Anapleus
Horn, 1873
clown beetles
Species Guides
1- Anapleus marginatus(clown beetle)
Anapleus is a of clown beetles in the Histeridae, comprising approximately 16 described extant . The genus was first described by Horn in 1873 and has been documented from the mid-Cretaceous period (ca. 99 Ma) through fossil specimens in Kachin amber, indicating an ancient origin. Extant species are distributed across Europe, Asia, North America, and Central America. The genus is characterized by an ovate body form, which has been hypothesized to represent a basal lineage within Histeridae.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Anapleus: //ˌænəˈpliːəs//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Habitat
Extant occupy diverse terrestrial environments across temperate and tropical regions; fossil evidence from Cretaceous Kachin amber indicates mid-Cretaceous forest in what is now northern Myanmar.
Distribution
Extant: Europe, Asia, North America, and Central America. Fossil: Hukawng Valley, northern Myanmar (26°21′33.41″ N, 96°43′11.88″ E).
More Details
Fossil Record
The first fossil record of Anapleus, A. kachinensis, was described from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber (ca. 99 Ma). The fossil exhibits plesiomorphic characteristics not present in extant , including distinct protibial spurs and prominent spines on outer tibial margins. This discovery supports hypotheses that ovate-bodied histerid beetles represent basal lineages in the .
Taxonomic History
The was established by Horn in 1873 and is classified in the tribe Anapleini within Dendrophilinae.