Aphaniosoma

Becker, 1903

Aphaniosoma is a of small in the , established by Becker in 1903. The genus is particularly diverse in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, with recent taxonomic work describing 19 new from this region. Species-level identification relies on detailed examination of male and other subtle morphological characters.

Aphaniosoma 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 Aphaniosoma: //əˌfæniəˈsoʊmə//

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Identification

Identification to requires microscopic examination of male terminalia; the is distinguished from other by a combination of and genitalic characters detailed in taxonomic . The four species described by Collin from Egypt (A. creperum, A. fissum, A. lamellatum, A. sodalis) and the 19 recently described species from the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East are differentiated primarily by male genitalic structure.

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Distribution

Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, including Egypt. The has been documented across this region with particular concentration of in Egypt and the Levant.

Similar Taxa

  • Other Chyromyidae generaAphaniosoma is distinguished from related by genitalic and chaetotaxic characters; accurate separation requires reference to specialized taxonomic .

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