Spintherophyta exigua
Schultz, 1976
A small in the , described by Schultz in 1976. As a member of the Spintherophyta, it belongs to a group with much higher diversity in the Neotropics compared to North America. The epithet 'exigua' suggests small size, consistent with the genus's characteristic diminutive stature.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Spintherophyta exigua: //spɪnˌθɛroʊˈfaɪtə ɛɡˈziːwə//
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Distribution
North America (present, based on GBIF records). Specific range details within North America are not documented in available sources.
Similar Taxa
- Spintherophyta globosaThe only widespread and commonly encountered Spintherophyta in North America; S. exigua likely overlaps in range and shares the 's characteristic globular body form
- Spintherophyta cupricollisOne of only two Spintherophyta listed for Argentina by Blackwelder (1946); may share coppery pronotal coloration that could cause confusion if specimens are misassigned geographically
More Details
Taxonomic context
The Spintherophyta contains only four in North America, but explodes to 71 species in the Neotropics according to Blackwelder (1946). This disparity makes identification of individual species challenging without examination. The Eumolpinae, to which this genus belongs, contains generally smaller globular species compared to the more familiar Chrysomelinae.
Identification challenges
Field identification to level within Spintherophyta is considered difficult. As noted by Shawn Clark and Ed Riley, even determining specimens to can require careful consideration of characters, with Eumolpinae species being 'usually much smaller than those in the Chrysomelinae.'