Thyreocephalus arizonicus
Smetana, 1982
Thyreocephalus arizonicus is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Xantholinini) described by Smetana in 1982 from Arizona, USA. It belongs to the 'puncticeps' group, a cluster of five closely related Mexican species characterized by shared morphological features. The species was first recorded from Mexico in 2016, with specimens documented from Estado de México, Jalisco, and Morelos. As with other members of its , it is a small to medium-sized staphylinid with the characteristic short exposing most of the .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Thyreocephalus arizonicus: /ˌθaɪrioʊˈsɛfələs ˌærɪˈzoʊnɪkəs/
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Identification
Member of the 'puncticeps' group within Thyreocephalus; precise identification requires examination of diagnostic structures including male genitalia and punctation patterns on the and pronotum. Distinguished from other Thyreocephalus species by characters detailed in the species group , including specific patterns of punctation on the head. Formal identification relies on the taxonomic key and illustrations provided in Smetana's revision.
Images
Distribution
Arizona, USA (type locality); Mexico: Estado de México, Jalisco, and Morelos (first records from 2016).
Similar Taxa
- Thyreocephalus dugesiProposed as a possible junior synonym of T. scutellaris; belongs to the same 'puncticeps' group and requires careful comparison of to distinguish
- Thyreocephalus scutellarisType of the 'puncticeps' species group; T. dugesi may be synonymous with this species, indicating close morphological similarity to T. arizonicus
- Other 'puncticeps' species group membersFive closely related share diagnostic features; precise identification requires detailed examination of punctation patterns and male genitalia
More Details
Taxonomic History
First described from Arizona in 1982. The 2016 taxonomic revision of Mexican Thyreocephalus represented the first records of this from Mexico, extending its known range southward into three central Mexican states.
Species Group Affiliation
Placed in the 'puncticeps' group, which was formally recognized and proposed in the 2016 revision. This group contains five closely related Mexican species sharing derived morphological characteristics.