Galapagos Species Database

Taxon category: Accepted

Syn.: Cicindelidia galapagoensis (Horn, 1920), Cicindela vonhageni, C. galapagoensis discolourata. Reichardt (1976) placed C. vonhageni as a synonym of C. galapagoensis on the basis of intermediate forms in collections from Floreana and Tortuga Bay. Several recent authors still treat C. vonhageni as a valid species. Cassola and Roque-Albelo (2003) summarize the evidence that C. galapagoensis and C. vonhageni as seperate and probably sister species. We find the evidence to be unconvincing based on our own collections. There is certainly varation in body size and colouration within and between populations of the colour forms. Allozyme studies did not separate dark and pale forms of what we consider all to be C. galapagoensis. However, molecular studies (Desender and co-workers) in progress may help further resolve this question. Cassola et al. (2000) present evidence that this species is possibly threatened by the recently arrives species C. trifasciata, which seems to be displacing it.

Origin: Endemic

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

Distribution: Santa Cruz, Floreana, Genovesa, Isabela, Marchena

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