Amorphopini Guenther , 1939, 1907
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https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/jor.29.33717 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:647877CD-F043-4952-8419-20D0F18EA28C |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/67A4CB1D-E5B7-5A5A-B737-247FE0451956 |
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scientific name |
Amorphopini Guenther , 1939 |
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Tribe Amorphopini Guenther, 1939 View in CoL
Taxa included.
The type genus Amorphopus Serville, 1838 and Eomorphopus Hancock, 1907.
Diagnosis
Small to medium size, robust insects with the body depressed dorso-ventrally (Figs 1A View Fig. 1 , 2A View Fig. 2 , 6A View Fig. 6 , 8A View Fig. 8 , 9A View Fig. 9 ). Vertex does not project between the eyes, slightly tapering, truncate anteriorly; the median carina is short and distinct, the lateral carinae slightly more elevated than the median one, fossullae and supraocular tubercle absent. Facial carinae significantly pronounced between the antennae, with variable width from very narrow to form a scutellum. Eyes globose in lateral and frontal view. Antennae of moderate length with 15 filiform segments, originating at the mid-point frontal costa, lateral ocelli present between the eyes and the frontal costa bifurcated initially (Figs 1B View Fig. 1 , 2B View Fig. 2 , 6B View Fig. 6 , 8B View Fig. 8 , 9B View Fig. 9 ). Tegmina and wings always present on the known genera (Figs 1C View Fig. 1 , 2C View Fig. 2 , 6C View Fig. 6 , 8C View Fig. 8 , 9C View Fig. 9 ). Pronotum granulated and surpassing the abdomen apex, anterior margin truncated, lateral lobe projecting sideways, prozonal carina slightly developed, midline from mesozona to the apex. Fore femur carinated and middle femur strongly expanded (Figs 1E View Fig. 1 , 2E View Fig. 2 , 6E View Fig. 6 , 8E View Fig. 8 , 9E View Fig. 9 ); dorsal and ventral margin of middle femur lobed or foliaceous (Figs 1F View Fig. 1 , 2F View Fig. 2 , 6F View Fig. 6 , 8F View Fig. 8 , 9F View Fig. 9 ), hind femur with antegenicular tooth, transversal ridge (or “chevrons”) between the dorso and ventro external carinae, and transversal ridge between the dorsal margin of the hind femur and dorso-external carina.
Comments
Amorphopini was erected as a tribe by Cadena-Castañeda and Cardona-Granda (2015) to contain three genera: Amorphopus , Eomorphopus , and Platythorus . This tribe was characterized by globose eyes in lateral view (Figs 1C View Fig. 1 , 2C View Fig. 2 , 6C View Fig. 6 , 8C View Fig. 8 , 9C View Fig. 9 ); body strongly flattened (Figs 1A View Fig. 1 , 2A View Fig. 2 , 6A View Fig. 6 , 8A View Fig. 8 , 9A View Fig. 9 ); fore femur carinated and middle femur strongly expanded; dorsal and ventral margin of middle femur lobed or foliaceous (Figs 1E, F View Fig. 1 , 2E, F View Fig. 2 , 6E, F View Fig. 6 , 8E, F View Fig. 8 , 9E, F View Fig. 9 ); and body camouflage frequently resembling lichens or bryophytes (Fig. 3 View Fig. 3 ) ( Cadena-Castañeda and Cardona-Granda 2015) since Amorphopus and Eomorphopus are found in humid environments such as rivers and lakes ( Amédégnato and Devriese 2008). In addition to the previously mentioned characters, Amorphopini differs from the tribes established to date in Metrodorinae by lacking a prolonged vertex (which is common in Clinophaestini , Cleotrastini sensu Storozhenko 2016, and Miriatrini sensu Cadena-Castañeda and Cardona-Granda 2015), and by having filiform antennae. Clinophaestini and some Ophiotettigini , have widened antennal segments.
Platythorus is monotypic with only one female type, Platythorus camurus Morse, 1900, and occurs in Nicaragua and Costa Rica ( Bruner et al. 1900-1909). This genus is easily distinguished from other Amorphopini by the lack of tegmina and wings and the middle femur that is not strongly expanded. This genus has morphology rather different from Amorphopini and is placed out of Amorphopini , as a Metrodorinae genus without tribal placement.
Distribution
The Amorphopini species, as well as other species in South America, exhibit a very peculiar geographical distribution (see Silva et al. 2017, Cadena-Castañeda et al. 2019). There is a large area in the north region of South America (mainly Amazon Forest) where these genera are not known to occur (Figs 12 View Fig. 12 - 14 View Fig. 14 ). In addition, there is only one record for an Eomorphopus species that probably refers to the Atlantic Forest of Bahia State (Brazil), but Günther (1939) did not provide an exact location. Eomorphopus probably does occur in those areas, but its species haven’t been sampled or identified due to limited zoological expeditions and taxonomic effort focused on tiny litter insects.
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