Ectropis
Encyclopedia
Ectropis is a genus
in the geometer moth
family
(Geometridae). They are mostly paleotropical, but also plentiful in Australia
and extend into Asia
. Only one species – or cryptic species complex
– (The Engrailed/Small Engrailed, E. bistortata/E. crepuscularia) is found in Europe
. There are about 100 known species
in this genus altogether.
, and thus, even though this large genus might warrant subgeneric division, no names are presently available. Apart from Tephrosia, established by J.B. Boisduval
in 1840, the synonyms are also junior homonyms and consequently completely invalid.
One of them, Coenobita, was proposed by J. Gistl in 1848. Gistl was unaware that J. Hübner
had described the genus Ectropis, but he knew of Boisduval's Tephrosia. However, Gistl misread the name of the spider genus Theraphosa
(established by C.A. Walckenaer
in 1805) as Tephrosia, and thus came to believe that Tephrosia was in need of a new name. He chose Coenobita
, which to his misfortune had been given to a genus of hermit crab
s by Latreille in 1829 already.
The other preoccupied synonym, Boarmia, had earlier been given to closely related moths. That group is now included in Hypomecis, which thus has become the type genus
of the tribe
Boarmiini
in the geometer moth subfamily Ennominae
. Ectropis is also a member of the Boarmiini.
of Ectropis include:
Some species formerly included here are now placed elsewhere, e.g. in Calcyopa, Myrioblephara
or Parectropis
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
in the geometer moth
Geometer moth
The geometer moths or Geometridae are a family of the order Lepidoptera...
family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
(Geometridae). They are mostly paleotropical, but also plentiful in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and extend into Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. Only one species – or cryptic species complex
Cryptic species complex
In biology, a cryptic species complex is a group of species which satisfy the biological definition of species—that is, they are reproductively isolated from each other—but whose morphology is very similar ....
– (The Engrailed/Small Engrailed, E. bistortata/E. crepuscularia) is found in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. There are about 100 known species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
in this genus altogether.
Systematics and taxonomy
All junior synonyms of Ectropis use G. crepuscularia as type speciesType species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
, and thus, even though this large genus might warrant subgeneric division, no names are presently available. Apart from Tephrosia, established by J.B. Boisduval
Jean Baptiste Boisduval
Jean Baptiste Alphonse Dechauffour de Boisduval was a French lepidopterist and physician. He developed the Boisduval scale and identified many new species of butterflies. One of the most celebrated lepidopterists of France, he was the co-founder of the Société Entomologique de France...
in 1840, the synonyms are also junior homonyms and consequently completely invalid.
One of them, Coenobita, was proposed by J. Gistl in 1848. Gistl was unaware that J. Hübner
Jacob Hübner
Jacob Hübner was a German entomologist. He was the author of Sammlung Europäischer Schmetterlinge , a founding work of entomology.-Scientific career:...
had described the genus Ectropis, but he knew of Boisduval's Tephrosia. However, Gistl misread the name of the spider genus Theraphosa
Theraphosa
Theraphosa is a genus of tarantula spiders of South America. The two species of the genus are large....
(established by C.A. Walckenaer
Charles Athanase Walckenaer
Baron Charles Athanase Walckenaer was a French civil servant and scientist.-Biography:Walckenaer was born in Paris and studied at the universities of Oxford and Glasgow. In 1793 he was appointed head of the military transports in the Pyrenees, after which he pursued technical studies at the École...
in 1805) as Tephrosia, and thus came to believe that Tephrosia was in need of a new name. He chose Coenobita
Coenobita
The genus Coenobita contains the sixteen species of terrestrial hermit crabs. The majority of the species are found in the Indo-Pacific region, with only one species in West Africa, one species occurring along the western Atlantic Ocean, and one species occurring on the Pacific coast of the Americas...
, which to his misfortune had been given to a genus of hermit crab
Hermit crab
Hermit crabs are decapod crustaceans of the superfamily Paguroidea. Most of the 1100 species possess an asymmetrical abdomen which is concealed in an empty gastropod shell that is carried around by the hermit crab.-Description:...
s by Latreille in 1829 already.
The other preoccupied synonym, Boarmia, had earlier been given to closely related moths. That group is now included in Hypomecis, which thus has become the type genus
Type genus
In biological classification, a type genus is a representative genus, as with regard to a biological family. The term and concept is used much more often and much more formally in zoology than it is in botany, and the definition is dependent on the nomenclatural Code that applies:* In zoological...
of the tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
Boarmiini
Boarmiini
The Boarmiini are a large tribe of geometer moths in the Ennominae subfamily.-Description and systematics:...
in the geometer moth subfamily Ennominae
Ennominae
Ennominae is the largest subfamily of the geometer moth family with some 9,700 described species in 1,100 genera. They are usually fairly small moth species, though some grow considerably larger. This subfamily has a global distribution. It includes some species that are notorious defoliating...
. Ectropis is also a member of the Boarmiini.
Selected species
SpeciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of Ectropis include:
Some species formerly included here are now placed elsewhere, e.g. in Calcyopa, Myrioblephara
Myrioblephara
Myrioblephara is a genus of moth in the family Geometridae.-References:*...
or Parectropis
Parectropis
Parectropis is a genus in the geometer moth family . A small Old World genus, it contains only a good dozen species altogether, though new ones are still being discovered. Only one species Parectropis is a genus in the geometer moth family (Geometridae). A small Old World genus, it contains only a...