Lepidocyrtinae

Wahlgren, 1906

Genus Guides

Lepidocyrtus(slender springtails)
Pseudosinella(slender springtails)

Lepidocyrtinae is a of springtails (Collembola: Entomobryidae) characterized by problematic and unstable . The subfamily includes the Lepidocyrtus with multiple subgenera (including Fractocyrtus and Setogaster) and the genus Rhynchocyrtus to Brazil. Phylogenetic studies indicate that some morphological features traditionally used to separate subgenera lack phylogenetic signal, with Setogaster likely being . The subfamily is distributed across the Neotropics, with documented occurrences from the Andes to the Brazilian Amazon and Atlantic Forest.

Lepidocyrtus by (c) Dan MacNeal, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dan MacNeal. Used under a CC-BY license.

Lepidocyrtinae by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Katja Schulz. Used under a CC-BY license.

Lepidocyrtinae by (c) Owen Strickland, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Owen Strickland. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Lepidocyrtinae: /ˌlɛpɪdoʊˈsɪrtɪniː/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Identification relies heavily on chaetotaxy patterns, particularly trunk chaetal arrangement, body pseudopore distribution, and specific structures including the trochanteral organ, , , and labial papilla E . The lateral process of labial papilla E has been identified as a useful alternative trait for defining subgroups within the . patterns and body coloration are also employed in distinguishing and subgenera.

Images

Habitat

Neotropical forest including the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and Amazonian regions. have been documented in the Colombian Andes and across elevations from lowland Amazon to montane forests.

Distribution

Neotropical region, specifically from the Andes through the Oriental Brazilian Amazon to the Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil. The Rhynchocyrtus is to Brazil.

Similar Taxa

Other Entomobryidae subfamiliesLepidocyrtinae can be distinguished by specific chaetotaxy patterns and body pseudopore distributions, though the 's internal boundaries remain problematic and require reevaluation of traditional morphological characters

More Details

Systematic instability

The 's is described as 'troubled' in recent literature, with subgeneric divisions within Lepidocyrtus not reflecting phylogenetic relationships. The placement of Rhynchocyrtus was historically suspected to be related to Cinctocyrtus but is now supported as nested within Setogaster.

Morphological reevaluation

Traditional features used to separate Lepidocyrtus subgenera are being replaced by alternative morphological traits including trunk chaetal patterns and detailed body pseudopore distributions, which show greater phylogenetic utility.