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Nordus elytisi Chatzimanolis (Fig. 23) Diagnosis (based on Chatzimanolis 2004). Nordus elytisi can be distinguished from all other species of Nordus by the following characters: head, pronotum, elytra and scutellum golden-orange, antennal segments and legs all yellow, abdomen black except segments 1, 2, 8 and the apical third of segment 7 golden-orange; antennal segments 4 and 5 subquadrate, 6���10 transverse; disc of pronotum with large and deep punctures, medial impuctate area broadest anteriorly, large impunctate areas in anterolateral quarters and small impunctate area along posterior and posterolateral margins and the distinct shape of the aedoeagus (see Chatzimanolis 2004: 22���23). Length 9.0��� 9.5 mm. Distribution. Argentina and Bolivia (Chatzimanolis 2004). Bionomics. Species belonging to Nordus has been reported from fungi, carrion and human feces (Navarrete- Heredia et al. 2002). Chatzimanolis (2004) cites species of this genus occurring between up to 2300 m of altitude in wet tropical lowlands and cloud forests., Published as part of Aballay, Fernando H., Chani-Posse, Mariana R., Ay��n, Mar��a Rosana, Maldonado, Mar��a Bel��n & Centeno, N��stor D., 2014, An illustrated key to and diagnoses of the species of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina, pp. 101-124 in Zootaxa 3860 (2) on page 120, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3860.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/229557, {"references":["Chatzimanolis, S. (2004) A revision of the Neotropical genus Nordus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Entomologische Abhandlungen, 62 (1), 3 - 64."]}

Creophilus maxillosus (Linnaeus) (Figs. 10, 41) Diagnosis (only referred to general habitus, modified from Clarke 2011). Creophilus maxillosus can be distinguished by the following characters: antennal segments 1���6 brownish-black, 7���11 greyish-black; apex of antennal segment 11 slightly to moderately emarginate medially; pronotum moderately to distinctly narrowed posteriorly, hind angles indistinct; integument, including elytra, uniformly black; vestiture on hind margins of head, anterior pronotal declivities, and pterothorax mostly black; elytra with white vestiture arranged into welldemarcated (but variable) central transverse fascia; vestiture on dorsal surface of abdomen white, arranged into definite pattern, concentrated on terga 5 and 6, with 7���10 usually partly whitish. Creophilus maxillosus is distinct from all other Creophilus species due to the definite whitish-grey elytral fascia, and dorsal pattern of body vestiture. Length 13.0��� 18.5 mm. Distribution. Widespread throughout the northern hemisphere; apparently absent from austral regions (except as adventive), South East Asia, and the East Indies (Clarke 2011). Bionomics. Creophilus maxillosus is probably the best-studied rove beetle species (Clarke 2011). The most complete list of literature on this species is given by Herman (2001) and updated by Clarke (2011). It has been found on carrion of all kinds where adults feed on maggots, in various kinds of both natural and synanthropic habitats (Newton et al. 2000). In the ���area of Cuyo (Argentina)��� it was mostly found in natural habitats (Aballay, pers. com.). According to Clarke (2011) who has summarized the extensive information on this species from the forensic literature, adults of Creophilus maxillosus arrive early at a carcass during the ���bloat��� and ���decay��� stages, remaining there up to 13 days post-mortem (see also Matuszewski et al. 2010; Matuszewski 2012; Prado e Castro et al. 2013; Dekeirsschieter et al. 2013). Matuszewski (2012) has recently proposed this species to estimate an interval preceding its appearance on a cadaver, called the preappearance interval (PAI)., Published as part of Aballay, Fernando H., Chani-Posse, Mariana R., Ay��n, Mar��a Rosana, Maldonado, Mar��a Bel��n & Centeno, N��stor D., 2014, An illustrated key to and diagnoses of the species of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina, pp. 101-124 in Zootaxa 3860 (2) on page 113, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3860.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/229557, {"references":["Clarke, D. J. (2011) Testing the phylogenetic utility of morphological character systems, with a revision of Creophilus Leach (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 163 (3), 23 - 812. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1096 - 3642.2011.00725. x","Herman, L. H. (2001) Catalog of the Staphylinidae (Insecta: Coleoptera). 