Minimaphaenops is a genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, subfamily Trechinae. The genus was established by Pierre Deuve in 2000. Species of Minimaphaenops are endemic to China and are known from cave or subterranean habitats.
Taxonomic classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Adephaga
- Family: Carabidae
- Subfamily: Trechinae
- Tribe: Trechini
- Subtribe: Trechina
- Genus: Minimaphaenops Deuve, 2000
Recognized species
- Minimaphaenops lipsae Deuve, 2000 – recorded from China.
- Minimaphaenops senecali Deuve, 2016 – also recorded from China.
Distribution and habitat
Both species are known only from China. Available records indicate that they inhabit karstic cave systems, a typical environment for many troglobitic (cave-adapted) beetles in the Trechinae subfamily.
Scientific significance
The genus contributes to the diversity of the tribe Trechini, a group characterized by many highly specialized, often eyeless, subterranean beetles. Its discovery adds to the understanding of cave biodiversity in East Asia.
References
- “Minimaphaenops Deuve, 2000.” Catalogue of Life, accessed 2023.
- Lorenz, Wolfgang (2021). “Carabcat Database”. DOI: 10.48580/dfqf-3dk.
External identifiers
- Wikidata: Q6865368
- Wikispecies: Minimaphaenops
- GBIF: 4741417
- iNaturalist: 423431
This article is based on information from the Wikipedia entry for Minimaphaenops and taxonomic databases such as the Catalogue of Life and the Carabcat Database.