Caenolister Bickhardt, 1921: 200 [type species: Caenolister rectisternus Bickhardt, 1921: 200]; Ohara & Mazur, 2000: 7.
Notes (Ohara & Mazur, 2000).
The genus Caenolister was erected by Bickhardt in 1921 on a single species, C. rectisternus (Cameroon), and placed near the genus Platysoma. According to him, it might be characterized by the following character states: prosternal lobe short and without marginal stria, and anterior margin of mesosternum straight. Judging from the original description, however, it is not clear what is real diagnostic character of the genus.
In our examination of the Bickhardts type, Caenolister may be classified as a member of the tribe Exosternini, probalby allied to the genus Boconia. The structure of protibia is similar to that of Baconia or Pachycraerus. The useful character of the tribe Exosternini, a projected anterior margin of mesosternum, however, has not been found in Caenolister. The genus is also easily distinguished from the other members of the tribe Platysomatini by the combination of following characteristics: 1) suture of antennal club almost straight, 2) prosternal lobe short and without marginal stria, 3) one lateral prosternal stria present, and 4) propygidium with transverse stria .
Distribution. Cameroon.