Ektatotricha

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Ektatotricha
Temporal range: Late Aptian to Early Cenomanian
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Staphylinidae
Genus: †Ektatotricha
Chatzimanolis, Engel & Newton, 2010
Species:
†E. paradoxa
Binomial name
†Ektatotricha paradoxa
Chatzimanolis, Engel & Newton, 2010

Ektatotricha is an extinct,

Staphylinidae containing the single species Ektatotricha paradoxa.[1]

The genus is known from a total of 15 specimens in

Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. In addition to the holotype and 12 paratypes, two other American Museum of Natural History specimens were examined as part of the study; however, they were not designated as type material.[1]

Background

The known Ektatotricha specimens were first studied by Drs

Field Museum.[1] Chatzimanolis, Engel and Newton published the 2010 type description for E. paradoxa in the journal Cretaceous Research
, Volume 31.

The genus name is a feminine combination of the Greek ektatos, meaning "extended", which refers to the visible fifth and sixth abdominal sterna, and tricha meaning "hair". The species name paradoxa is from the Greek paradoxon, meaning "riddle".[1]

Description

The beetles are small, being between 0.65 to 0.85 millimetres (0.026 to 0.033 in) long. Their bodies are brown to reddish brown in color and have a dense covering of hairs which are notably long. Because the fifth and sixth abdominal sterna are extended, and thus visible, the genus has been placed in the

Scydmaeninae, supertribe Hapsomelitae
.

Ektatotricha differs from the other member of the supertribe,

maxillary palpi which are almost equal in length, a different antenna shape, and by the depth of the punctures on the fore wings. Like Hapsomela, the protibia of Ektatotricha have a well-developed hook, which may have been used in mating or male-male combat between rivals. It has also been suggested that the hooks may have been used to capture prey.[1]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2009.09.009
    .
  2. S2CID 83598305. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 2013-04-23. Retrieved 2014-09-01.
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