1758 to the end of the second millennium. Part V. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 265, 2441 - 3020.","Newton, A. F., Thayer, M. K., Ashe, J. S. & Chandler, D. S. (2000) Staphylinidae Latreille, 1802. In: Arnett, R. H. & Thomas, M. C. (Eds.), American Beetles. Vol. 1. Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 272 - 418.","Matuszewski, S., Bajerlein, D., Konwerski, S. & Szpila, K. (2010) Insect succession and carrion decomposition in selected forests of Central Europe. Part 2: Composition and residency patterns of carrion fauna. Forensic Science International, 195, 42 - 51. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1016 / j. forsciint. 2009.11.007","Matuszewski, S. (2012) Estimating the pre-appearance interval from temperature in Creophilus maxillosus L. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Journal of Forensic Sciences, 57, 136 - 145. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1556 - 4029.2011.01958. x","Prado e Castro, C., Garcia, M. D. Martins da Silva, P. Faria e Silva, I. & Serrano, A. (2013) Coleoptera of forensic interest: A study of seasonal community composition and succession in Lisbon, Portugal. Forensic Science International, 232, 73 - 83. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1016 / j. forsciint. 2013.06.014","Dekeirsschieter, J., Frederick, C., Verheggen, F. J., Drugmand, D. & Haubruge, E. (2013) Diversity of forensic rove beetles (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) associated with decaying Pig carcass in a forest biotope. Journal of Forensic Science, 58 (4), 1032 - 1040. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1111 / 1556 - 4029.12095"]}

Philonthus bruchianus Chani-Posse (Fig. 16) Diagnosis (based on Chani-Posse, 2010). Philonthus bruchianus may be identified by the head wider than long, the antennal segments 4���10 elongate and the pronotum slightly narrowed anteriad to parallel-sided. It differs from other southern South American species of Philonthus by the eyes moderately shorter than temples, and the submentum about twice as long as mentum. Length 7.0���8.0 mm. Distribution. Argentina (Chani-Posse 2010). Bionomics. This species was collected from pig carcasses in the present study.., Published as part of Aballay, Fernando H., Chani-Posse, Mariana R., Ay��n, Mar��a Rosana, Maldonado, Mar��a Bel��n & Centeno, N��stor D., 2014, An illustrated key to and diagnoses of the species of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina, pp. 101-124 in Zootaxa 3860 (2) on page 117, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3860.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/229557, {"references":["Chani-Posse, M. (2010) Revision of the southern South American species of Philonthus Stephens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Zootaxa, 2595, 1 - 70."]}

Xenopygus analis (Erichson) (Figs. 22, 46) Diagnosis. Xenopygus analis can be distinguished by the following characters: head, pronotum and elytra of metallic color; head and pronotum blue to greenish blue, coarsely and sparsely punctuated; elytra blue, finely and densely punctuated; abdomen shiny black with segments 7 and 8 golden-orange; antennal segments 6���10 transverse; disc of pronotum with two dorsal rows of punctures. Length 12.0��� 14.5 mm. Distribution. Widespread from Mexico to Argentina (Herman 2001; Newton, unpublished database). Bionomics. Species belonging to Xenopygus have been frequently found in carrion, dung and decaying fruits (Irmler 1982; Navarrete-Heredia et al. 2002), also in leaf litter in the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia (Guti��rrez & Chac��n 2006). Xenopygus analis was reported as predator of both larvae and pupae of Anastrepha spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) (Navarrete-Heredia et al. 2002), also from ant nests (Guti��rrez & Chac��n 2006)., Published as part of Aballay, Fernando H., Chani-Posse, Mariana R., Ay��n, Mar��a Rosana, Maldonado, Mar��a Bel��n & Centeno, N��stor D., 2014, An illustrated key to and diagnoses of the species of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina, pp. 101-124 in Zootaxa 3860 (2) on pages 119-120, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3860.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/229557, {"references":["Herman, L. H. (2001) Catalog of the Staphylinidae (Insecta: Coleoptera). 1758 to the end of the second millennium. Part V. