Leptodirus hochenwartii
| Leptodirus hochenwartii | |
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Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Family: | Leiodidae |
| Genus: | Leptodirus |
| Species: | L. hochenwartii |
| Binomial name | |
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Leptodirus hochenwartii Schmidt, 1832 |
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Leptodirus hochenwartii, or L. hohenwarti, is a cave beetle in the family Leiodidae and the only species in the genus Leptodirus. It is a true troglobite, adapted to the life underground and unable to survive outside. Its distinguishing features are slender thorax, elongated legs and antennae, the absence of pigment in the integument, and completely reduced eyes. But perhaps the most striking feature are the domed elytrae which cover the abdomen completely and give it a round (so-called "physogastric") appearance.
It lives predominantly in large caves where the temperature does not exceed 12 °C. Its ecology is largely unknown, but the specimens were seen feeding on carcasses of different cave animals and other organic material. Even less is known about its life history; the only study done so far determined that it reproduces and grows slowly. Females lay a small number of relatively large eggs which take a long time to develop. The number of larval instars is reduced to only one, and the larvae do not feed before moulting.
L. hochenwartii is endemic to western Dinaric Alps. Six subspecies are currently recognized:
Of those, three are found in Slovenia, and the others are found in Croatia. The southernmost known location is Velebit range in Croatia where subspecies L. h. velebiticus was described, and subspecies L. h. reticulatus was originally found in Grota Noe near Trieste (Italy). The exact status of several subspecies and forms is problematic to determine because specimens can differ significantly in physical characteristics even within the same population.
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Wikipedia