Catalinus
Casey, 1897
Species Guides
1Catalinus is a of minute rove beetles ( Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae) established by Casey in 1897. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Stenichnini, a group of small beetles often associated with forest floor and microhabitats such as leaf litter and decaying wood. The genus is poorly documented in public sources, with only three observations recorded on iNaturalist as of the knowledge cutoff.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Catalinus: /kəˈtælɪnəs/
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Identification
Identification to requires examination of minute morphological characters typical of Scydmaeninae, including details of antennal structure, pronotal and elytral , and genitalia. Members of Stenichnini, including Catalinus, are distinguished from other scydmaenine tribes by features of the mesoventrite and metaventrite structure. Definitive identification generally requires taxonomic keys and microscopic examination.
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Ecological Role
As members of Scydmaeninae, in this likely function as of minute arthropods and their in soil and litter microhabitats, though this has not been specifically documented for Catalinus.
Similar Taxa
- StenichnusAlso in tribe Stenichnini; distinguished by subtle differences in body proportions, antennal club structure, and male genitalia
- CephenniumAnother in Stenichnini; differs in pronotal shape and details of elytral punctation
More Details
Taxonomic Note
Scydmaeninae, once treated as a separate (Scydmaenidae), is now widely classified as a of Staphylinidae. The tribal placement in Stenichnini follows recent phylogenetic treatments of the group.