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 265, 2441 - 3020.","Irmler, U. (1982) A new species of the Neotropical genus Xenopygus Bernhauer (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Coleopterists Bulletin, 36, 206 - 210.","Navarrete-Heredia, J. L., Newton, A. F., Thayer, M. K., Ashe, J. S. & Chandler, D. S. (2002) Guia ilustrada para los generos de Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) de Mexico. Illustrated guide to the genera of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) of Mexico. Universidad de Guadalajara y Conabio, Mexico. 401 pp.","Gutierrez-Chacon, C. & Ulloa-Chacon, P. (2006) Composicion de estafilinidos (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) asociados a hojarasca en la cordillera Oriental de Colombia. Folia Entomologica Mexicana, 45, 69 - 81"]}

Key to species of Staphylinidae associated with carcasses in Argentina 1 Antennae inserted posterior to a line drawn between anterior margin of eyes (Fig. 25)................... 2. Aleocharinae - Antennae inserted anterior to a line drawn between anterior margin of eyes (Fig. 26)................................ 5 2 Maxillary and labial palpi with apical pseudosegment, 5 -articled and 4 -articled respectively (Fig. 27); tarsal formula 5 - 5 - 5.. 3 Aleochara Gravenhorst - Maxillary and labial palpi without apical pseudosegment, 4 -articled and 3 -articled respectively; tarsal formula 4-5 - 5... Atheta Thomson 3 Pronotum with two longitudinal, subparallel rows of setiferous punctures, arranged in more or less defined lines (Fig. 30)......................................................................... subgenus Coprochara Mulsant and Rey Head and pronotum scarcely pubescent, elytra with two small apico-medial spots not well defined and blurred (Figs. 4, 30)���........................................................ Aleochara signaticollis Fairmaire & Germain - Pronotum evenly pubescent (Figs. 28, 29).................................................................. 4 4 Mesosternum completely carinate along midline (Fig. 31)....................... subgenus Xenochara Mulsant and Rey Antennal segments 4���6 slightly elongate to quadrate, 5���10 slightly transverse; pronotum and elytra densely pubescent; elytral pubescence directed posterad (Figs. 3, 29)........................................ Aleochara puberula Klug - Mesosternum not carinate along midline (Fig. 32); body robust and compact......... subgenus Aleochara Mulsant and Rey Antennal segments 4���6 distinctly transverse; head and pronotum sparsely pubescent; elytra with two latero-medial brown spots (Figs. 2, 28)........................................................... Aleochara bonariensis Lynch 5 Abdomen with complete sternum 2 (seven sterna can be counted) (Fig. 43)................................ Oxytelinae Pronotum transverse, with longitudinal impressions (Fig. 35); scutellum with tripartite impression, of a fleur-de-lis shape.................................................................................. Anotylus Thomson - Abdomen with sternum 2 absent or rudimentary, only six complete sterna are visible (Fig. 42);............ 6 Staphylininae 6 With sclerotized plate (solid or divided into two sclerites) in front of prosternum (Fig. 33)................... Xantholinini 6.1 Pronotal disc impunctate except near margins; head, pronotum and abdomen of metallic color; length> 20 mm (Fig. 6)....................................................................... Eulissus chalybaeus Mannerheim 6.2 Pronotal disc with distinct dorsal and lateral rows of punctures; head, pronotum and abdomen brownish, glossy but never of metallic color; length distinctly Neohypnus Coiffait and S��iz - Without distinct sclerotized plate in front of prosternum (Fig. 34)........................ 7. Staphylinini (Staphylininae) 7 Superior line of pronotal hypomeron deflexed ventrad to join inferior line before reaching anterior angle of pronotum (Fig. 36)................................................................................................... 8. - Superior line of pronotal hypomeron not deflexed ventrad, reaching anterior angle of pronotum without joining inferior line (Fig. 37)................................................................................ 20. Xanthopygina 8 Ligula distinctly emarginated or bilobed apically (Fig. 38); always large, length 12���30 mm................ 9. Staphylinina - Ligula distinctly entire, rounded or slightly sinuate apically (Fig. 39); usually smaller, length 4���15 mm...... 12. Philonthina 9 Central part of pronotal disc densely punctate (Figs. 8, 9, 40)............................... 