Rhadine ozarkensis
Sanderson & A.Miller, 1941
Rhadine ozarkensis is a of in the , described by Sanderson and Miller in 1941. It is the second species of the Rhadine recorded from caves, discovered in the Ozark region. The species possesses morphological typical of cave-dwelling carabids, including an elongated body and .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Rhadine ozarkensis: /reɪˈdaɪni oʊzɑːrˈkɛnsɪs/
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Identification
Distinguished from other Rhadine by the combination of an elongated that is widest across the and proportionally narrower than the (approximately 75% of pronotal width), and the presence of two to three shallow longitudinal grooves running nearly parallel to the antennal ridge. As a cave-dwelling species, it may be expected to show reduced pigmentation and eye size compared to epigean relatives, though this is not explicitly documented in the original description.
Appearance
Elongated body form. elongated, widest across the , approximately three-fourths the width of the . Two or three shallow longitudinal grooves present on the head, nearly parallel to the antennal ridge.
Habitat
Cave-dwelling (troglobitic). Known from cave systems in the Ozark region.
Distribution
United States (North America). Specifically recorded from the Ozark region, with distribution records from Arkansas.
Similar Taxa
- Rhadine subterraneaThe first Rhadine described from caves (Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico); R. ozarkensis was explicitly compared to this species in the original description as the second cave-dwelling member of the .
More Details
Type locality and discovery
Discovered in the 1940s by Milton W. Sanderson (University of Arkansas, Fayetteville) and Albert Miller (Tulane University). The represents an early documented case of cave-adapted in the Ozark Plateau.