Quasimodopsis
Quasimodopsis riedeli
Michael S. Caterino
Introduction
Quasimodopsis is a bizarre chlamydopsine genus, known only from a single species, Q. riedeli, and a couple of specimens from New Guinea. No specimens have been collected from any host colonies, so it is only speculatively considered a myrmecophile. The genus was named for its 'humpbacked' appearance, with its highly elevated humeral trichomes, to refer to Victor Hugo's famed 'Hunchback of Notre Dame'.
Quasimodopsis riedeli is phylogenetically isolated among Chlamydopsinae. While recent analyses place it at the base of a large clade of taxa with a reduced or hidden scutellum, it is not closely related to any of these (Caterino & Dégallier, 2007).
Characteristics
Quasimodopsis riedeli exhibits many unusual characteristics. Its pronotum is nearly diamond-shaped, with a prolonged posterior angle hiding the scutellum, and its elevated, oblique sides nearly meeting in front. The trichomes rise high above the prothorax, forming deep transverse incisions, with setae on front and rear edges.
References
Caterino. M. S. and Dégallier, N. 2007. A review of the biology and systematics of Chlamydopsinae. Invertebrate Systematics 21:1-28.
Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Quasimodopsis riedeli |
|---|---|
| Specimen Condition | Dead Specimen |
| Identified By | Michael S. Caterino |
| Image Use |
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| Scientific Name | Quasimodopsis riedeli |
|---|---|
| Specimen Condition | Dead Specimen |
| Identified By | Michael S. Caterino |
| Collection | The Natural History Museum, London |
| Type | Holotype |
| Image Use |
This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License - Version 3.0.
|
| Copyright |
©
|
About This Page
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara, California, USA
Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Michael S. Caterino at
Page copyright © 2007
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Quasimodopsis . Quasimodopsis riedeli .
Authored by
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- First online 15 July 2007
- Content changed 15 July 2007
Citing this page:
Caterino, Michael S. 2007. Quasimodopsis . Quasimodopsis riedeli . Version 15 July 2007 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Quasimodopsis_riedeli/107417/2007.07.15 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
