Paralissotes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paralissotes |
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Lucaninae
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Paralissotes
Holloway, 1996
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Paralissotes is a special group of stag beetles. These beetles are found only in New Zealand. This means they are endemic to New Zealand. They are known for their unique features that set them apart from other stag beetles.
Contents
Discovering Paralissotes Beetles
How Scientists Named This Group
Scientists first described Paralissotes in 1996. A scientist named Beverly Holloway did this important work. Before 1996, these New Zealand beetles were thought to belong to a different group. That group was called Lissotes and was mostly found in Australia.
But scientists noticed their wing covers (called elytra) looked different. So, they created the Paralissotes group just for them. Paralissotes reticulatus is a very important beetle in this group. It is the type species, which means it helps define what makes a Paralissotes beetle.
What the Name Paralissotes Means
The name Paralissotes tells us something interesting. "Para" means "close to" or "similar." "Lissotes" refers to the Lissotes group of beetles. So, the name means "similar to Lissotes." This shows how closely related, yet different, these beetles are.
Where Paralissotes Beetles Live
Their Home in New Zealand
These special stag beetles live all over New Zealand. You can find them from the Three Kings Islands in the north. They live as far south as Waimate in the South Island. They usually live in places that are less than 1000 meters high. However, you will not find any Paralissotes beetles on the Chatham Islands.
Types of Paralissotes Beetles
Different Species in the Group
There are seven different kinds of Paralissotes beetles. Each one is a unique species. Here are the currently known species:
- Paralissotes mangonuiensis (Brookes, 1927)
- Paralissotes oconnori (Holloway, 1961)
- Paralissotes planus (Broun, 1880)
- Paralissotes reticulatus (Westwood, 1844)
- Paralissotes rufipes (Sharp, 1886)
- Paralissotes stewarti (Broun, 1881)
- Paralissotes triregius (Holloway, 1963)
