Calosoma (Callisthenes) marginatum Gebler, 1830
C. marginatum and C. pseudocarabus were described as distinct species and as such considered, albeit doubtfully, by Jeannel (1940), followed in this by most of the subsequent authors. Both taxa have small size and elongated Carabus type shape and their ecology is similar, for they both populate montane steppes, differing from the others Tian-Shan Callisthenes inhabiting mostly foothills and plateau.
Actually, despite their geographical isolation but taking into consideration that they have many common characteristics and only slight morphological differences, they are likely to be slightly different but conspecific populations, according also to some doubts previously expressed by Kabak (Kryzhanovskij & al. 1995: 34 note 149).
Calosoma (Callisthenes) marginatum marginatum Gebler, 1830
Calosoma marginatum Gebler, 1830: 57 (described from lac Nor-Saisan) original material: 1♀; depository not stated
Calosoma (Callisthenes) panderi var. marginatum Breuning, 1928: 65
Callisthenes karelini marginatus Lapouge, 1932: 375
Callisthenes marginatus Jeannel, 1940: 190
Length 15-18 mm. You can sort out the typical population only by carefully examining the sculpture of elytra that is flat but slightly more evident than in C. pseudocarabus, and sometime observing greenish or bluish reflections on the edge of the pronotum and of the elytra, and on the bottom of the foveae of the primary intervals.
C. marginatum is located in the mountain ranges of Narym and Kurchum in south-eastern Kazakhstan (N. of Zaisan lake).
Examined specimens and literature’s data
Kazakhstan. Mt. Narym range, Bolshenarymskoe (SB); Mt Kurchum range, May-Terek (Obydov, 2002: 68).
Notes: Brachypterous. It lives at medium altitude around 1700. Adults were collected in June.
 Gebler, 1830 S. Altai Mts, Narymsky Mt rng, Bolshenarymskoe env. 2100m, 12.VI.2000 |
 Gebler, 1830 S.E. Kazakhstan: Narymsky range, N. Zaisan lake, 20.VI.2000. |
Calosoma (Callisthenes) marginatum pseudocarabus Semenov-Tian-Shansky & Redikorzev, 1928
Calosoma pseudocarabus Semenov-Tian-Shansky et Redikorzev, 1928: 109 (type locality: Montibus Saur a lacu Zaisan); holotype ♂ in Zoological Museum of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg (Obydov, 2002: 69)
Calosoma (Callisthenes) pseudocarabus Semenov-Tian-Shansky, 1935: 274
Callisthenes pseudocarabus Jeannel, 1940: 190
Length 17-18 mm. C. pseudocarabus is slightly different from C. marginatum because its sculpture is more flattened, the foeae on the primary intervals are small, and in most cases barely visible, and because the color of the upper body is usually darker, rarely with faint blue reflections.
It is found on the Saur mountain range, also in south-eastern Kazakhstan (S.E. of Zaisan lake), close to the Chinese border.
Examined specimens
Kazakhstan. Saur mountain range, Mt Sargar (SB)
Notes: Brachypterous. It lives at medium altitude at 2000-2200m. Adults were collected from April to June.
 Semenov-Tian-Shansky & Redikorzev, 1928 S.E. Kazakhstan: Saur mts 2.000m., 12.IV.2000, Irtlach lgt. |
 Semenov-Tian-Shansky & Redikorzev, 1928 S.E. Kazakhstan: Saur mts 2.000m., 12.IV.2000, Irtlach lgt. |