- Mecodema punctellum
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Mecodema punctellum Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Carabidae Subfamily: Broscinae Genus: Mecodema Species: M. punctellum Binomial name Mecodema punctellum
Broun, 1921Mecodema punctellum is a presumed-extinct ground beetle of the family Carabidae, endemic to Stephens Island in New Zealand.
Contents
Description
Mecodema punctellum is a large black flightless ground beetle which reached a length of 38.5 millimetres (1.52 in) and a width of 11.7 millimetres (0.46 in).
Habitat and biology
Nothing is known about its habitat, but it is assumed that it occurred in wet forests and sought shelter under large logs. It was predacious and fed from snails.
Extinction
Mecodema punctellum was last seen in 1931 and after surveys in the years 1961, 1971, 1974/5, 1976, 1981, 1990, 1996 on Stephens Island, and 1997 on D'Urville Island failed, it is now considered to be extinct. The causes for its extinction were apparently habitat destruction because there are now no large logs remaining on Stephens Island.
References and external links
- World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1996). Mecodema punctellum. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 1 May 2007.
- Fauna of New Zealand Series - Mecodema punctellum
- Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 1868-1961 - Mecodema punctellum
- Description and image
- Image
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