Linzer biol. Beitr. 45/1 141-154 31.7.2013 On the Staphylinidae of Saudi Arabia, with descriptions of two new species (Insecta: Coleoptera) V. ASSING, M. SCHÜLKE 1 , M.R. SHARAF & A.S. ALDAWOOD A b s t r a c t : A study of material of Staphylinidae recently collected in Saudi Arabia yielded at least 34 species, 16 of which were identified down to species level. Ten species are reported from Saudi Arabia for the first time, one of them additionally from Oman. Pinophilinus spinosus ASSING nov.sp. (Paederinae: Pinophilini) and Tachyporus saudicus SCHÜLKE nov.sp. (Tachyporinae: Tachyporini) are described, illustrated, and distinguished from similar and geographically close congeners. Type material of Pinophilinus schatzmayri (KOCH 1934) is studied and illustrated. A key to the Arabian species of Pinophilinus EICHELBAUM 1908 is provided. The distribution of Arabian Pinophilinus species is mapped. K e y w o r d s : Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pinophilinus, Tachyporus, Palaearctic region, Saudi Arabia, Oman, taxonomy, new species, new records, key to species. Introduction The staphylinid fauna of the Arabian Peninsula is composed of various zoogeographic elements, particularly species (groups) of Afrotropical, Mediterranean, and Iranian af- filiations, as well as species with Cosmopolitan or vast distributions ranging from the Afrotropical to the Oriental region (ASSING 2008a, 2012). According to SMETANA (2004) and an unpublished update (June 2012) of this catalogue (SCHÜLKE unpubl.), only approximately 115 species and subspecies have been reported from Saudi Arabia, although the Staphylinidae of this country have specifically been addressed in several articles (BESUCHET 1981, COIFFAIT 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985, FRANZ 1979, GUSAROV 1997, PUTHZ 1980, VIT 2006). A study of recently collected material from Saudi Arabia, in total 143 specimens, yielded at least 34 species of Staphylinidae, part of which were identified at species level. The remainder were either represented exclusively by females, are undescribed, or belong to taxa that are currently in a state of taxonomic confusion and require revision. Ten of the identified described species represent new country records for Saudi Arabia. 1 84 th contribution to the knowledge of Tachyporinae © Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at