Saprininae

Introduction

Saprininae is one of the two ‘big’ subfamilies of Histeridae (along with Histerinae). However, while the two are similar in numbers of species as well as ecological diversity, Saprininae exhibit very little morphological diversity by comparison. Such taxonomic comparisons can only be taken so far, but the contrast is interesting. Saprininae contains over 600 species in about 40 genera. While all the major continents have their own unique lineages, some genera (or groups of closely related genera), such as Hypocaccus and Saprinus are virtually cosmopolitan.

Saprininae exhibit a diverse array of habits. Many species are common dung and carrion specialists. Others specialize in various vertebrates’ nests and burrows. A few genera have become obligate myrmecophiles. Saprininae are especially diverse in sandy habitats. Some genera are restricted to inland dunes, while others are found in sandy riparian and beach habitats. Hypocaccus, mentioned above, has species on nearly all the world’s beaches.

Characteristics

Saprininae are rather uniform in appearance, showing the typical ovoid histerid body shape. But they are generally easy to identify (at least under the microscope). The prosternal lobe is usually very short and truncated in front, and the antennal clubs rest in cavities on either side of it. The antennae are never covered by laterally extended prosternal ‘alae’. Two sets of prosternal striae are nearly always present, and their varied arrangements provide diagnostic characters for most of the genera.

Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships

Phylogenetic relationships among the genera of Saprininae are in great need of attention. As is likely true throughout the Histeridae, the larger genera (Saprinus, Hypocaccus, Euspilotus) will likely be found to be paraphyletic with respect to many of the smaller.

References

Caterino, M. S., and A. P. Vogler. 2002. The phylogeny of the Histeroidea. Cladistics 18(4):394-415.

Kovarik, P. W., and M. S. Caterino. 2001. Histeridae. Pages 212-227 in American Beetles (R. H. Arnett, and M. C. Thomas, eds.). CRC Press, Boca Raton.

Kryzhanovskij, O. L., and A. N. Reichardt. 1976. Beetles of the Superfamily Histeroidea. Fauna SSSR, Novaya Seriya 111:1-432.

Mazur, S. 1991. New North America histerids. Annals of Warsaw Agricultural University - SGGW Forestry and Wood Technology 42:89-96.

Mazur, S. 1997. A world catalogue of Histeridae. Genus (Supplement):1-373.

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