Mecodema punctellum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mecodema punctellum |
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Broscinae
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M. punctellum
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| Mecodema punctellum Broun, 1921
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Mecodema punctellum was a special type of ground beetle. It belonged to the Carabidae family. This beetle was only found on Stephens Island in New Zealand. Sadly, scientists believe it is now extinct, meaning it no longer exists anywhere in the world.
What it Looked Like
The Mecodema punctellum was a big, black beetle. It couldn't fly, so it stayed on the ground. This beetle could grow to be about 38.5 millimeters long. That's almost 4 centimeters, or about 1.5 inches! It was also about 11.7 millimeters wide, which is a bit over 1 centimeter.
Where it Lived and What it Did
Scientists don't know much about the exact home of the Mecodema punctellum. However, they think it probably lived in wet forests. It likely found shelter and hid under large, fallen logs. This beetle was a predator, which means it hunted and ate other creatures. Its favorite food was snails.
Why it Disappeared
The Mecodema punctellum was last seen in 1931. After that, many searches were done on Stephens Island in the years 1961, 1971, 1974/5, 1976, 1981, 1990, and 1996. Another search happened on D'Urville Island in 1997. All these searches failed to find any of these beetles. Because of this, it is now thought to be extinct.
The main reason for its disappearance was probably habitat destruction. This means its natural home was destroyed. When the forests on Stephens Island were cleared, there were no longer any large logs left. These logs were important for the beetle to live and hide under. Without its habitat, the Mecodema punctellum could not survive.