10. Platydracus Thomson - Central part of pronotal disc glossy and impunctate (Figs. 10, 11, 41)............................ 11. Creophilus Leach 10 Head, pronotum and elytra of metallic color, abdomen entirely black with distinct white pubescence (usually head and pronotum metallic green to blue and elytra metallic red) (Fig. 8)................... Platydracus chrysotrichopterus Scheerpeltz - Head, pronotum and elytra dull black to piceous black, abdomen black with last visible segment brown to reddish brown (Fig. 9).......................................................................... Platydracus scabrosus (Curtis) 11 With distinctive white pubescence especially on anterior angles of pronotum, across middle of elytra and on abdominal terga 4 and 5 (Fig. 10).............................................................. Creophilus maxillosus (Linnaeus) - With extensive pattern of white and golden brown vestiture on anterior angles of pronotum, elytra, and abdomen (Fig. 11)........................................................................... Creophilus variegatus Mannerheim 12 Front tarsi with first four segments more or less cylindrical with only regular, unmodified marginal setae on ventral surface (Fig. 44): lateral puncture of pronotum bearing long seta situated away from superior line at a distance at least three times as large as diameter of puncture (Fig. 50)................................................... Belonuchus Nordmann Head, pronotum and two last abdominal segments black, elytra and first four abdominal segments reddish-yellow to rufous (Fig. 12)................................................................... Belonuchus rufipennis (Fabricius) - Front tarsi with first four segments more or less flattened dorsoventrally and widened distally, with modified pale (adhesive) setae on ventral surface (Figs. 45); lateral puncture of pronotum bearing long seta situated close to superior line or at a distance no more than three times the diameter of puncture (Fig. 51)................................. 13. Philonthus Stephens 13 Pronotum moderately to distinctly narrowed anteriad (Figs. 55, 56)............................................. 15 - Pronotum parallel-sided (Fig. 57)........................................................................ 14 14 Eyes distinctly shorter than temples seen from above (Fig. 52); transverse distance between punctures on elytra distinctly larger than diameters of punctures............................................. Philonthus quadraticeps Boheman - Eyes distinctly longer than temples seen from above (Figs. 53); transverse distance between punctures on elytra about as large as to distinctly smaller than diameters of punctures............................... Philonthus discoideus (Gravenhorst) 15 Eyes about as long as or shorter than temples seen from above................................................. 16 - Eyes distinctly longer than temples seen from above (Fig. 15, 54)................. Philonthus bicoloristylus Chani-Posse 16 Head about as wide as long............................................................................. 17 - Head moderately to distinctly wider than long (Fig. 16)........................... Philonthus bruchianus Chani-Posse 17 Antennal segments 8���10 distinctly elongate................................................................ 19 - Antennal segments 8���10 not elongate..................................................................... 18 18 Pronotum with dorsal rows of punctures each with five punctures, rarely with four (if so, only at one row); first segment of hind tarsus distinctly longer than last segment (Fig. 17)............................. Philonthus flavolimbatus Erichson - Pronotum with dorsal rows of punctures each with four punctures; first segment of hind tarsus as long as or shorter than last segment (Fig. 18)............................................................ Philonthus bonariensis Bernhauer 19 Pronotum with dorsal rows of punctures each with five punctures; apex of male tergum 10 not emarginate medioapically (Fig. 19)........................................................................ Philonthus longicornis Stephens - Pronotum with dorsal rows of punctures each with four punctures; apex of male tergum 10 emarginate medio-apically (Fig. 20)................................................................................ Philonthus argus Herman 20 First four segments of front tarsus slightly dilated, much narrower than apex of protibia and with few translucent tenent setae on either side of ventral apex (Fig. 47); hind femur of male with posterior margin crenulate (Fig. 49)....... Styngetus Sharp Head and pronotum glossy black and densely punctate; elytra metallic blue, abdomen black with last visible segment brown to reddish brown (Fig. 21)................................................. Styngetus viduus (Erichson) - First four segments of front tarsus distinctly dilated, about as wide as or wider than apex of protibia and with dense pad of translucent tenent setae below (Fig. 46); hind femur of male not crenulate (Fig. 48)............................. 21 21 Eyes about as long as or shorter than temples seen from above; pronotal hypomeron with a small translucent postcoxal process very close behind coxal articulation (Fig. 58)................................................ Xenopygus Bernhuer Head, pronotum and elytra of metallic color (Fig. 22)................................... Xenopygus analis (Erichson) - Eyes distinctly longer than temples seen from above; pronotal hypomeron without postcoxal process (Fig. 59)........... 22 22 Antenna with segments 7���10 transverse; head, especially the frons and vertex, with dense contiguous punctures............................................................................................... Nordus Blackwelder Head, pronotum, elytra and scutellum golden orange, antennal segments yellow, abdomen black except apical margin of segment 7 and entire segment 8 golden orange (Fig. 23).................................... Nordus elytisi Chatzimanolis - Antenna with segments 7���10 elongate or conical; head with frons and vertex only sparsely punctate, but often with dense microsculpture.......................................................................... Oligotergus Bierig Head, pronotum and elytra black to piceous black, abdominal segments black to piceous black with apical margins of segments 3���6 and entire segments 7 and 8 brown to reddish brown (Fig. 24)............. Oligotergus ogloblini Bernhauer, Published as part of Aballay, Fernando H., Chani-Posse, Mariana R., Ay��n, Mar��a Rosana, Maldonado, Mar��a Bel��n & Centeno, N��stor D., 2014, An illustrated key to and diagnoses of the species of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina, pp. 101-124 in Zootaxa 3860 (2) on pages 103-104, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3860.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/229557

Creophilus variegatus Mannerheim (Fig. 11) Diagnosis (only referred to general habitus, modified from Clarke 2011). Creophilus variegatus can be recognized by the following characters: antennal segments 1���3 brownish-black, 4���11 variably yellowish-brown and black; antennal segments 9 and 10 narrowed anteriorly and thickened posteriorly, apex of antennal segment 11 convex; pronotum strongly constricted basally with sharply delimited hind angles; pronotum, elytra, and abdomen with extensive pattern of white and golden brown vestiture; elytral cuticle bicoloured, disc reddish-brown, sides and humeri yellowish; elytra with variegated golden, brown, and whitish setae; fifth visible abdominal tergum with extensive whitish setae, especially apicolaterally. Creophilus variegatus is distinguished from C. maxillosus by the body vestiture patterning, antennae and the sharply delimited basal pronotal angles. Length 14.0���17.0 mm. Distribution. Endemic to South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay (Clarke 2011). Bionomics. Creophilus variegatus has been reported from carrion (L��derwaldt 1911), and also preying on maggots of calliphorid larvae (Lynch Arrib��lzaga 1884), Published as part of Aballay, Fernando H., Chani-Posse, Mariana R., Ay��n, Mar��a Rosana, Maldonado, Mar��a Bel��n & Centeno, N��stor D., 2014, An illustrated key to and diagnoses of the species of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina, pp. 101-124 in Zootaxa 3860 (2) on page 113, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3860.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/229557, {"references":["Clarke, D. J. (2011) Testing the phylogenetic utility of morphological character systems, with a revision of Creophilus Leach (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 163 (3), 23 - 812. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1096 - 3642.2011.00725. x","Luderwaldt, G. (1911). Os insetos necrofagos paulistas, Revista do Museu Paulista, 8, 414 - 433.","Lynch-Arribalzaga, F. (1884) Estafilinos de Buenos Aires. Boletin de la Academia Nacional de Ciencias, Cordoba, 7, 5 - 256."]}

