Subterranean speciation in the genus <i>Bryaxis</i> Kugelann, 1794 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) in the Dinarides: a new species-group with description of two new cave-dwelling species

Abstract This study focuses on the evolution of a subterranean lineage of Bryaxis from the Dinarides, defined here as the ‘Bryaxis argus group’. This lineage comprises 12 taxa, including two newly described species: Bryaxis krkensis sp. nov. and Bryaxis vilinus sp. nov., both collected from caves in Croatia. The species are distributed throughout the Dinaric Karst, from northern Albania in the south to Italy and southern Austria in the north. Using a combination of molecular and morphological data, the taxonomic identity of the group is defined, highlighting the convergent evolution shared with another group of similar cave-dwelling species. In the presence of a Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction, the phylogeography and speciation patterns of the included taxa are discussed, providing insights into their inter- and intraspecific relationships. Finally, the geographical distribution and diagnostic morphology of each species are discussed; a map illustrating the distribution of the group and a dichotomous identification key are provided.