Subfamily Deltocephalinae: Tribe Goniagnathini
Goniagnathus osmelaki Fletcher
Goniagnathus centralis (Evans)
This tribe was only recently recognised in Australia (Fletcher & Zahniser 2008) although the first Australian species was described, in the genus Deltocephalus Burmeister, by Evans (1966). The five Australian species are all short and dumpy in outline, often brachypterous, with the head short, broad and roundly continuous with the face. Diagnostic features include the fore tibial spination with rows of 3 and 4 spines on the anterior (outer) face and the complete fusion of the subgenital plates. The parameres are divided into two sections, a heavily sclerotised and sculptured anterior section and a basal section which forms a strut between the base of the aedeagus (to which the reduced connective is fused) and the pygofer.
The Goniagnathini are principally associated with more arid regions of the country. Linnavuori (1978b) noted that the group is widespread within the semidesert, steppe and savannah regions of the Old World. Most species of the tribe are placed in the genus Goniagnathus Fieber and are distributed across the Palaearctic region from western Europe to Japan, northern and South Africa, the western Oriental Region (India and Sri Lanka) and Australia.
Species of Tribe Goniagnathini known to occur in Australia
Genus Goniagnathus FieberGoniagnathus Fieber 1866: 506 |
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Goniagnathus centralis (Evans) Deltocephalus centralis Evans 1966:
242 Note: The female holotype and a paratype lacking an abdomen are mounted together. The holotype has been indicated, presumably by the original author, by red markings as shown in the second image provided here. The record from WA is based on specimens from near Kalgoorlie from M.L. Moir's collection. There is variation in the colouring of the species across its range (see images). The distribution of the species appears to include most of outback Australia and it presumably also occurs in inland South Australia. [update: 12.xi.2008] |
NT, NSW,
Vic,
WA [update: WA added 12.xi.2008]. |
Goniagnathus crocodontis Fletcher [update: added 1.ii.2008] Goniagnathus crocodontis Fletcher, in Fletcher & Zahniser 2008: 50 |
NT |
Goniagnathus osmelaki Fletcher [update: added 1.ii.2008] Goniagnathus osmelaki Fletcher, in Fletcher & Zahniser 2008: 45 |
Qld, NSW, Vic, SA |
Goniagnathus pectinatus Fletcher [update: added 1.ii.2008] Goniagnathus pectinatus Fletcher, in Fletcher & Zahniser 2008: 51 |
Qld, Vic |
Goniagnathus venenensis Fletcher [update: added 1.ii.2008] Goniagnathus venenensis Fletcher, in Fletcher & Zahniser 2008: 50 |
NSW, Qld, Tas |