[Scientific Papers] http://www.scipapers.com    2007-11-16  

 

Gynomorphic mandible morphology in the dobsonfly, Corydalus cornutus

David E. Bowles¹, Atilano Contreras-Ramos² and Robert W. Sites³

¹ National Park Service, Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Program, c/o Department of Biology, Missouri State University, 901 South National Avenue, Springfield, MO 65897, USA.
² Centro de Investigaciones Biol¨®gicas, Universidad Aut¨®noma del Estado Hidalgo, Apdo. Postal 1-69, Plaza Ju¨¢rez, Pachuca, Hidalgo 42001, Mexico
³ Enns Entomology Museum, Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.


Abstract

Two aberrant males of Corydalus cornutus (L.) (Insecta: Megaloptera), which exhibit unusually short mandibles with discrete dentition, are recorded from a locality in Missouri. Morphological details of the specimens, as well as implications for the overall morphological variation of the genus and species are discussed. The term gynomorphic is suggested as the best descriptor of this case, given that little explanatory information is available to classify these specimens as true gynandromorphs.

Keywords: Corydalus cornutus, mandible morphology, gynomorphism


Correspondence: david_bowles@nps.gov, acramos@uaeh.edu.mx, bugs@missouri.edu

Received: 19 April 2006 | Accepted: 13 October 2006 | Published: 13 April 2007

Copyright: This is an open access paper. We use the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 license that permits unrestricted use, provided that the paper is properly attributed.  

ISSN: 1536-2442 | Volume 7, Number 23


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