The Mordellidae are a

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

beetle Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...

s commonly known as tumbling flower beetles for the typical irregular movements they make when escaping

predator Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill th ...

s, or as pintail beetles due to their

abdominal The abdomen (colloquially called the belly, tummy, midriff, tucky or stomach) is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the torso ...

tip which aids them in performing these tumbling movements. Worldwide, there are about 1500

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

Anatomy

The apparently tumbling movements are composed of a series of very rapid separate jumps (each jump of a duration of approximately 80 ms). They result from the beetle's efforts to get itself back into take-off position for flight when it has been in either lateral or dorsal position. Each individual jump should be considered as an extended rotation, performed by one leg of the third leg pair (metapodium). Depending on whether the left or the right metapodium is used as the leg that provides the leverage for take-off, change occurs in the direction of the jump. The energy for propulsion varies with the beetle's immediate muscle work, so that jump lengths and heights vary, with rotation frequencies recorded up to 48 per second (''Mordellochroa abdominalis'') around the gravitation centre of the body's longitudinal axis. Additional revolving around the transverse axis (at lower frequency) effects spiralling somersaults that are perceived as tumbling. The pintail (pygidium) is of no significance for the jump. While the pintail is no significance for the jump, meta-trochanter-femur (thighs and surrounding rings of the third leg pair)has a great capacity of free rotation (up to 270 degrees, at one level only). This capacity is due to a screw joint that connects the base of metacoxa to the head of trochanter. The nut gradient is 21 degrees (as seen under a scanning electron microscopy SEM, 1985). Technically similar jumps, though less powerful, can be observed in family

Melandryidae Melandryidae is a family of beetles in the superfamily Tenebrionoidea. Members of the family are found worldwide, with around 420 species in 60 genera. Larvae and adults are generally associated with rotting wood and wood-decomposing fungi. Ge ...

(=Serropalpidae) (genus ''Orchesia'') and family Scraptiidae (genus ''Anaspis''). Their coxa-trochanter-joints are of similar structure. It can be assumed that the capacity of a tumbling form of locomotion is rooted in a common phylogeny and can therefore not be ascribed specifically to Mordellidae. Meanwhile, other authors have also pointed out the speciality of the real screw joint in nature. (2011) The weevil of the genus '' Trigonopterus'', Curculionidae in the Asian tropical rainforest, for example, has an even tighter connective construction in the Coxa -Trochanter joint than is found in Mordellidae. This construction, however, does not facilitate an equally high angular velocity of the torque. The joint here serves to provide a better grip on plants and easier climbing.

Systematics

This family has two living subfamilies – Mordellinae and Ctenidiinae – and a prehistoric one known only from

fossil A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved ...

s ( Praemordellinae). Another fossil genus, '' Liaoximordella'', was previously treated as distinct

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispe ...

family Liaoximordellidae, but is now regarded as very primitive and probably basal member of the Mordellidae. FAMILY Mordellidae Latreille, 1802 * Subfamily Ctenidiinae Franciscolo, 1951 ** '' Ctenidia'' Laporte de Castelnau in Brullé, 1840 * Subfamily Mordellinae Latreille, 1802 ** †'' Angimordella'' Bao et al. 2019

Burmese amber Burmese amber, also known as Burmite or Kachin amber, is amber from the Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar. The amber is dated to around 100 million years ago, during the latest Albian to earliest Cenomanian ages of the mid-Cretaceous period. The ...

, Myanmar, Cenomanian **Tribe Conaliini Ermisch, 1956 *** '' Conalia'' Mulsant & Rey, 1858 *** '' Conaliamorpha'' Ermisch, 1968 *** '' Glipodes'' LeConte, 1862 *** '' Isotrilophus'' Liljeblad, 1945 *** '' Ophthalmoconalia'' Ermisch, 1968 *** '' Paraconalia'' Ermisch, 1968 *** '' Pseudoconalia'' Ermisch, 1950 *** '' Stenoconalia'' Ermisch, 1967 *** '' Xanthoconalia'' Franciscolo, 1942 ** Tribe Mordellini Siedlitz, 1875 *** '' Adelptes'' Franciscolo, 1965 *** ''† Asiamordella'' Hong, 2002 Fushun amber, China,

Ypresian In the geologic timescale the Ypresian is the oldest age or lowest stratigraphic stage of the Eocene. It spans the time between , is preceded by the Thanetian Age (part of the Paleocene) and is followed by the Eocene Lutetian Age. The Ypresian ...