Platydracus chrysotrichopterus (Scheerpeltz) (Figs. 8, 40) Diagnosis (based on Navarrete-Heredia et al. 2002). Platydracus chrysotrichopterus can be recognized among other South American species of Platydracus by its head, pronotum and elytra of metallic color (usually head and pronotum metallic green to blue and elytra metallic red) and the glossy black abdomen. Length 14.0���19.0 mm. Distribution. Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay (Herman 2001; Newton, unpublished database). Bionomics. Species belonging to Platydracus have been found mainly in dung, carrion, rotting fungi and leaf litter in both temperate and tropical forests (Navarrete-Heredia et al. 2002). Species of this genus have been reported as the most abundant amphibious predators of dipterous larvae associated with Heliconia bourgaeana Petersen (Zingiberales: Heliconiaceae) flower bracts and also found in fallen decaying mango fruits (Frank & Mor��n 2012)., Published as part of Aballay, Fernando H., Chani-Posse, Mariana R., Ay��n, Mar��a Rosana, Maldonado, Mar��a Bel��n & Centeno, N��stor D., 2014, An illustrated key to and diagnoses of the species of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina, pp. 101-124 in Zootaxa 3860 (2) on pages 113-114, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3860.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/229557, {"references":["Navarrete-Heredia, J. L., Newton, A. F., Thayer, M. K., Ashe, J. S. & Chandler, D. S. (2002) Guia ilustrada para los generos de Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) de Mexico. Illustrated guide to the genera of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) of Mexico. Universidad de Guadalajara y Conabio, Mexico. 401 pp.","Herman, L. H. (2001) Catalog of the Staphylinidae (Insecta: Coleoptera). 1758 to the end of the second millennium. Part V. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 265, 2441 - 3020.","Frank, J. H. & Moron, M. A. (2012) Natural history of four species of Platydracus Thomson (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in Heliconia bourgaeana Petersen (Zingiberales: Heliconiaceae) flower bracts. Insecta Mundi, 258, 1 - 12."]}

Philonthus longicornis Stephens (Figs. 19, 45) Diagnosis (based on Chani-Posse, 2010). Philonthus longicornis may be identified by the eyes about as long as to slightly longer than temples, the antennal segment 2 shorter than preceding segment and antennal segments 4 to 10 elongate, the dorsal rows of pronotum each with five punctures and the paramere shifted toward right margin of median lobe. Length 6.5 ���7.0 mm. Distribution. Philonthus longicornis is currently considered a cosmopolitan species widely distributed in Central and South America (Herman 2001). Bionomics. Philonthus longicornis has been frequently found in cattle manure in open pastures of North America (Hu & Frank 1997) and Argentina (Chani-Posse 2004), and also cited from other organic debris such as decaying plants, other animal droppings, carcasses, etc (Smetana 1995). This species was also collected from pig carcasses in arid environment of Argentina (Aballay et al. 2008, 2012)., Published as part of Aballay, Fernando H., Chani-Posse, Mariana R., Ay��n, Mar��a Rosana, Maldonado, Mar��a Bel��n & Centeno, N��stor D., 2014, An illustrated key to and diagnoses of the species of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina, pp. 101-124 in Zootaxa 3860 (2) on page 119, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3860.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/229557, {"references":["Chani-Posse, M. (2010) Revision of the southern South American species of Philonthus Stephens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Zootaxa, 2595, 1 - 70.","Herman, L. H. (2001) Catalog of the Staphylinidae (Insecta: Coleoptera). 1758 to the end of the second millennium. Part V. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 265, 2441 - 3020.","Hu, G. Y. & Frank, J. H. (1997) Predation on the horn fly (Diptera: Muscidae) by five species of Philonthus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Environmental Entomology, 26, 1240 - 1246.","Chani-Posse, M. R. (2004) Eight Argentinean species of dung-inhabiting Philonthus Stephens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment, 39, 217 - 232. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1080 / 01650520412331271738","Smetana, A. (1995) Rove beetles of the subtribe Philonthina of America north of Mexico (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae): Classification, phylogeny and taxonomic revision. Memoirs on Entomology, International, 3, 1 - 946.","Aballay, F. H., Murua, A. F., Acosta, J. C. & Centeno, N. (2008) Primer registro de artropodofauna cadaverica en sustratos humanos y animales en San Juan, Argentina. Revista de la Sociedad Entomologica Argentina, 67, 157 - 163."]}

