Trogloderus

LeConte, 1879

Trogloderus is a of psammophilic (: ) to dunes and sandy in the western United States. The genus comprises ten described , including six new species described in 2019 from desert regions across the Intermountain Region. Molecular phylogenetic analysis dates the most recent common ancestor to 5.2 million years ago, with speciation driven by geographic features of the Lahontan Trough, Bouse Embayment, and Kaibab Plateau during the mid-Pleistocene.

Trogloderus arcanus by (c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger. Used under a CC-BY license.

Trogloderus arcanus by (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Trogloderus: /ˌtroʊɡloʊˈdɛrəs/

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Images

Habitat

Strictly psammophilic; restricted to dunes and sandy in arid regions. Occupies desert sand dune systems including active and stabilized dunes, sandy flats, and sandy washes within pinyon-juniper woodland, shortgrass prairie, and desert scrub .

Distribution

to the Intermountain Region of western North America, encompassing arid lands between the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada. Ranges across the Great Basin and Mojave Desert to the west and the Colorado Plateau to the east. Specific biogeographic regions include: Lahontan Trough (T. arcanus), Owens Valley (T. kandai), Mohave Desert (T. major), eastern Great Basin and Mohave Desert (T. skillmani), eastern Colorado Plateau (T. verpus), and western Colorado Plateau (T. warneri). Also includes T. costatus, T. tuberculatus, T. nevadus, and T. vandykei.

Behavior

Nocturnally active; has been observed attracted to incandescent building lights at night.