Description of a Highly Modified Endemic Ground Beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from the Oceanic Island of Malpelo, Colombia

Researchers have identified Dyscolus (Cacothrix) malpelensis, a highly modified endemic ground beetle from Malpelo Island, Colombia—a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its extreme environmental conditions. This new species exhibits unique adaptations, such as tight coaptation of its elytra and pronotum, likely evolved in response to predation pressures from lizards and land crabs, as well as the island's lack of deep soil. The study describes these morphological traits, suggesting they may represent a specialized strategy for survival in Malpelo's harsh, depauperate ecosystem. The findings highlight the resilience and evolutionary ingenuity of invertebrates in extreme oceanic environments.

Moret, P., Arenas-Clavijo, A., & López-Victoria, M. (2023). Description of a Highly Modified Endemic Ground Beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from the Oceanic Island of Malpelo, Colombia. Taxonomy, 3(4), 496–508. https://doi.org/10.3390/taxonomy3040028