Platydracus scabrosus (Curtis) (Fig. 9) Diagnosis. Platydracus scabrosus can be recognized among other South American species of Platydracus by its head, pronotum and elytra black to piceous black, and the abdomen black with its last visible segment brown to reddish brown. Length 15.0���17.0 mm. Distribution. From northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and southern Brazil (Herman 2001; Newton, pers. com.). Bionomics. Unlike nearly all other Neotropical Platydracus, it seems to be found often outside forested areas, apparently even in urban areas, according to collection records (Newton, pers. com.)., Published as part of Aballay, Fernando H., Chani-Posse, Mariana R., Ay��n, Mar��a Rosana, Maldonado, Mar��a Bel��n & Centeno, N��stor D., 2014, An illustrated key to and diagnoses of the species of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina, pp. 101-124 in Zootaxa 3860 (2) on pages 114-115, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3860.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/229557, {"references":["Herman, L. H. (2001) Catalog of the Staphylinidae (Insecta: Coleoptera). 1758 to the end of the second millennium. Part V. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 265, 2441 - 3020."]}

Philonthus flavolimbatus Erichson (Fig. 17) Diagnosis (based on Chani-Posse 2010). Philonthus flavolimbatus may be identified by the coloration pattern of elytra, castaneous-brunneous to castaneous-piceous and yellowish medio-apically, and the distance separating medial interocular punctures on frons about 2.5 times as large as distance separating medial punctures from lateral punctures. It differs from other southern South American species of Philonthus by the eyes as long as temples, the antennal segments 2 and 3 subequal in length, and the first segment of hind tarsus as long as segments 2 and 3 combined, and longer than last segment. Length 4.5���5.5 mm. Distribution. Philonthus flavolimbatus is widely distributed from Latin America through Caribbean islands, and North America where it occurs mainly in the southern portion of the continent (Smetana 1995). Bionomics. Philonthus flavolimbatus is a common species in cattle droppings, where it may occur in high abundance, preying upon immature flies (e.g., Hu & Frank 1997; Guimar��es & Mendes 1998; Cabrera-Walsh & Chani-Posse 2003). Smetana (1995) also cited this species from other organic debris., Published as part of Aballay, Fernando H., Chani-Posse, Mariana R., Ay��n, Mar��a Rosana, Maldonado, Mar��a Bel��n & Centeno, N��stor D., 2014, An illustrated key to and diagnoses of the species of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina, pp. 101-124 in Zootaxa 3860 (2) on page 117, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3860.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/229557, {"references":["Chani-Posse, M. (2010) Revision of the southern South American species of Philonthus Stephens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Zootaxa, 2595, 1 - 70.","Smetana, A. (1995) Rove beetles of the subtribe Philonthina of America north of Mexico (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae): Classification, phylogeny and taxonomic revision. Memoirs on Entomology, International, 3, 1 - 946.","Hu, G. Y. & Frank, J. H. (1997) Predation on the horn fly (Diptera: Muscidae) by five species of Philonthus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Environmental Entomology, 26, 1240 - 1246.","Guimaraes, J. A. & Mendes, J. (1998) Succession and abundance of Staphylinidae in cattle dung in Uberlandia, Brazil. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 93, 127 - 131. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1590 / S 0074 - 02761998000100024","Cabrera-Walsh, G. & Chani-Posse, M. (2003) Abundance and seasonal Distribution of predatory coprophilous Argentine rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), and their effects on dung breeding flies. Coleopterists Bulletin, 57 (1), 43 - 50. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1649 / 0010 - 065 X (2003) 057 [0043: AASDOP] 2.0. CO; 2"]}

