Carabidae Conjunctae
David R. Maddison


This tree diagram shows the relationships between several groups of organisms.
The root of the current tree connects the organisms featured in this tree to their containing group and the rest of the Tree of Life. The basal branching point in the tree represents the ancestor of the other groups in the tree. This ancestor diversified over time into several descendent subgroups, which are represented as internal nodes and terminal taxa to the right.

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close boxCharacteristics
This informal group of carabids is characterized by a derived feature of their middle coxal cavities, in which the mesosternum and metasternum surround the mesocoxae, forming both the mesal and lateral walls of the coxae. Such mesocoxal cavities are called "conjunct", and they give this group its name. In contrast, most carabids outside of this group have disjunct mesocoxal cavities, in which the the lateral wall of the cavity is formed in part by the mesepimeron (the sterna thus being disjunct on the lateral wall of the cavity). Outside of the Carabidae Conjunctae, the only carabids with conjunct mesocoxal cavities are the Notiophilini and some Paussini (Kavanaugh and Nègre, 1982; Beutel, 1991).In addition, the posterior edge of the metepimeron of these carabids is lobed, and partly overlaps the first visible abdominal sternum.
References
Maddison, D.R., M.D. Baker, and K.A. Ober. 1999. Phylogeny of carabid beetles as inferred from 18S ribosomal DNA (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Systematic Entomology, 24:103-138.
Title Illustrations
From left to right:
- Zacotus matthewsii (Broscini). U.S.A.: Washington.
- Nomius pygmaeus (Psydrini, Psydritae). U.S.A.: Oklahoma.
- Bembidion inaequale (Bembidiini). Canada: Alberta.
- Lebia bivittata (Lebiini, Harpalinae). U.S.A.: Arizona.
Scientific Name | Bembidion confusum |
---|---|
Location | USA: Iowa: Manchester |
Specimen Condition | Dead Specimen |
Copyright | © 2004 David R. Maddison |
About This Page
David R. Maddison
Department of Entomology
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721
Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to David R. Maddison at
Page copyright © 1995 David R. Maddison
Citing this page:
Maddison, David R. 1995. Carabidae Conjunctae. Version 01 January 1995 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Carabidae_Conjunctae/66/1995.01.01 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/