Xerolinus
Ivie & Hart, 2016
Species Guides
2Xerolinus is a of darkling beetles in the Tenebrionidae, subtribe Opatrina. Established in 2016 by Ivie and Hart, it comprises approximately thirty distributed across the West Indies and southern Florida. Most species are to single islands or island groups corresponding to Pleistocene-era landmasses.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Xerolinus: /ksɛɹoʊˈlaɪnəs/
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Identification
Xerolinus were historically classified under Diastolinus; the was separated based on taxonomic revision rather than obvious external differences. Species-level identification requires examination of genitalia and other morphological details. The genus is distinguished from Diastolinus by phylogenetic and genitalic characters established by Ivie and Hart (2016).
Habitat
Xerolinus inhabit dry, arid environments, as reflected in the name (from Greek xērós, "dry, arid"). They are found in xeric of the West Indies, including islands of the Lucayan Archipelago, Greater Antilles, and British Virgin Islands.
Distribution
Southern Florida and the West Indies, including the Lucayan Archipelago, Greater Antilles, and British Virgin Islands. The eastern extreme of the range is Great Camanoe. The majority of described occur in the Cuban archipelago.
Similar Taxa
- DiastolinusXerolinus were formerly classified in Diastolinus; the two share morphological similarity and overlapping geographic ranges, requiring genitalic examination for reliable separation.
More Details
Taxonomic composition
The was erected with 29 transferred primarily from Diastolinus, with two additional species described in 2016. X. sallei (originally described as Diastolinus sallei by Mulsant and Rey in 1859) was designated as type species. As of 2018, 31 species are recognized, with additional undescribed species known from the Bahamas and other islands.
Endemism patterns
Most Xerolinus exhibit strong island , restricted to single islands or island groups that correspond to single Pleistocene islands. This pattern suggests vicariance-driven speciation associated with sea level changes.