Indomalayan-diversity
Guides
Aulacothorax
Aulacothorax is a genus of leaf beetles comprising 51 described species distributed worldwide, with the highest diversity in the Indomalayan realm. The genus was historically misclassified among flea beetles (Alticini) due to superficially similar enlarged hind femora, but lacks the metafemoral spring that enables jumping. A 2023 phylogenetic study established its placement in the distinct tribe Serraticollini. The genus name dates to 1858, though the original type species was later reassigned, resulting in the synonymy of Orthaltica with Aulacothorax in 2017.