Tetracha
Fleutiaux & Sallé, 1889
metallic tiger beetles
Tetracha is a of metallic in the subtribe Megacephalina, closely related to Megacephala. The genus was resurrected by Huber (1994) after nearly a century of being treated as a subgenus of Megacephala, and subsequently elevated to full generic status by Naviaux (2007). occur primarily in the Western Hemisphere from southern Mexico through Central America, northern South America, and the West Indies. Members are characterized by and activity patterns, metallic coloration, and relatively large adapted for low-light vision.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Tetracha: //ˈneɪ.vi.ə//
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Identification
Tetracha are distinguished from the related African Megacephala by geographic distribution (Western Hemisphere vs. Africa/Palearctic). They differ from other New World megacephaline genera such as Aniara, Metriocheila, and Phaeoxantha by specific combinations of morphological characters detailed in Naviaux (2007). Molecular phylogenetic analysis supports the of Tetracha, though the placement of Aniara within Tetracha renders the latter and requires further taxonomic resolution. The genus is characterized by metallic coloration, large relative to size, and / habits.
Images
Habitat
occur in diverse across the Neotropics including savanna-like environments and forest edges. Specific microhabitat preferences vary by species.
Distribution
Southern Mexico, Central America, northern South America, and the West Indies. The is restricted to the Western Hemisphere.
Behavior
are active during and periods. construct burrows in soil.
Similar Taxa
- MegacephalaAfrican/Palearctic historically conflated with Tetracha; separated by geographic distribution and supported by molecular showing distinct clades
- AniaraSouth potentially nested within Tetracha based on molecular data, though distinguished by morphological, ecological and ethological characters; taxonomic relationship remains unresolved
- MetriocheilaNew World in subtribe Megacephalina, distinguished from Tetracha by morphological characters
- PhaeoxanthaNew World in subtribe Megacephalina, distinguished from Tetracha by morphological characters