Coptodera

Dejean, 1825

Species Guides

Coptodera is a of small ground beetles in the Carabidae, comprising approximately 105 described . The genus exhibits a broad geographic distribution spanning North and South America, Africa, Oceania, and eastern Asia. A single fossil species, Coptodera elektra, is known from Eocene Baltic amber, representing the only European record for the genus.

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

Coptodera aerata by (c) Katja Schulz，保留部分权利（CC BY）. Used under a CC-BY license.

Coptodera aerata by (c) skitterbug，保留部分权利（CC BY）, 由 skitterbug 上传. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Coptodera: //kɒp.təˈdɛ.rə//

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

Identification

Small, flattened beetles with body length usually under 11 mm. The pronotum is generally wider than long. Many display distinctive patches or spots of different colors on the . These color patterns vary among species and may aid in species-level identification.

Images

Distribution

Native to North and South America, Africa, Oceania, and eastern Asia. The fossil Coptodera elektra extends the known range to Europe (Baltic amber deposits) during the Eocene.

More Details

Fossil Record

The first and only known fossil of this , Coptodera elektra, was described in 2015 from a single piece of Baltic amber dated to the Eocene. This discovery established the former presence of the genus in Europe, outside its current extant distribution.