Lyrosoma opacum

Mannerheim, 1853

Lyrosoma opacum is a of in the Agyrtidae. It occurs across a broad circumpolar distribution, including coastal Alaska, the Russian Far East, and Japan. The species inhabits cold, coastal environments and has been recorded from island archipelagos in the North Pacific.

Lyrosoma opacum (4433477124) by D. Sikes from Fairbanks, USA. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.Lyrosoma opacum Jacobson by Georgiy Jacobson. Used under a Public domain license.Breeding Lyrosoma opacum on bird carcass (4433477856) by D. Sikes from Fairbanks, USA. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Lyrosoma opacum: /lɪˈroʊsəmə oʊˈpækəm/

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Identification

Member of the small Agyrtidae, distinguished from other carrion beetles (Silphidae) by reduced and other primitive morphological features. Specific diagnostic features for L. opacum are not documented in available sources.

Images

Habitat

Coastal and insular environments in high-latitude regions. Recorded from the Aleutian Islands, Pribilof Islands, Kodiak Island, Afognak Island, Chirikof Island, Kuril Islands, Kamchatka Peninsula, and Commander Islands.

Distribution

Circumpolar distribution in the North Pacific region: USA (Alaska: Aleutian Islands, Pribilof Islands, Kodiak Island, Afognak Island, Chirikof Island); Russia (Far East: Kuril Islands, Kamchatka Peninsula, Commander Islands); Japan (Hokkaido).

Similar Taxa

  • SilphidaeAgyrtidae were historically classified within Silphidae; L. opacum can be distinguished as a member of the more primitive Agyrtidae based on morphological characters including reduced .

More Details

Taxonomic history

Agyrtidae is a small of primitive carrion beetles, sometimes treated as a of Silphidae in older classifications. Lyrosoma opacum is one of few in this relictual group.

Sources and further reading