{{short description|Genus of beetles}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Mecynorhina-ugandensis.jpg | image_caption = ''Mecynorhina ugandensis'' | taxon = Mecynorhina | authority = Hope, 1837 | type_species = Scarabaeus polyphemus | type_species_authority = (Fabricius, 1781) | synonyms = *''Chelorrhina'' Burmeister, 1842 *''Mecynorrhina'' Schaum, 1848 (misspelling) | synonyms_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ubio.org/NZ/detail.php?uid=115470&d=1|title = Nomenclator Zoologicus Record Detail}}</ref> | display_parents = 3 }}
'''''Mecynorhina''''' (frequently misspelled as '''''Mecynorrhina'''''; the original spelling used a single "r" and the misspelling is not in prevailing usage, therefore not valid under the ICZN) are beetles from the subfamily Cetoniinae, tribe Goliathini. The genus was created by Frederick William Hope, in 1837.
According to the last work of De Palma & Frantz, the type species of the genus is ''Scarabaeus polyphemus'' Fabricius, 1781.<ref>De Palma (M.) & Frantz (S.), 2010. Taxonomic revision of ''Megalorhina'' Westwood and subgeneric classification of ''Mecynorhina'' Hope, Natura Edizioni Scientifiche</ref>
The genus is spread throughout the tropical African region.
== Taxonomy ==
=== Former classification === Formerly there were three species in the genus ''Mecynorhina'': * ''Mecynorhina oberthueri'' (Fairmaire, 1903) * ''Mecynorhina torquata'' (Drury, 1782) * ''Mecynorhina ugandensis'' (Moser, 1907) Some authors designated ''ugandensis'' as a subspecies of ''torquata''.
''Mecynorhina oberthuri'' was long thought to be the rarest species in its genus, however, Jean-Pierre Lequeux discovered that it is common in the forests of Tanzania. This species is now reared by many amateurs.
The most variable species is ''Mecynorhina ugandensis'' where rarely two specimens are of the same aspect. Many variations have been illustrated by Allard.<ref>[http://www.plumeria.demon.co.uk/cm/cm-7-english.html Allard (V.), 1986. Les Coléoptères du Monde, volume 7, Goliathini 3]. Sciences Nat, Venette</ref>
=== Current classification === Following De Palma & Frantz (''l.c.''), the genus is now divided in five subgenera: * ''Mecynorhina'' Hope, 1837 ** ''Mecynorhina polyphemus'' (Fabricius, 1781) * ''Mecynorrhinella'' Marais & Holm, 1992 ** ''Mecynorhina oberthueri'' Fairmaire, 1903 ** ''Mecynorhina torquata'' (Drury, 1782) ** ''Mecynorhina ugandensis'' (Moser, 1907) (often treated as a subspecies of ''Mecynorhina torquata'') * ''Chelorhinella'' De Palma & Frantz, 2010 ** ''Mecynorhina kraatzi'' (Moser, 1905) ** ''Mecynorhina savagei'' Harris, 1844 * ''Megalorhina'' Westwood, 1847 ** ''Mecynorhina harrisi'' (Westwood, 1847) ** ''Mecynorhina mukengiana'' (Kolbe, 1884) ** ''Mecynorhina taverniersi'' Allard, 1990 * ''Amaurodes'' Westwood, 1844 (Synonym = ''Chelorrhina'' Burmeister, 1842) ** ''Mecynorhina passerinii'' (Westwood, 1844)
<gallery> File:Mecynorrhinella oberthuri kirchneri Drumont, 1998 (3513433960).jpg|''Mecynorhina oberthueri'' File:Megalorhina harrisi harrisi Westwood, 1847 (3251082004).jpg|''Mecynorhina harrisi harrisi'' </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}} * [https://www.flower-beetles.com/chelorrhina.html Chelorrhina]
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Category:Cetoniinae Category:Scarabaeidae genera Category:Taxa named by Frederick William Hope