Author: Eugenio Hernán Nearns

Publisher:

Published: 2006

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

ABSTRACT: A revision and phylogenetic analysis of the tribe Curiini LeConte, 1873 is presented. A phylogenetic analysis of Curiini employing 31 ingroup taxa, 5 outgroup taxa, and 42 morphological characters was conducted. Results suggest that the tribe is paraphyletic with respect to the outgroup taxa chosen. The genus Curius is monophyletic and strongly supported by 7 synapomorphies. The genus Plectromerus is paraphyletic and strongly supported by 6 synapomorphies. Results of this analysis suggest that Curiosa dominicana Micheli, 1983 is a highly derived Plectromerus, therefore, Plectromerus dominicanus (Micheli, 1983), new combination, is proposed. Eight new species of Plectromerus are described and illustrated: Plectromerus new species 1 from Nicaragua, Plectromerus new species 2 from Guatemala, Plectromerus new species 3 from Costa Rica and Honduras, Plectromerus new species 4 and Plectromerus new species 8 from Dominican Republic, Plectromerus new species 5 from Haiti, Plectromerus new species 6 from Cayman Islands, and Plectromerus new species 7 from Panama. The following new synonymies are proposed: Plectromerus costatus Cazier & Lacey, 1952 = Plectromerus dentipes (Olivier, 1790), and Plectromerus crenulatus Cazier, 1952 = Plectromerus distinctus (Cameron, 1910). Diagnoses of all known curiine species are presented with notes on distribution, diversity, and relationships. New country records are reported for P. dentipes; P. exis Zayas, 1975; P. fasciatus (Gahan, 1895); P. pumilus Cazier & Lacey, 1952; and P. wappesi Giesbert, 1985. Keys to the tribe as well as the four species of Curius and 27 species of Plectromerus are presented. A biogeographic analysis based on the results of a phylogenetic analysis of the tribe suggests that more basal species of Curius and Plectromerus are of Antillean distribution while more derived taxa are of Antillean, Central American, and South American distribution.