*** '' Austromordella'' Ermisch, 1950 *** '' Binaghia'' Franciscolo, 1943 *** '' Boatia'' Franciscolo, 1985 *** '' Caffromorda'' Franciscolo, 1952 *** '' Calycina'' Blair, 1922 *** '' Cephaloglipa'' Franciscolo, 1952 *** '' Congomorda'' Ermisch, 1955 *** '' Cothurus''

Champion A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, a ...

, 1891 *** '' Curtimorda'' Méquignon, 1946 *** '' Glipa'' LeConte, 1859 *** '' Glipidiomorpha'' Franciscolo, 1952 *** '' Hoshihananomia'' Kônô, 1935 *** '' Iberomorda'' Méquignon, 1946 *** '' Ideorhipistena'' Franciscolo, 2000 *** '' Klapperichimorda'' Ermisch, 1968 *** '' Larinomorda'' Ermisch, 1968 *** '' Machairophora'' Franciscolo, 1943 *** '' Macrotomoxia'' Píc, 1922 *** '' Mordella''

Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...

, 1758 *** '' Mordellina'' Schilsky, 1908 *** '' Mordellapygium'' Ray, 1930 *** '' Mordellaria'' Ermisch, 1950 *** '' Mordelloides'' Ray, 1939 *** '' Mordellopalpus'' Franciscolo, 1955 *** '' Neocurtimorda'' Franciscolo, 1950 *** '' Neotomoxia'' Ermisch, 1950 *** '' Ophthalmoglipa'' Franciscolo, 1952 *** '' Paramordella'' Píc, 1936 *** '' Paramordellana'' Ermisch, 1968 *** '' Paramordellaria'' Ermisch, 1968 *** '' Paraphungia'' Ermisch, 1969 *** '' Parastenomordella'' Ermisch, 1950 *** '' Paratomoxia'' Ermisch, 1950 *** '' Paratomoxioda'' Ermisch, 1954 *** '' Phungia'' Píc, 1922 *** '' Plesitomoxia'' Ermisch, 1955 *** '' Praemordella'' Shchegoleva-Barovskaya, 1929 *** '' Pseudomordellaria'' Ermisch, 1950 *** '' Pseudotomoxia'' Ermisch, 1950 *** '' Sphaeromorda'' Franciscolo, 1950 *** '' Stenaliamorda'' Ermisch & Chûjô, 1968 *** '' Stenomorda'' Ermisch, 1950 *** '' Stenomordella'' Ermisch, 1941 *** '' Stenomordellaria'' Ermisch, 1950 *** '' Stenomordellariodes'' Ermisch, 1954 *** ''† Succimorda'' Kubisz, 2001

Baltic amber The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic amber or succinite. It was produced sometime during the Eocene epoch, but exactly when is controversial. It has been estimated that these forests created more than ...

, Eocene *** '' Tolidomordella'' Ermisch, 1950 *** '' Tolidomoxia'' Ermisch, 1950 *** '' Tomoxia'' Costa, 1854 *** '' Tomoxioda'' Ermisch, 1950 *** '' Trichotomoxia'' Franciscolo, 1950 *** '' Variimorda'' Méquignon, 1946 *** '' Wittmerimorda'' Franciscolo, 1952 *** '' Yakuhananomia'' Kônô, 1935 *** '' Zeamordella'' Broun, 1886 ** Tribe Mordellistenini Ermisch, 1941 *** '' Asiatolida'' Shiyake, 2000 *** '' Calyce''

