METOPININAE (Disney & Ellwood, 2001)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.1111/zoj.12208 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039987A3-BD61-2947-6792-F8992A2F8B85 |
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treatment provided by |
Felipe |
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scientific name |
METOPININAE |
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SUBFAMILY METOPININAE View in CoL
No new characters on the thorax pleura were discovered that support the monophyly of the Metopininae , although it is usually considered the least controversial higher group in the Phoridae . Traditionally, this group is based on the presence of an ‘anepisternal furrow’ (e.g. Schmitz, 1929b), a character that we discuss below. The first divergence in the subfamily is between Ctenopleuriphora and Phlebothrix (not sampled here) ( Brown, 2009b), and the rest of the subfamily. We found one apparent character (36) that links all other Metopininae exclusive of these two genera in a monophyletic group (which is also supported by nonthoracic characters, 67, 68).
The Metopininae includes about 180 of the approximately 290 genera of Phoridae . We have observed much unexplored variation in thoracic morphology that will be useful to establish the relationships within the metopinines. Targeting a better understanding of the evolution of these structures at the base of the family, we chose not to explore the group until a later time.
30. Proepimeron: (0) small, (1) greatly expanded ( Fig. 33A–F View Figure 33 ).
This feature, diagnostic of the metopinines, has been referred to as ‘anepisternal furrow present’ and is a uniquely derived character of the subfamily. This modification possibly corresponds to the enlargement of the proepimeron dorsally and posteriorly, moving with it the surrounding suture. In platypezids ( Fig. 2) and other brachycerans ( Fig. 1 View Figure 1 ), the proepimeron is already fused to the anepisternum, with the suture scarcely visible, which is also the condition in most phorids ( Fig. 33A– C View Figure 33 ) except the metopinines. The prothorax pleural suture is just dorsal to the insertion of the forecoxa, the anepisternal furrow being placed more posteriorly. The suture of the ‘anepisternal furrow’, and hence is secondary, but it apparently delimits the proepimeron, which would be greatly enlarged in all metopinines ( Fig. 33D–F View Figure 33 ). Another genus of phorids that appears to have a version of this furrow (under light microscopy) is the phorine genus Mannheimsia , but the ‘furrow’ is not visible in our SEMs, differently from true metopinines. We thus conclude that the state in Mannheimsia is not homologous to that found in the Metopininae .
31. Dorsal separation of katepisternum from anepimeron: (0) clearly visible, (1) lost ( Fig. 34A–F View Figure 34 ).
This character is in its primitive character state, within the metopinines, in Ctenopleuriphora , Phlebothrix and Brownphora ( Fig. 34A, B View Figure 34 ). Its apomorphic condition ( Fig. 34C–F View Figure 34 ) is shared by most other metopinines. The plesiomorphic condition is widespread in phorines and other phorids.
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