Carabini

Linnaeus, 1802

Genus Guides

Calosoma(Caterpillar-hunter Beetles)
Carabus(Worm and Slug Hunters)

Carabini is a tribe of ground beetles within the Carabinae, Carabidae. The tribe comprises four and over 1,100 described , making it one of the most species-rich tribes within Carabinae. It is divided into two subtribes: Carabina (containing Aplothorax, Calosoma, and Carabus) and Ceroglossina (containing Ceroglossus). The genus Carabus alone accounts for approximately 959 species, while Calosoma contains about 164 species.

Carabus sylvosus by (c) Anne Parker, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Anne Parker. Used under a CC-BY license.

Carabus goryi by (c) Kristof Zyskowski, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kristof Zyskowski. Used under a CC-BY license.

Calosoma scrutator by (c) David Hill, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Carabini: /ˈkærəˌbaɪni/

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

Identification

Members of Carabini are distinguished from other carabid tribes by a combination of morphological features, though specific diagnostic characters vary among subtribes. The subtribe Ceroglossina is distinguished by the presence of a single Ceroglossus with 10 , while Carabina contains the bulk of . The genus Carabus is characterized by its large size and diverse coloration patterns, while Calosoma species are often metallic and include the famous caterpillar hunter beetles. Aplothorax is .

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Distribution

The tribe Carabini has a global distribution, with constituent occurring across multiple continents. The genus Carabus is primarily distributed across the Palearctic region with extensions into other regions. Calosoma has a broader distribution including the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Ceroglossus is restricted to South America (Chile and adjacent areas). Aplothorax is to the Canary Islands.

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Subtribal classification

Carabini is divided into two subtribes: Carabina Linnaeus, 1802 (containing Aplothorax, Calosoma, and Carabus) and Ceroglossina Lapouge, 1927 (containing Ceroglossus). This subtribal structure reflects distinct evolutionary lineages within the tribe.

Species diversity

With over 1,100 described , Carabini represents a major component of ground beetle diversity. The Carabus alone contains approximately 959 species, making it one of the largest genera within Carabidae. Calosoma contains about 164 species, Ceroglossus 10 species, and Aplothorax is with 1 species.