Systematics and Conservation of Colophon Gray
Systematics and conservation of Colophon Gray (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) By Angelika Katrin Switala Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Magister Scientiae (Entomology) in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science Department of Zoology and Entomology University of Pretoria, Pretoria South Africa April, 2013 © University of Pretoria To my parents who with love, acceptance and eternal belief in me have motivated, encouraged and fuelled my education “What a wonderful bug is Colophon Each peak has a different kind of one. On one he is caught with nippers quite short The next he has claws like a scorpion.” ~Ditty recounted by Frank (Punky) Berrisford Junior ii © University of Pretoria Declaration I, Angelika Katrin Switala declare that the thesis/dissertation, which I hereby submit for the degree Master of Science (Entomology) at the University of Pretoria, is my own work and has not previously been submitted by me for a degree at this or any other tertiary institution. SIGNATURE: ______________ DATE: _____________ iii © University of Pretoria Systematics and conservation of Colophon Gray (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) Student: Angelika K. Switala Supervisors: Prof. Clarke H. Scholtz & Dr. Catherine L. Sole Department: Department Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa Degree: Masters of Science (Entomology) Summary The flightless Cape High-mountain stag beetle genus Colophon (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) is studied. Represented by 17 species, which are restricted to the highest mountain peaks of the Cape Floristic Region in the Western Cape, South Africa, and show a strict association with the fynbos biome. The study aimed to determine the specific and phylogenetic status of the described species of Colophon and to determine the main factors driving their evolution by testing hypotheses of relationship and of a lowland origin.
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