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Newly Discovered Beetle Family Has Heart-Shaped Leg Joints
One kind of beetle has a heart-shaped leg joint with just one goal---of reproducing, according to Dailymail. It belongs to the genus Ivierhipidius.
It was found by Max Barclay of the Natural History Museum, who hit upon a couple of winged male specimens among thousands collected during a trip to Central America.
The beetle belongs to a unique family with a heart-shaped trochanter, located in the upper leg linking it to the abdomen, which has not been seen in any other kind of beetle. The "greater trochanter" is present in humans but not in this kind of heart shape.
More than half of the 400,000 known beetle species are included in Barclay's collection. It makes it the biggest and most comprehensive collection in the world. His data bank contains four new species from the genus: Ivierhipidius paradoxus, Ivierhipidius monneorum, Ivierhipidius Youngi, and Ivierhipidius cechorum.
"All of the specimens so far have been male - we have yet to see a female," Barclay said. "Its closest relatives are parasites developing inside other insects."
"We don't yet know what its heart-shaped joint is used for, but we do know that the males don't even have a functional mouth to eat, so their only purpose is to search for mates," he added. "They certainly have a one-track mind."
Being the largest group of organisms, beetles are important for healthy ecosystems. They are important in reducing weeds in soil and improving food security in the agriculture industry, according to Science Daily.
"One in five of living creatures is a beetle, and we are still uncovering new species today, even some with new modifications of body parts that disclose more about their evolution and way of life," Barclay said.
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