despite the presence of the micro‐endemic Algerian trout, Salmo macrostigma (Duméril, 1858), now Data Deficient on the IUCN North African Red List (García et al, 2010), no protected area has been set up in the Collo region, a glaring omission that should be rectified.…”

“…Yasri-Cheboubi, Vinçon & Lounaci, 2016) and mayflies Kaltenbach et al, 2022) in the Aurès (Sekhi, Malicky & Lounaci, 2019;Dambri et al, 2022), essentially from the western part because eastern Aurès has hardly been investigated.…”

Baetidae (Baetidae, Ephemeroptera) in the Maghreb: state of the art, key, and perspectives

“…All the specimens we checked from the North-East of Algeria and North Morocco belong to the two recently described species Centroptilum alamiae Kaltenbach, Vuataz & Gattolliat, 2022 (Fig. 4B) and Centroptilum samraouii Kaltenbach, Vuataz & Gattolliat, 2022. Both species are closely related to Centroptilum luteolum (Müller, 1776) but clearly different both morphologically and genetically (Kaltenbach et al 2022).…”

“…4B) and Centroptilum samraouii Kaltenbach, Vuataz & Gattolliat, 2022. Both species are closely related to Centroptilum luteolum (Müller, 1776) but clearly different both morphologically and genetically (Kaltenbach et al 2022). The description of the species Centroptilum algiricum Eaton, 1899 was based on male and female imagoes collected close to Tizi-Ouzou (Algeria) (Eaton 1899).…”

“…With 19 reported species, Baetidae is by far the most diversified but also the most problematic family in Algeria. Recent studies allowed the discovery of several potentially new species of Baetidae, as well as species not previously reported from this country (Benhadji et al 2020;Samraoui et al 2021b, c;Kaltenbach et al 2022).…”