''Tefflus'' is a genus of large, black and flightless
Afrotropical
The Afrotropical realm is one of Earth's eight biogeographic realms. It includes Africa south of the Sahara Desert, the majority of the Arabian Peninsula, the island of Madagascar, southern Iran and extreme southwestern Pakistan, and the island ...
ground beetles in the tribe Panagaeini. They are broadly similar to the Anthiini ('oogpisters'), but are not colourful, and have a six-sided and flattish pronotum. The distinct longitudinal carinae (ridges) on their elytra are separated by two rows of punctures running along the striae (grooves). Males have some segments of the forelegs enlarged.
They are solitary and mostly nocturnal hunters, that move about at a brisk pace. They have strong mandibles that can inflict a serious bite, and prey on a variety of invertebrates.
The last revision of the genus was undertaken in 1946.
Species
Some 14 to 15 species are native to the
Afrotropics
The Afrotropical realm is one of Earth's eight biogeographic realms. It includes Africa south of the Sahara Desert, the majority of the Arabian Peninsula, the island of Madagascar, southern Iran and extreme southwestern Pakistan, and the island ...
:
* ''
Tefflus angustipes''
Kolbe, 1903
* ''
Tefflus brevicostatus''
Quedenfeldt, 1883
* ''
Tefflus camerunus''
Kolbe, 1903
* ''
Tefflus carinatus
''Tefflus'' is a genus of large, black and flightless Afrotropical ground beetles in the tribe Panagaeini. They are broadly similar to the Anthiini ('oogpisters'), but are not colourful, and have a six-sided and flattish pronotum. The distinct ...
''
Klug, 1853 – Malawi, South Africa (length: c.26–37 mm)
* ''
Tefflus hamiltonii''
Bates, 1871
* ''
Tefflus juvenilis''
Gerstaecker, 1871
* ''
Tefflus kilimanus''
Kolbe, 1897
* ''
Tefflus meyerlei''
(Fabricius, 1801) – South Africa (length: c.39–54 mm)
* ''
Tefflus muata''
Harold, 1878
* ''
Tefflus purpureipennis
''Tefflus'' is a genus of large, black and flightless Afrotropical ground beetles in the tribe Panagaeini. They are broadly similar to the Anthiini ('oogpisters'), but are not colourful, and have a six-sided and flattish pronotum. The distinct ...
''
Quedenfeldt, 1883
* ''
Tefflus raffrayi
''Tefflus'' is a genus of large, black and flightless Afrotropical ground beetles in the tribe Panagaeini. They are broadly similar to the Anthiini ('oogpisters'), but are not colourful, and have a six-sided and flattish pronotum. The distinct ...
''
Chaudoir, 1874
* ''
Tefflus tenuicollis
''Tefflus'' is a genus of large, black and flightless Afrotropical ground beetles in the tribe Panagaeini. They are broadly similar to the Anthiini ('oogpisters'), but are not colourful, and have a six-sided and flattish pronotum. The distinct ...
''
Fairmaire, 1894
* ''
Tefflus viridanus
''Tefflus'' is a genus of large, black and flightless Afrotropical ground beetles in the tribe Panagaeini. They are broadly similar to the Anthiini ('oogpisters'), but are not colourful, and have a six-sided and flattish pronotum. The distinct ...
''
Kolbe, 1897
* ''
Tefflus zanzibaricus
''Tefflus'' is a genus of large, black and flightless Afrotropical ground beetles in the tribe Panagaeini. They are broadly similar to the Anthiini ('oogpisters'), but are not colourful, and have a six-sided and flattish pronotum. The distinct ...
''
Kolbe, 1886
* ''
Tefflus zebulianus
''Tefflus'' is a genus of large, black and flightless Afrotropical realm, Afrotropical ground beetles in the tribe Panagaeini. They are broadly similar to the Anthiini ('oogpisters'), but are not colourful, and have a six-sided and flattish pron ...
''
Raffray, 1882
References
Panagaeinae
{{Panagaeinae-stub