Stenophrixothrix
Wittmer, 1963
railroad-worm
Stenophrixothrix is a of railroad- () established by Wittmer in 1963. in this genus exhibit distinctive : males produce light, while possess multiple photophores including lanterns emitting yellow light and a cephalic lantern producing yellow to orange light. The genus has been documented in secondary growth forests in São Paulo, Brazil, where molecular analysis has confirmed the association between larval and adult stages.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Stenophrixothrix: //stɛ.noʊˈfrɪk.səˌθrɪks//
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Identification
Distinguished from other phengodid by the specific arrangement of larval photophores: lanterns along the body combined with a single small cephalic lantern. Molecular confirmation (mitochondrial 16S marker) required to definitively associate with due to the difficulty of rearing these .
Habitat
Secondary growth forests; transition zones between Atlantic rainforest and Cerrado vegetation in São Paulo state, Brazil.
Distribution
São Paulo state, Brazil; specifically documented from the campus of Sorocaba of the Universidade Federal de São Carlos and other locations in the Atlantic rainforest-Cerrado transition zone. GBIF records indicate presence in Colombia.
Behavior
males attracted to light traps. Larval displays color variation in the cephalic lantern depending on angle of observation.
Similar Taxa
- PhrixothrixAnother phengodid occurring in Brazil; distinguished by different patterns and larval photophore arrangements.
More Details
Bioluminescence mechanism
analysis of spectra from and cephalic lanterns overlap, suggesting presence of a single luciferase . The observed color difference in the cephalic lantern is attributed to physical filtering by the rather than different biochemical .
Molecular taxonomy
Mitochondrial 16S marker used to confirm conspecificity of and , addressing the general difficulty in associating phengodid due to rearing challenges.