A group of beetles characterized by short elytra (wing covers) that do not fully cover the abdomen, belonging to the family Staphylinidae or rove beetles.
From Greek brachys meaning 'short' plus elytron meaning 'wing cover.' The term combines anatomical descriptors to name insects defined by their abbreviated protective wing covers.
Rove beetles are the most successful beetles on Earth by sheer number of species, and their short elytra actually let them move faster and more agilely than fully-winged beetles—evolution's answer to needing speed over protection.
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