Galapagos Species Database

The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.

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Physorhinus galapagoensis G.R. Waterhouse, 1845

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Adults omnivorous, larvae carnivorous; widespread and common in arid to pampa zones; at lights.

Taxonomy

Domain
Eukaryota

Kingdom
Animalia

Phylum
Arthropoda

Class
Insecta

Order
Coleoptera

Suborder
Polyphaga

Superfamily
Elateroidea

Family
Elateridae

Section
Ampedini

Genus
Physorhinus

Species
galapagoensis

Taxon category: Accepted

Syn.: Anchastus galapagoensis G.R. Waterhouse, 1845, Physorhinus batesoni Van Dyke, 1953, Physorhinus blairi Van Dyke, 1953, Physorhinus chathami Van Dyke, 1953, Physorhinus hoodi Van Dyke, 1953, fide Peck (2006). The synonyms were interpreted as species by Van Dyke but are now interpreted to represent inconsistent population variation between islands.

Origin: Endemic

Distribution

Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.

Distribution: Española, Fernandina, Isabela, Pinta, Santiago, San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz

References

  • Linell, M.L. (1898) On the coleopterous insects of the Galapagos Islands. Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus. 21(1143): 249-268.
  • Linsley, E.G. Usinger, R.L. (1966) Insects of the Galápagos Islands. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences Fourth Series 33(7): 113-196.
  • Peck, S.B. (2006) The Beetles of the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador: Evolution, Ecology, and Diversity (Insecta: Coleoptera) NRC Research Press, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 314 pp.
  • Van Dyke, E.C. (1953) The Coleoptera of the Galapagos Islands. Occasional Papers of the California Academy of Sciences 22: 1-181.
  • Waterhouse, G.R. (1845) Descriptions of coleopterous insects collected by Charles Darwin, Esq., in the Galapagos Islands. Ann. Nat. Hist. 16: 19-41.

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This page should be cited as follows:

"Galapagos Species Database, Physorhinus galapagoensis", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=11562. Accessed 31 October 2026.