, 1891 *** '' Calycemorda'' Ermisch, 1969 *** '' Calyceoidea'' Ermisch, 1969 *** '' Dellamora'' Normand, 1916 *** '' Diversimorda'' Ermisch, 1969 *** '' Ermischiella'' Franciscolo, 1950 *** '' Fahraeusiella'' Ermisch, 1953 *** '' Falsomordellina'' Nomura, 1966 *** '' Falsomordellistena'' Ermisch, 1941 *** '' Falsopseudomoxia'' Franciscolo, 1965 *** '' Glipostena'' Ermisch, 1941 *** '' Glipostenoda'' Ermisch, 1950 *** '' Gymnostena'' Franciscolo, 1950 *** '' Mordellina'' Schilsky, 1908 *** '' Mordellistena'' Costa, 1854 *** '' Mordellistenalia'' Ermisch, 1958 *** '' Mordellistenochroa'' Horák, 1982 *** '' Mordellistenoda'' Ermisch, 1941 *** '' Mordellistenula'' Stchegoleva-Barowskaja, 1930 *** '' Mordellochroa'' Emery, 1876 *** '' Mordellochroidea'' Ermisch, 1969 *** '' Mordelloxena'' Franciscolo, 1950 *** '' Morphomordellochroa'' Ermisch, 1969 *** '' Neomordellistena'' Ermisch, 1950 *** '' Palmorda'' Ermisch, 1969 *** '' Palpomorda'' Ermisch, 1969 *** '' Paramordellistena'' Ermisch, 1950 *** '' Phunginus'' Píc, 1922 *** '' Pselaphokentron'' Franciscolo, 1955 *** '' Pseudodellamora'' Ermisch, 1942 *** '' Pseudotolida'' Ermisch, 1950 *** '' Raymordella'' Franciscolo, 1956 *** '' Tolida'' Mulsant, 1856 *** '' Tolidopalpus'' Ermisch, 1951 *** '' Tolidostena'' Ermisch, 1942 *** '' Uhligia'' Horák, 1990 *** '' Xanthomorda'' Ermisch, 1968 ** Tribe Reynoldsiellini Franciscolo, 1957 *** '' Reynoldsiella'' Ray, 1930 ** Tribe Stenaliini Franciscolo, 1956 *** '' Brodskyella'' Horák, 1989 *** '' Pselaphostena'' Franciscolo, 1950 *** '' Stenalia'' Mulsant, 1856 *** '' Stenaliodes'' Franciscolo, 1956 *†Subfamily Praemordellinae Shchegoleva-Barovskaya 1929 **†'' Bellimordella'' Liu et al. 2008

Yixian Formation The Yixian Formation (; formerly transcribed as Yihsien Formation) is a geological formation in Jinzhou, Liaoning, People's Republic of China, that spans the late Barremian and early Aptian stages of the Early Cretaceous. It is known for its exq ...

, China, Aptian **†'' Cretanaspis'' Huang and Yang 1999 Lushangfen Formation, China, Aptian **†'' Mirimordella'' Liu et al. 2007 Yixian Formation, China, Aptian **†'' Praemordella'' Shchegoleva-Barovskaya 1929

Karabastau Formation The Karabastau Formation ( kk, Qarabastaý svıtasy) is a geological formation and lagerstätte in the Karatau Mountains of southern Kazakhstan whose strata date to the Middle to Late Jurassic. It is an important locality for insect fossils that ...

, Kazakhstan, Oxfordian **†'' Wuhua'' Wang and Zhang 2011 Daohugou, China,

Callovian In the geologic timescale, the Callovian is an age and stage in the Middle Jurassic, lasting between 166.1 ± 4.0 Ma (million years ago) and 163.5 ± 4.0 Ma. It is the last stage of the Middle Jurassic, following the Bathonian and preceding the ...

References

External links

Nomen.at
{{Taxonbar, from=Q609477 Polyphaga families