A New Eyeless Species of Micranops Cameron 1913 from Bolivia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae)

Neotrop Entomol. 2024 Feb;53(1):154-161. doi: 10.1007/s13744-023-01106-5. Epub 2023 Dec 14.

Abstract

This work adds a new eyeless species of the genus Micranops Cameron, 1913 (Staphylinidae, Paederinae, Scopaeina) to the endogean Coleoptera of the Bolivian fauna. The loss of eyes is usually associated with adaptations to subterranean habitats, although M. bolivianus Guzman & Żyła sp. nov. was collected from leaf litter. We also report new occurrences for the genus west of the Andes mountain range. Our work increases the number of known Neotropical Micranops species to seven and extends the known distribution range for the genus in South America.

Keywords: Anophthalmy; Endogean way of life; Museum collection; Taxonomy.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Distribution
  • Animals
  • Bolivia
  • Coleoptera*
  • Ecosystem
  • South America