Pedinini
Eschscholtz, 1830
Tribe Guides
1Pedinini is a tribe of darkling beetles ( Tenebrionidae) comprising approximately 19 . Molecular evidence from Kamiński et al. (2021) supports a revised concept recognizing three subtribes: Helopinina, Leichenina, and Pedinina. The tribe has a predominantly Afrotropical distribution, with genera occurring in Southern Africa, East Africa, and Madagascar. Taxonomic revisions have been published for multiple genera including Anaxius, Tragardhus, Quadrideres, and Anchophthalmops.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Pedinini: //pɛˈdiːnɪnaɪ//
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Identification
Members of Pedinini can be distinguished from other Tenebrionidae tribes by subtribe-specific morphological characters. Within Helopinina, male and female genitalia provide diagnostic features for -level identification. Subtribe Pedinina is distinguished by characters detailed in Kamiński and Iwan (2017). Identification keys are available for multiple including Anaxius, Tragardhus, Quadrideres, Angolositus, Pseudoselinus, Lechius, and Anchophthalmops.
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Distribution
Predominantly Afrotropical, with documented occurrence in Southern Africa (South Africa, including Limpopo Province), East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania), and Madagascar. The Anaxius is restricted to Southern Africa. The genus Tragardhus occurs across the Afrotropical region. The genus Lechius is to Madagascar. The genus Kochogaster is known from Kenya.
Similar Taxa
- Other Tenebrionidae tribesPedinini is distinguished from related tribes by the subtribal classification system and associated morphological characters; molecular evidence supports its monophyly when including Helopinina and Leichenina as subtribes
More Details
Taxonomic history
The concept of Pedinini was revised by Kamiński et al. (2021) based on molecular evidence, resulting in the recognition of Helopinina, Leichenina, and Pedinina as subtribes within a single tribe rather than separate entities.
Research focus
Recent taxonomic work has emphasized morphological studies, descriptions, and distribution mapping. Ecological data including associations, diet, and remain largely undocumented in published literature.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- iNaturalist taxon
- Catalogue of Life
- Taxonomic revision of a darkling beetles genus Anaxius (Tenebrionidae: Pedinini: Helopinina)
- Catalogue and Distribution of the Subtribe Eurynotina (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini)
- Taxonomy, Distribution and Ecological Niche Models of the Afrotropical Platynotoid Platynotina (Tenebrionidae: Pedinini)
- Revision of the Malagasy genus Lechius Iwan, 1995 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini)
- Catalogue, Geographic Distribution and Ecological Niche Models of the Melanocratoid Platynotina (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini)
- Afrotropical Melambiina: revision of the genus Tragardhus Koch, 1956 and redescription of Pseudemmallus Koch, 1956 (Tenebrionidae: Pedinini)
- A taxonomic revision of the Quadrideres simplicipes species-group (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini), including description of a new species from Tanzania
- Taxonomy of the Afrotropical genera Angolositus Koch, 1955 and Pseudoselinus Iwan, 2002 with a key to species (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini)
- Taxonomy and distribution of the Afrotropical genus Anchophthalmops Koch, 1956 with a key to species (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini)
- MARCIN JAN KAMIŃSKI (2013) Taxonomy and distribution of the Afrotropical genus Anchophthalmops Koch, 1956 with a key to species (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini). Zootaxa, 3709(6): 501–523.
- Taxonomy of the genus <i>Kochogaster</i> Kamiński et Raś, 2011 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini), with description of a second known species