Philonthus argus Herman (Fig. 20) Diagnosis (based on Chani-Posse 2010). Philonthus argus may be identified by the antennal segment 2 shorter than segment 3, antennal segments 4���10 elongate, the eyes as long as to slightly shorter than temples seen from above, the submentum about 1.5 times as long as mentum, the dorsal rows of pronotum each with four punctures, and the male tergum 10 emarginate medio-apically. Length 6.6 ���7.0 mm. Distribution. Argentina (Chani-Posse 2010). Bionomics. This species was collected from pig carcasses in the present study., Published as part of Aballay, Fernando H., Chani-Posse, Mariana R., Ay��n, Mar��a Rosana, Maldonado, Mar��a Bel��n & Centeno, N��stor D., 2014, An illustrated key to and diagnoses of the species of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina, pp. 101-124 in Zootaxa 3860 (2) on page 119, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3860.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/229557, {"references":["Chani-Posse, M. (2010) Revision of the southern South American species of Philonthus Stephens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Zootaxa, 2595, 1 - 70."]}

Genus Anotylus Thomson (Figs. 5, 35) Diagnosis (based on Newton et al. 2000). The genus Anotylus can be characterized by its scutellum with a tripartite impression, usually of a fleur-de-lis shape and the abdomen having tergum 2 without a curved, basolateral ridge, and terga 3���7 each with curved basolateral ridge; pronotal hypomeron broad. Length 2���4.5 mm. Distribution. Cosmopolitan (Newton & Thayer 2005). Bionomics. Species belonging to Anotylus has been found mainly on dung, carrion and other decaying organic material (Newton et al. 2000). Prado e Castro et al. (2013) cites one Anotylus species in association with the fresh and bloated stages of carcasses in the descomposition process. Remarks. Anotylus currently comprises more than 350 species worldwide (Newton & Thayer 2005). However, there is no tool that allows the identification of the South American species belonging to this genus at present. Herein we follow the generic definition by Newton et al. (2000) which is based on the North American representatives of the genus., Published as part of Aballay, Fernando H., Chani-Posse, Mariana R., Ay��n, Mar��a Rosana, Maldonado, Mar��a Bel��n & Centeno, N��stor D., 2014, An illustrated key to and diagnoses of the species of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina, pp. 101-124 in Zootaxa 3860 (2) on page 110, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3860.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/229557, {"references":["Newton, A. F., Thayer, M. K., Ashe, J. S. & Chandler, D. S. (2000) Staphylinidae Latreille, 1802. In: Arnett, R. H. & Thomas, M. C. (Eds.), American Beetles. Vol. 1. Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 272 - 418.","Newton, A. F. & Thayer, M. K. (2005) Catalog of higher taxa of Staphyliniformia and genera and subgenera of Staphylinoidea [online]. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. Available from: http: // www. fieldmuseum. org / peet _ staph / db _ 1 a. html (accessed 3 May 2013)","Prado e Castro, C., Garcia, M. D. Martins da Silva, P. Faria e Silva, I. & Serrano, A. (2013) Coleoptera of forensic interest: A study of seasonal community composition and succession in Lisbon, Portugal. Forensic Science International, 232, 73 - 83. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1016 / j. forsciint. 2013.06.014"]}

Philonthus bicoloristylus Chani-Posse (Figs. 15, 54, 55) Diagnosis (based on Chani-Posse 2010). Philonthus bicoloristylus may be identified by the eyes longer than temples and the bicolored styli of tergum 9. It differs from other southern South American species of Philonthus by the antennal segment 10 quadrate, the pronotum about as long as wide, and the dorsal rows of pronotum each with five punctures. Length 8.0���9.0 mm. Distribution. Argentina (Chani-Posse 2010). Bionomics. Philonthus bicoloristylus has been found to be a common species in horse and cow droppings in northwestern and eastern Argentina (Chani-Posse 2010)., Published as part of Aballay, Fernando H., Chani-Posse, Mariana R., Ay��n, Mar��a Rosana, Maldonado, Mar��a Bel��n & Centeno, N��stor D., 2014, An illustrated key to and diagnoses of the species of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina, pp. 101-124 in Zootaxa 3860 (2) on page 117, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3860.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/229557, {"references":["Chani-Posse, M. (2010) Revision of the southern South American species of Philonthus Stephens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Zootaxa, 2595, 1 - 70."]}